Image-sensing method having a very short integration time
US9571761B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 6, 2013 |
| Grant date | Feb 14, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 24, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10F39/18
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The invention relates to image sensors, and more particularly to matrix sensors having active pixels in CMOS technology. According to the invention, a method for imaging a scene with a very short integration time, by using a standard image sensor comprising a matrix of pixels, comprising photodiodes, and charge storage nodes, is provided. Two images of the same scene are produced under identical light conditions, one of the images corresponding to integration of charges during a first time interval with a duration Tint and the other image corresponding to a second time interval with a duration T′int longer than Tint, and a difference between these two images is established, representing an image integrated during a time interval T′int−Tint. The light may be provided by a light pulse (IMP). This method may be used for observing points in a scene that lie at a well-determined distance, the brevity of the integration time allowing good precision of the observation distance.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.