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:
Apr. 18, 2023

Filed:

Jan. 18, 2022
Applicant:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (US);

Inventors:

Michael W. Kelly, North Reading, MA (US);

Megan H. Blackwell, Winchester, MA (US);

Curtis Colonero, Shrewsbury, MA (US);

James Wey, Arlington, MA (US);

Christopher David, Chelmsford, MA (US);

Justin Baker, North Andover, MA (US);

Joseph Costa, Bedford, MA (US);

Assignee:
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 5/355 (2011.01); H04N 5/235 (2006.01); H04N 5/232 (2006.01); H04N 5/3745 (2011.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 5/35581 (2013.01); H04N 5/2355 (2013.01); H04N 5/23254 (2013.01); H04N 5/23267 (2013.01); H04N 5/355 (2013.01); H04N 5/35572 (2013.01); H04N 5/37455 (2013.01);
Abstract

When imaging bright objects, a conventional detector array can saturate, making it difficult to produce an image with a dynamic range that equals the scene's dynamic range. Conversely, a digital focal plane array (DFPA) with one or more m-bit counters can produce an image whose dynamic range is greater than the native dynamic range. In one example, the DFPA acquires a first image over a relatively brief integration period at a relatively low gain setting. The DFPA then acquires a second image over longer integration period and/or a higher gain setting. During this second integration period, counters may roll over, possibly several times, to capture a residue modulus 2of the number of counts (as opposed to the actual number of counts). A processor in or coupled to the DFPA generates a high-dynamic range image based on the first image and the residues modulus 2.


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