Imaging device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An imaging device, comprising:
- an array of pixels arranged in rows and columns comprising;
a signal device configured to enable any given pixel within one of a row and column; and
an integration period selection circuit associated with each said one of row and column;
wherein said integration period selection circuit is configured to receive a signal via a readout line from an enabled pixel and initiate a selected integration period for said enabled pixel;
wherein the readout line is configured for transmitting pixel sample data to the integration selection circuit to initiate the selected integration period and the readout line is futher configured to transmit pixel readout data associated with each said one of row and column; and
wherein an integration period for each pixel within said array of pixels is dynamically determined within a corresponding image acquisition sequence, and said image acquisition sequence being a period for acquiring a single frame.
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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.
49 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An imaging device, comprising:
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an array of pixels arranged in rows and columns comprising; a signal device configured to enable any given pixel within one of a row and column; and an integration period selection circuit associated with each said one of row and column; wherein said integration period selection circuit is configured to receive a signal via a readout line from an enabled pixel and initiate a selected integration period for said enabled pixel; wherein the readout line is configured for transmitting pixel sample data to the integration selection circuit to initiate the selected integration period and the readout line is futher configured to transmit pixel readout data associated with each said one of row and column; and wherein an integration period for each pixel within said array of pixels is dynamically determined within a corresponding image acquisition sequence, and said image acquisition sequence being a period for acquiring a single frame. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An imaging device, comprising:
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columns of pixels, each one of a row and a column comprising; a circuit configured to receive an input from any selected pixel from an associated one of said row and said column; wherein said 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 one of said row and said column is currently selected and a second signal from an associated circuit indicating a selected integration period for said selected pixel; and wherein said transistor outputs a signal which at least in part controls initiation of the selected integration period for said selected pixel, wherein an integration period for each pixel within said array of pixels is dynamically determined within a corresponding image acquisition sequence, and said image acquisition sequence being a period for acquiring a single frame. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. An imaging device, comprising:
at least a substantial subset of one of rows and columns of pixels, each said one of row and column of pixels in said subset comprising; a circuit configured to receive an input from a selected pixel from an associated one of said row and said column wherein said 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, wherein an integration period for each pixel within said array of pixels is dynamically determined within a corresponding image acquisition sequence, and said image acquisition sequence being a period for acquiring a single frame; and wherein said selected integration period is selected from a discret set of available integration periods. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification