The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Mar. 22, 2022

Filed:

Jun. 02, 2020
Applicant:

Raytheon Company, Waltham, MA (US);

Inventors:

Neil R. Malone, Goleta, CA (US);

Micky Harris, Lompoc, CA (US);

Adam M. Kennedy, Goleta, CA (US);

George Paloczi, Goleta, CA (US);

John L. Vampola, Santa Barbara, CA (US);

Christian M. Boemler, Goleta, CA (US);

Assignee:

Raytheon Company, Waltham, MA (US);

Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 5/355 (2011.01); H04N 5/378 (2011.01); H04N 5/3745 (2011.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 5/3559 (2013.01); H04N 5/35509 (2013.01); H04N 5/378 (2013.01); H04N 5/37452 (2013.01); H04N 5/37455 (2013.01);
Abstract

A digital pixel includes a capacitive transimpedance amplifier (CTIA) coupled to a photodiode that receives an electrical charge and output an integration voltage. An integration capacitor coupled to the CTIA accumulates the integration voltage over an integration period. A comparator compares the accumulated integration voltage with a threshold voltage and generates a control signal at a first level each time the accumulated integration voltage is greater than the threshold voltage. A charge subtraction circuit receives the control signal at the first level and discharges the accumulated integration voltage each time the control signal at the first level is received from the comparator. An analog or digital counter receives the control signal at the first level and adjusts a counter value each time the control signal is received from the comparator. An output interface communicates the counter value to an image processing circuit at an end of the integration period.


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