Digital image sensor
AssigneeSTMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
InventorJohn Kevin Moore
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A digital imaging sensor includes an array of pixels. A subset of the pixels in the array has reduced photosensitivity in comparison to other pixels in said array. A controller operates to control an integration time of the array of pixels such that a first integration time of the subset of pixels is longer than a second integration time of the other pixels in the array. Such an image sensor is particularly useful for sensing light sources that are not illuminated continuously.
Claims19
A digital imaging sensor, comprising:
- an array of pixels, wherein a subset of pixels in said array has reduced photosensitivity in comparison to other pixels in said array;
- and
- a control circuit configured to control an integration time of said array of pixels such that a first integration time of said subset of pixels is longer than a second integration time of said other pixels in the array.
An illumination sensor operable to determine whether an illumination source is being driven, said illumination sensor comprising a digital imaging sensor, said digital imaging sensor comprising:
- an array of pixels, wherein a subset of pixels in said array has reduced photosensitivity in comparison to other pixels in said array;
- and
- a control circuit configured to control an integration time of said array of pixels such that a first integration time of said subset of pixels is longer than a second integration time of said other pixels in the array.
A camera comprising a digital imaging sensor, said digital imaging sensor comprising:
- an array of pixels, wherein a subset of pixels in said array has reduced photosensitivity in comparison to other pixels in said array;
- and
- a control circuit configured to control an integration time of said array of pixels such that a first integration time of said subset of pixels is longer than a second integration time of said other pixels in the array.
A method, comprising:
- in an array of pixels, reducing photosensitivity of a subset of pixels in comparison to other pixels in said array;
- and
- controlling an integration time of said array of pixels such that a first integration time of said subset of pixels is longer than a second integration time of said other pixels in the array.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.