High dynamic range imager with a rolling shutter
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An imaging circuit, comprising:
- a pixel comprising a photodiode for photo-generating charge, a charge storage region for storing said charge, a floating diffusion region, and a charge transfer transistor for transferring charge from said charge storage region to said floating diffusion region;
a signal input node for receiving a reset signal, a first photo signal, and a second photo signal;
a first sample and hold circuit for receiving said first photo signal from said signal input node, said first photo signal representing an amount of charge generated by said photodiode;
a second sample and hold circuit for receiving said second photo signal from said signal input node, said second photo signal representing an amount of charge generated by said photodiode;
a third sample and hold circuit coupled to said signal input node;
a first output circuit, coupled to receive signals from said first and second sample and hold circuits; and
a second output circuit, coupled to receive signals from said first and third sample and hold circuits.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A high dynamic range imager operates pixels utilizing at least a short integration period and a long integration period. The pixel reading circuits of the imager are adapted to process pixel signals corresponding to the integration periods in parallel. The pixel signals are converted into digital values in parallel. The digital values are each linear functions of the incident light and therefore suitable for use with conventional color processing algorithms. A pipelined rolling shutter operation may be employed where the short integration period of one row of pixels is performed simultaneously with the long integration period of another row of pixels.
48 Citations
34 Claims
-
1. An imaging circuit, comprising:
-
a pixel comprising a photodiode for photo-generating charge, a charge storage region for storing said charge, a floating diffusion region, and a charge transfer transistor for transferring charge from said charge storage region to said floating diffusion region; a signal input node for receiving a reset signal, a first photo signal, and a second photo signal; a first sample and hold circuit for receiving said first photo signal from said signal input node, said first photo signal representing an amount of charge generated by said photodiode; a second sample and hold circuit for receiving said second photo signal from said signal input node, said second photo signal representing an amount of charge generated by said photodiode; a third sample and hold circuit coupled to said signal input node; a first output circuit, coupled to receive signals from said first and second sample and hold circuits; and a second output circuit, coupled to receive signals from said first and third sample and hold circuits. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. An imager, comprising:
-
a pixel array comprising a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns; a plurality of pixel reading circuits, each of said pixel reading circuits comprising; a first, second, and third sample and hold circuits, for respectively sampling and holding a reset signal, a first photo signal, and a second photo signal, from one of said plurality of pixels, said first and second photo signals representing charge generated by the same photodiode of said one of said plurality of pixels; a first output circuit for producing a first pixel signal from said reset signal and said first photo signal; and a second output circuit for producing a second pixel signal from said reset signal and said second photo signal; a first analog to digital converter, coupled to said first output circuit, for producing a first digital value corresponding to said first pixel signal; and a second analog to digital converter, coupled to said second output circuit, for producing a second digital value corresponding to said second pixel signal. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A system, comprising:
-
a processor; an imager coupled to said processor, said imager comprising; a pixel array comprising a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns; a plurality of pixel reading circuits, each of said pixel reading circuits comprising; a first, second, and third sample and hold circuits, for respectively sampling and holding a reset signal, a first photo signal, and a second photo signal, from one of said plurality of pixels, said first and second photo signals representing charge generated by the same photodiode of said one of said plurality of pixels; a first output circuit for producing a first pixel signal from said reset signal and said first photo signal; and a second output circuit for producing a second pixel signal from said reset signal and said second photo signal; a first analog to digital converter, coupled to said first output circuit, for producing a first digital value corresponding to said first pixel signal; and a second analog to digital converter, coupled to said second output circuit, for producing a second digital value corresponding to said second pixel signal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method for reading a pixel, comprising:
-
(a) sampling and holding a first photo signal representing charge generated by a photodiode of said pixel during a first integration period; (b) sampling and holding a reset signal from said pixel; (c) sampling and holding a second photo signal representing charge generated by said photodiode of said pixel during a second integration period different than said first integration period; (d) forming a first output signal from said first photo signal and said reset signal; and (e) forming a second output signal from said second photo signal and said reset signal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
-
27. A method of operating an imager, comprising:
-
(a) selecting a first row from a plurality of rows within a pixel array, each row comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising a photodetector for accumulating charge in response to light, a charge accumulation node, and a charge transfer transistor for transferring charge from said photodetector to said charge accumulation node; (b) resetting each pixel in said first row to start a first integration period; (c) in each pixel of said first row, activating said charge transfer transistor to cause a first transfer of first charge, accumulated by said photodetector during said first integration period, to said charge accumulation node, and starting a second integration period after said first transfer of charge to accumulate second charge at said photodetector; (d) in each pixel of said first row, outputting a first photo signal representing said first charge accumulated during said first integration period; (e) resetting each pixel in said first row to output a first reset signal; and (f) in each pixel of said first row, outputting a second photo signal representing said second charge accumulated during said second integration period. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
-
Specification