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US 6,334,098 B1Granted
Increasing the dynamic range of image sensors
AssigneeTruesight Ltd.
InventorMordecai Shefer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device that is to be electrically connected to each one of the photo-detector output signals in an image sensor array is comprised of an arrangement of capacitors (C01, C02), resistors (R01, R02, R03), amplifiers, comparators (Cm), and switches (S1, S2). This arrangement is suitable to execute real time estimation of the time derivatives of said photo-detector output signals.
Claims22
A method for sensing light flux, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a CCD sensor that, when exposed to the light flux, produces a first signal that is a cumulative measure of the light flux to which said sensor is exposed;
- (b) exposing said sensor to the light flux;
- and
- (c) transforming said first signal into a second signal that is substantially proportional to the light flux and that is substantially independent of a time of said exposure.
1 more element
A method of imaging a scene, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an array of a plurality of CCD sensors, each said sensor producing a respective first signal that is a cumulative measure of a light flux impinging on said each sensor;
- (b) focusing light from the scene onto said array, so that each said sensor is exposed to a respective said light flux from a respective spot in the scene;
- and
- (c) for each said sensor, transforming said respective first signal into a respective second signal that is substantially proportional to said respective light flux and that is substantially independent of a time of said exposure.
1 more element
A device comprising:
- (a) a circuit for:
- (i) receiving, from a CCD sensor that is exposed to a light flux, a first signal that is a cumulative measure of said light flux;
- and
- (ii) transforming said first signal into a second signal that is substantially proportional to said light flux and that is substantially independent of a time of said exposure.
1 more element
A method for sensing light flux, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a sensor that, when exposed to the light flux, produces a first signal that is a cumulative measure of the light flux to which said sensor is exposed;
- (b) exposing said sensor to the light flux;
- and
- (c) transforming said first signal into a second signal that is substantially proportional to the light flux, that is substantially independent of a time of said exposure and that includes at least one time derivative of said first signal.
1 more element
A method for sensing light flux, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a sensor that, when exposed to the light flux, produces a first signal that is a cumulative measure of the light flux to which said sensor is exposed;
- (b) exposing said sensor to the light flux;
- and
- (c) transforming said first signal into a second signal that is substantially proportional to the light flux, that is substantially independent of a time of said exposure and that is substantially proportional to a first derivative of said first signal.
1 more element
A method for sensing light flux, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a sensor that, when exposed to the light flux, produces a first signal that is a cumulative measure of the light flux to which said sensor is exposed;
- (b) exposing said sensor to the light flux;
- (c) transforming said first signal into a second signal that is substantially proportional to the light flux and that is substantially independent of a time of said exposure;
- (d) sensing an impending saturation of said sensor;
- and
- (e) holding said second signal fixed when said impending saturation is sensed.
3 more elements
A method for sensing light flux, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a sensor that, when exposed to the light flux, produces a first signal that is a cumulative measure of the light flux to which said sensor is exposed;
- (b) exposing said sensor to the light flux;
- and
- (c) transforming said first signal into a second signal that is substantially proportional to the light flux and that is substantially independent of a time of said exposure, using only an analog circuit.
1 more element
A method of imaging a scene, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an array of a plurality of sensors, each said sensor producing a respective first signal that is a cumulative measure of a light flux impinging on said each sensor;
- (b) focusing light from the scene onto said array, so that each said sensor is exposed to a respective said light flux from a respective spot in the scene;
- (c) for each said sensor, transforming said respective first signal into a respective second signal that is substantially proportional to said respective light flux and that is substantially independent of a time of said exposure;
- and
- (d) for each said sensor:
- (i) sensing an impending saturation of said each sensor;
- and
- (ii) holding said respective second signal fixed when said impending saturation is sensed.
5 more elements
A method of imaging a scene, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an array of a plurality of sensors, each said sensor producing a respective first signal that is a cumulative measure of a light flux impinging on said each sensor;
- (b) focusing light from the scene onto said array, so that each said sensor is exposed to a respective said light flux from a respective spot in the scene;
- (c) for each said sensor, transforming said respective first signal into a respective second signal that is substantially proportional to said respective light flux and that is substantially independent of a time of said exposure;
- and
- (d) for each said sensor:
- (i) sensing an impending saturation of said each sensor;
- and
- (ii) holding said respective second signal fixed when said impending saturation is sensed;
- said transforming, said sensing and said holding being effected individually for each said sensor.
6 more elements
A device comprising a circuit for:
- (a) receiving, from a sensor that is exposed to a light flux, a first signal that is a cumulative measure of said light flux;
- and
- (b) transforming said first signal into a second signal that is substantially proportional to said light flux, that is substantially independent of a time of said exposure, and that includes at least one time derivative of said first signal.
A device comprising a circuit for:
- (a) receiving, from a sensor that is exposed to a light flux, a first signal that is a cumulative measure of said light flux;
- and
- (b) transforming said first signal into a second signal that is substantially proportional to said light flux, that is substantially independent of a time of said exposure and that is substantially proportional to a first derivative of said first signal.
A device comprising an analog circuit for:
- (a) receiving, from a sensor that is exposed to a light flux, a first signal that is a cumulative measure of said light flux;
- and
- (b) transforming said first signal into a second signal that is substantially proportional to said light flux and that is substantially independent of a time of said exposure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.