Image sensor with improved dynamic range
AssigneesSTMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS, STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
InventorsJohn Kevin Moore, Matthew Purcell, Graeme Storm, Tarek Lule
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Abstract
An image sensor having improved dynamic range includes a signal that is read out for a selection of pixels which act as a calibration to govern the choice of exposure levels to be applied to the rest of the array. In this way, the sensor is operable to adapt to variations in scene intensity. The pixels in the array are vertically and horizontally addressed so as to enable accounted for small areas of intensity variation across an imaged scene.
Claims14
A method of imaging a scene with a digital image sensor comprising a pixel array, comprising the steps of:
- performing a reset operation across one row of the pixel array;
- integrating pixels in said row for a first calibration time;
- at the end of said first calibration time, reading pixel values of said row of pixels;
- comparing said pixel values with one or more predetermined thresholds;
- and
- setting subsequent exposure levels for pixels in the pixel array based upon said compared pixel values.
A digital image sensor, comprising:
- a pixel array;
- and
- control circuitry arranged to:
- perform a reset operation across one row of the pixel array;
- integrate pixels in said row for a first calibration time;
- at the end of said calibration time, read pixel values of said row of pixels;
- compare said pixel values with one or more predetermined thresholds;
- and
- set subsequent exposure levels for pixels in the pixel array based upon said pixel values.
A device comprising:
- a digital image sensor comprising a pixel array and control circuitry arranged to:
- perform a reset operation across one row of the pixel array;
- integrate pixels in said row for a first calibration time;
- at the end of said calibration time, read pixel values of said row of pixels;
- compare said pixel values with one or more predetermined thresholds;
- and
- set subsequent exposure levels for pixels in the pixel array based upon said pixel values.
A vehicle, comprising:
- a digital image sensor comprising:
- a pixel array;
- and
- control circuitry arranged to:
- perform a reset operation across one row of the pixel array;
- integrate pixels in said row for a first calibration time;
- at the end of said calibration time, read pixel values of said row of pixels;
- compare said pixel values with one or more predetermined thresholds;
- and
- set subsequent exposure levels for pixels in the pixel array based upon said pixel values.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.