Television – Camera – system and detail – Solid-state image sensor
Reexamination Certificate
2008-03-25
2008-03-25
Villecco, John M. (Department: 2622)
Television
Camera, system and detail
Solid-state image sensor
C250S208100
Reexamination Certificate
active
10479721
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 (50) each including a photo-sensor element (PD) producing charge carriers in proportion to its illumination and storage means (C1) 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 (M1; M3) 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.
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Doering Eiko
Grupp Joachim
Asulab S.A.
Sughrue & Mion, PLLC
Villecco John M.
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