Asulab S.a.

Eiko Doering

Joachim Grupp

There is disclosed a CMOS technology image sensor and a method for operating such an image sensor. This sensor includes a plurality of pixels () each including a photo-sensor element (PD) producing charge carriers in proportion to its illumination and storage means (C) capable of being coupled and uncoupled from the photo-sensor element at a determined instant in order to store, on a memory node (B) of the pixel, a measuring signal representative of the charge carriers produced by said photo-sensor element during an exposure phase. Each pixel includes at least one MOS transistor (M; M) connected in series via its drain or source terminals to the photo-sensor element, and the transistor is configured such that it operates at least partially in weak inversion so that, during the exposure phase, the pixel has a logarithmic response for illumination levels higher than a determined illumination level. This at least partially logarithmic response enables the pixel dynamic range to be increased.

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Mörigen, Switzerland

Eiko Doering