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:
May. 05, 2015
Filed:
Mar. 16, 2012
Jean-pierre Rostaing, La Cote Saint Andre, FR;
Michael Tchagaspanian, Saint Ismier, FR;
Arnaud Verdant, La Tour du Pin, FR;
Jean-Pierre Rostaing, La Cote Saint Andre, FR;
Michael Tchagaspanian, Saint Ismier, FR;
Arnaud Verdant, La Tour du Pin, FR;
Abstract
An image sensor includes a plurality of self-resetting pixels including: a mechanism converting detected electromagnetic energy into a proportional electric current; an integrating capacitor including a mechanism for fast charging to a first electric level and for controlled discharging to a second electric level; a mechanism for comparing the controlled discharge; a loopback mechanism, allowing automatic repetition of fast charging and controlled discharging cycles and counting of number of cycles occurring during a determined integration time; a mechanism measuring a residual electric charge present in the integrating capacitor on completion of the integration period; and a calibration mechanism using the measurement mechanism to measure and compensate for operating and production dispersions specific to each pixel.