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Threshold-monitoring, conditional-reset image sensor

  • US 10,136,090 B2
  • Filed: 03/14/2014
  • Issued: 11/20/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An integrated-circuit image sensor comprising:

  • a capacitive floating diffusion node;

    first and second photosensitive elements switchably coupled to the capacitive floating diffusion node via first and second transfer gates, respectively;

    readout circuitry coupled to the floating diffusion node and the first and second transfer gates to;

    determine during a first interval whether a collective level of accumulated photocharge within the first and second photosensitive elements exceeds a read-out threshold, including applying a partial-read voltage to the first and second transfer gates during the first interval; and

    apply a full-read voltage to the first and second transfer gates during a second interval in response to determining during the first interval that the collective level of accumulated photocharge exceeds the read-out threshold, the full-read voltage exceeding the partial-read voltage;

    wherein the readout circuitry to apply the partial-read voltage to the first and second transfer gates during the first interval comprises circuitry to apply a voltage level to the first transfer gate that enables photocharge transfer from the first photosensitive element to the first floating diffusion node only if accumulated photocharge within the first photosensitive element exceeds a first charge level.

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