High-dynamic range image sensors
OwnerMark Petinginventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The dynamic range of existing CMOS image sensors is limited. The present invention introduces an extended dynamic range CMOS pixel sensor circuit. The extended dynamic range CMOS pixel sensor circuit is relatively similar to existing CMOS pixel sensors except that a charge pump has been added to recharge the pixel sensor when the pixel sensor is nearing charge depletion. Every firing of the charge pump is counted. To create a final output for the extended dynamic range CMOS pixel sensor circuit, the number of charge pump firings is combined with a final analog voltage reading of the pixel sensor circuit.
Claims20
A method of creating an electronic sensor circuit, said method comprising:
- creating a sensor to detect a phenomenon, said sensor charging or discharging a capacitance in response to said phenomenon;
- creating a charge pump coupled to said sensor, said charge pump recharging or depleting charge from said capacitance during a sensing period when a voltage level on said capacitance passes a pre-determined threshold value.
An electronic sensor circuit, said electronic sensor circuit comprising:
- a sensor to detect a phenomenon, said sensor charging or discharging a capacitance in response to said phenomenon;
- a charge pump coupled to said sensor, said charge pump recharging or depleting charge from said capacitance during a sensing period when a voltage level on said capacitance passes a pre-determined threshold value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.