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US 2001/0040632 A1Published application
Multiple sampling via a time-indexed method to achieve wide dynamic ranges
OwnerDavid Xiao Dong Yang, Zhonghan Denginventors
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Abstract
An architecture for a digital pixel sensor is disclosed in which the dynamic range of the sensor is increased by taking samples of a subject to be recorded, where each sample is taken over an interval of a different duration than the other samples. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, an array of pixel elements is fabricated in an integrated circuit that also includes a memory space for storing selectively digital signals of the samples from the digital elements.
Claims14
An image sensor comprising:
- a two dimensional array of digital pixel elements producing frames of digital signals when the image sensor is operated to sense a scene, the frames representing sequentially increased exposures to the scene within a snapshot of the scene;
- and
- a data memory space for storing a time index and a threshold value for each of the digital pixel elements, the data memory space further for storing at least one of the digital signals of one of the frames when the corresponding threshold detects that the one of the digital signals is not saturated.
An image sensor comprising:
- a two dimensional array of digital pixel elements producing a 1st, a 2nd . . . a Nth frame of digital signals when the image sensor is operated to sense a scene, the 1st, 2nd . . . and Nth frames respectively representing an exposure at a 1st sample time, a 2nd sample time, . . . and a Nth sample time, wherein the 1st sample time, the 2nd sample time, . . . and the Nth sample time are within a snapshot of the scene;
- a data memory space coupled to the two dimensional array of digital pixel elements;
- a readout circuit to readout each of the 1t, 2nd . . . Nth frames respectively to the data memory space;
- and
- wherein the data memory space includes a threshold for each of the digital pixel elements, when one of the digital signals in one of the 1st, 2nd . . . or Nth frames is acceptable with respect to the threshold, the one of the digital signals is read into in the data memory space in association with a time index to indicate which one of the 1st, 2nd . . . or Nth frames.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.