Sensors Unlimited

Goodrich Corporation

Robert Brubaker

Joshua Lund

Minlong Lin

Davis A Lange

Patrick Kuschak

Gavin Dyer

The present disclosure generally relates to HDR imaging techniques, and more specifically to HDR imaging techniques for use when a scene is moving. For time delay integration, the same scene location is repeatedly imaged on sequential rows, allowing for different gain values and/or exposure times to be utilized in different rows. The present disclosure utilizes a static or dynamic selection of gain values and/or exposure times on each row to enable stitching of the rows for high dynamic range.

HDR imaging

A pulse detector amplifier is disclosed. The pulse detector amplifier may have a detection switching leg that receives an input energy pulse. The pulse detector may have a mirror fast trigger including a trigger node and controlling a mirrored switching leg. The detection switching leg may trigger the trigger node in response to the input energy pulse. The pulse detector amplifier may also have a mirrored switching leg that controlled by the trigger node. The mirrored switching leg may control a voltage and/or current on the output node responsive to the input energy pulse. Thus, the pulse detector may generally include a cascode architecture, with a mirror fast trigger (which may include a FET) between the mirrored legs of the amplifier and enhancing the rapid triggering of the amplifier output. Thus the pulse detector may be power efficient, may have a small part count, and may be sensitive.

Pulse detection amplifier

A pixel cell includes a first integration capacitor, a second integration capacitor, a photo detector and a transistor. The first integration capacitor includes a first lead operatively coupled to the photo detector. The second integration capacitor includes a first lead. The transistor is operatively coupled between the leads of the first and second integration capacitors for enabling current flow between the photo detector and the second integration capacitor only once a threshold voltage is met on the first integration capacitor.

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Freehold, NJ, United States of America

Robert Brubaker