System and methods for dynamic range extension using variable length integration time sampling

Abstract

A photo-detector generated signal is measured as a sample set comprising a long signal and a short signal. The short signal is scaled to the value of the long signal if the long signal exceeds a dynamic range associated with the photo detector. In one embodiment, the short signal is obtained during a short time interval that is at the approximate middle of a long time interval such that the short and long intervals share a common median time value. Given such symmetry, an approximately linear signal yields a proportionality parameter between the long and short signals thereby allowing the short signal to be scaled. The proportionality parameter facilitates determination of an integration independent component of the photo detector signal that should be removed from the measured long and short signals before scaling. A plurality of sample sets can also be processed such that each sample set overlaps with its neighboring sample set, thereby increasing the effective number of sample sets.