Patent · US Active

Circuit and method for reading out and resetting pixels of an image sensor

US8179464B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by

9References

11Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Thomson Licensing · FR

Inventors

Heinrich Schemmann · Villingen-Schwenningen, DE
Sabine Roth · Berlin, DE
Steffen Lehr · Erbach, DE
Volker Neiss · Villingen-Schwenningen, DE
Nicolaas Johannes Damstra · Breda, NL
Petrus Gijsbertus Maria Centen · Goirle, NL
Jeroen Rotte · Montréal, CA

Key dates

Filing date	May 23, 2007
Grant date	May 15, 2012
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Mar 17, 2028

Classification

Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
CPC primaryH04N25/77
WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A circuit for resetting and reading out a pixel cell of a CMOS image sensor is proposed. The circuit allows for reading out the pixel cell at least two times during a main integration interval, thereby generating at least two pixel signals. The circuit further comprises means for combining the at least two pixel signals to an output signal. The means for combining are operable to combine the at least two pixel signals weighted in dependence on a saturation level of the pixel cell. A method for controlling the circuit for reading out the image sensor is also proposed.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.