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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 25, 2008
Filed:
May. 31, 2002
Eiko Doering, Mörigen, CH;
Joachim Grupp, Enges, CH;
Eiko Doering, Mörigen, CH;
Joachim Grupp, Enges, CH;
Asulab S.A., Marin, CH;
Abstract
There is disclosed a CMOS technology image sensor and a method for operating such an image sensor. This sensor includes a plurality of pixels () each including a photo-sensor element (PD) producing charge carriers in proportion to its illumination and storage means (C) capable of being coupled and uncoupled from the photo-sensor element at a determined instant in order to store, on a memory node (B) of the pixel, a measuring signal representative of the charge carriers produced by said photo-sensor element during an exposure phase. Each pixel includes at least one MOS transistor (M; M) connected in series via its drain or source terminals to the photo-sensor element, and the transistor is configured such that it operates at least partially in weak inversion so that, during the exposure phase, the pixel has a logarithmic response for illumination levels higher than a determined illumination level. This at least partially logarithmic response enables the pixel dynamic range to be increased.