Self-triggering CMOS image sensor
US7812879B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 30, 2007 |
| Grant date | Oct 12, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 30, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N25/77
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An image sensor and method for using the image sensor to capture an image are disclosed. The image sensor includes an imaging array, a first block amplifier and a controller. A first plurality of pixels in the imaging array includes pixels having a photodiode connected to a first node by a gate transistor, a reset transistor connected between the first node and a reset node, a pixel amplifier having an input connected to the first node and an output, and an output gate for connecting the pixel amplifier output to an output bus. The sensor has a monitoring mode and an image capture mode. In the monitoring mode the reset node is connected to the first block amplifier whose output is monitored and used to trigger the image capture mode when the output exceeds a predetermined threshold.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.