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:
Oct. 24, 2023

Filed:

Jun. 29, 2021
Applicants:

Stmicroelectronics (Research and Development) Limited, Marlow, GB;

Stmicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) Sas, Grenoble, FR;

Inventors:

Jeffrey M. Raynor, Edinburgh, GB;

Sophie Taupin, Saint Egreve, FR;

Jean-Jacques Rouger, Saint Pierre de Mesage, FR;

Pascal Mellot, Lans en Vercors, FR;

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01J 1/42 (2006.01); G01J 1/44 (2006.01); H01L 23/58 (2006.01); H01L 27/144 (2006.01); H01L 31/02 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G01J 1/4204 (2013.01); G01J 1/44 (2013.01); H01L 23/585 (2013.01); H01L 27/1443 (2013.01); H01L 27/1446 (2013.01); H01L 31/02019 (2013.01); G01J 2001/446 (2013.01); G01J 2001/448 (2013.01);
Abstract

An optical sensor includes pixels. Each pixel has a photodetector. A readout circuit performs a process over an exposure time where the photodetector is connected to a reverse bias voltage supply to reset a voltage across the photodetector, and the photodetector is disconnected from the reverse bias voltage supply until that the voltage across the photodetector decreases in response to received ambient light. An ambient light level is then determine an based on a number of times the voltage across the photodetector is reset over the exposure time.


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