Image sensor having an extended dynamic range upper limit

摘要

An apparatus is described that includes an image sensor having timing and control circuitry and threshold circuitry. The timing and control circuitry is to generate signals to cause multiple transfers of charge from a photo-diode to a storage capacitor within a pixel cell during an image capture sequence. The threshold circuitry is to track the storage capacitor's voltage over the course of the multiple transfers and recognize when the storage capacitor's voltage reaches a threshold.

主权项

1. An apparatus, comprising:
an image sensor comprising: timing and control circuitry to generate signals to cause multiple transfers of charge from a photo-diode to a storage capacitor within a pixel cell during an image capture sequence; threshold circuitry to track said storage capacitor's voltage over the course of said multiple transfers and recognize when said storage capacitor's voltage reaches a threshold, wherein said threshold circuitry is coupled to said timing and control circuitry, said timing and control circuitry to cease additional transfers of charge within an image capture sequence in response to said threshold circuitry's recognition that said storage capacitor's voltage has reached a threshold; circuitry to perform one of the following: a time-of-flight calculation that accounts for said storage capacitor's voltage reaching said threshold; extrapolate an optical intensity received by said photo-diode based on when said storage capacitor's voltage reached said threshold.