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:
Jan. 07, 2025

Filed:

Jul. 14, 2022
Applicant:

Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);

Inventors:

Nikolai E. Bock, San Jose, CA (US);

Andrew Kenneth John McMahon, San Carlos, CA (US);

Dario Clocchiatti, Los Gatos, CA (US);

Emanuele Mandelli, Mountain View, CA (US);

Gennady A. Manokhin, Cupertino, CA (US);

Robert H. Mullis, Santa Cruz, CA (US);

Assignee:

Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 5/04 (2006.01); G04F 10/00 (2006.01); H01L 27/146 (2006.01); H04N 23/71 (2023.01); H04N 23/73 (2023.01); G11C 11/419 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 23/73 (2023.01); G04F 10/005 (2013.01); H04N 5/04 (2013.01); H04N 23/71 (2023.01); G11C 11/419 (2013.01); H01L 27/14634 (2013.01);
Abstract

A pulse-width modulation (PWM) image sensor is described herein. The PWM image sensor may have a stacked configuration. A top wafer of the PWM image sensor may have a charge-to-time converter and a logic wafer, stacked with the top wafer, may include a time-to-digital converter. The PWM image sensor may utilize variable transfer functions to avoid highlight compression and may utilize non-linear time quantization. A threshold voltage, as input to a charge-to-time converter, may additionally be controlled to affect light detection, dynamic range, and other features associated with the PWM image sensor.


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