Controlling integration times of pixel sensors
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorsTonia G. Morris, Cynthia S. Bell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An imager includes groups of pixel sensing units and a control circuit. Each group of the pixel sensing units integrates photons from a different associated portion of an optical image over an integration interval for the group. The control circuit independently regulates the integration intervals for the groups. Photons from an optical image may be integrated to capture a pixel image. An energy may be determined by the integration, and times for the energy to reach different predetermined threshold levels may be measured. The duration of the integration may be regulated based on the measured times.
Claims18
An imager comprising:
- groups of pixel sensing units, each group of pixel sensing units to integrate photons from a different associated portion of an optical image over an integration interval for the group to provide indications of light intensities;
- and
- a circuit to independently regulate durations of the integration intervals for the groups in response to the indications of the light intensities;
- wherein each group is associated with a concentric brightness circle of a lens.
A camera comprising:
- groups of pixel sensing units, each group of pixel sensing units to integrate photons from a different associated portion of an optical image over an integration interval for the group to provide indications of light intensities;
- a control circuit to independently regulate the integration intervals;
- and
- a processor coupled to the control circuit to determine the durations of the integration intervals for the groups in response to the indications of the light intensities,
- wherein each group is associated with a concentric brightness circle of a lens.
An imager comprising:
- groups of pixel sensing units, each group of pixel sensing units to integrate photons from a different associated portion of an optical image over an integration interval for the group to provide indications of light intensities;
- and
- a circuit to independently regulate durations of the integration intervals for the groups in response to the indications of the light intensities, wherein each group is associated with a pixel color sensed by the group, the pixel color being different for each of the groups.
A camera comprising:
- groups of pixel sensing units, each group of pixel sensing units to integrate photons from a different associated portion of an optical image over an integration interval for the group to provide indications of light intensities;
- a control circuit to independently regulate the integration intervals;
- and
- a processor coupled to the control circuit to determine the durations of the integration intervals for the groups in response to the indications of the light intensities, wherein each group is associated with a pixel color sensed by the group, the pixel color being different for each of the groups.
A method comprising:
- integrating photons from an optical image to capture a pixel image;
- determining an energy indicated by the integration;
- measuring times for the energy to reach different predetermined threshold levels;
- and
- regulating the duration of the integration based on the measured times.
An imager comprising:
- pixel sensing units, each pixel sensor to indicate a light intensity;
- and
- a measurement circuit to indicate a distribution of times for the indicated light intensities to reach a first predetermined intensity threshold.
A camera comprising:
- pixel sensors, each pixel sensor to indicate a light intensity;
- measurement circuit to indicate a duration for a predetermined number of the light intensities to exceed a predetermined intensity threshold;
- and
- a processor coupled to the measurement circuit to use the duration to establish an integration interval for the pixel sensors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.