Imaging device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An imaging device, comprising:
- an array of pixels, wherein each pixel of said array of pixels is independently controlled to select one of a plurality of integration periods of a frame period based upon a charge overflow detection reading; and
at least one charge overflow detection circuit configured to dynamically determine said integration period for at least one said pixel, wherein said charge overflow detection reading of at least one said pixel comprises a correlated double sampling.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to improved imaging devices having high dynamic range and to monitoring and automatic control systems incorporating the improved imaging devices.
22 Citations
53 Claims
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1. An imaging device, comprising:
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an array of pixels, wherein each pixel of said array of pixels is independently controlled to select one of a plurality of integration periods of a frame period based upon a charge overflow detection reading; and at least one charge overflow detection circuit configured to dynamically determine said integration period for at least one said pixel, wherein said charge overflow detection reading of at least one said pixel comprises a correlated double sampling. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An imaging device, comprising:
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an array of pixels formed on a silicon substrate, wherein each pixel of said array of pixels is independently controlled to select one of a plurality of integration periods of a frame period based upon a charge overflow detection reading; pixel readout circuits that are placed on an opposing side of said array of pixels relative to integration period selection circuits, wherein at least one of said pixel, said pixel readout circuit, and said integration period selection circuit comprise a charge overflow detection circuit configured to dynamically determine said integration period for at least one said pixel, wherein said charge overflow detection reading of at least one said pixel comprises a correlated double sampling. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An imaging device, comprising:
an array of pixels, wherein each pixel of said array of pixels is based on a 4 transistor pixel design, and is independently controlled to select one of a plurality of integration periods of a frame period based upon a change overflow detection reading, said 4 transistor pixel design comprising; a pinned photodiode; and at least one charge overflow detection circuit configured to dynamically determine said integration period for at least one said pixel, wherein said charge overflow detection reading of said at least one pixel comprises correlated double sampling. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. An imaging device comprising:
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an array of pixels, wherein each pixel of said array of pixels is independently controlled to select one of a plurality of successive integration periods of a frame period based upon a change overflow detection reading; and at least one charge overflow detection configured to dynamically determine said successive integration period for at least one said pixel, wherein said pixel is sampled nondestructively at a beginning of each said successive integration period. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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Specification