Extended dynamic range imaging sensor and operating mode of the same

A system for imaging a scene described by light signals that extend over a wide dynamic range, the system comprising:

• an imaging sensor comprising a plurality of imaging pixels, each imaging pixel comprising:
• a substrate;
• two or more photodiodes formed in the substrate that are coupled to a sense node, each photodiode having connected thereto a different transfer gate for selectively controlling a charge accumulation therein due to incident light;
• readout circuitry for measuring the charge accumulation, the readout circuitry being connected to the sense node and comprising a reset transistor, a source follower transistor, and a row select transistor;
• and
• a gain capacitor selectively connectable to the sense node using a transistor, wherein the transistor and the reset transistor are arranged in series relative to the sense node, and a terminal of the gain capacitor is connected to an intermediate node positioned between the transistor and reset transistor;
• and
• a controller configured to operate the imaging sensor by:
• selecting a different integration time for at least two photodiodes in the imaging pixel to capture on light signals corresponding to the wide dynamic range of the scene;
• performing a readout of the imaging pixel, wherein a capacitance associated with the sense node is modified during the readout of the at least two photodiodes based on a predetermined dynamic range of the imaging sensor;
• and
• assembling an image using signals obtained from the plurality of imaging pixels in the readout.