Imaging device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An imaging device, comprising:
- an array of pixels arranged in columns comprising signal means which serve to enable any given pixel within any given column; and
an integration period selection circuit associated with each column, wherein said integration period selection circuit is configured to receive a signal from an enabled pixel and initiate a selected integration period for said enabled pixel.
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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.
233 Citations
56 Claims
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1. An imaging device, comprising:
- an array of pixels arranged in columns comprising signal means which serve to enable any given pixel within any given column; and
an integration period selection circuit associated with each column, wherein said integration period selection circuit is configured to receive a signal from an enabled pixel and initiate a selected integration period for said enabled pixel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- an array of pixels arranged in columns comprising signal means which serve to enable any given pixel within any given column; and
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11. An imaging device, comprising:
- an array of pixels, said pixels are based on a 4T pixel structure;
each of said pixels further comprising a selective transfer gate operation logic function transistor connected to a transfer gate. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- an array of pixels, said pixels are based on a 4T pixel structure;
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18. An imaging device, comprising:
- an array of pixels, said pixels are based on a 3T pixel structure;
each of said pixels further comprising a selective reset logic function transistor connected to a reset transistor, wherein an integration period for each pixel within said array of pixels is dynamically determined within a corresponding image acquisition sequence. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
- an array of pixels, said pixels are based on a 3T pixel structure;
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25. An imaging device, comprising:
- columns of pixels, each column comprising a column circuit configured to receive an input from any selected pixel from an associated column, said column circuit is further configured to automatically select an integration period for a selected pixel and to output a signal to said selected pixel to initiate a selected integration period, wherein a first transistor within each pixel is configured to receive a first signal indicating when the pixel within said column is currently selected and a second signal from an associated column circuit indicating a selected integration period for said selected pixel, wherein said transistor outputs a signal which at least in part controls initiation of the selected integration period for said selected pixel.
- View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An imaging device, comprising:
- at least a substantial subset of columns of pixels, each said column of pixels in said subset comprising a column circuit configured to receive an input from a selected pixel from an associated column, said column circuit is further configured to automatically select an integration period for said selected pixel and to output a signal to said selected pixel to initiate a selected integration period.
- View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
Specification