IMAGE SENSING DEVICE AND IMAGE SENSING METHOD

摘要

The present invention relates to an image sensing device and to an image sensing method capable of extending the dynamic range representing the brightness of light in an image capturing device such as a digital camera. The image sensing device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes: a light sensing unit including a plurality of pixels which convert the light reflected by an input subject into an electrical signal to create an output value; a comparing unit for determining whether the output value from each of the plurality of pixels reaches a preset reference value for a preset first capturing time; a clock unit for measuring the attainment time when the output value is determined to attain the preset reference value for the preset first capturing time by the comparing unit; and a memory unit for calculating the brightness of an image by using the determined and measured values by the comparing unit and the clock unit, and storing the brightness of the image. The image sensing method according to one embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of: creating an output value by converting the light reflected by an input subject into an electrical signal; determining whether the output value from each of the plurality of pixels attains a preset reference value for a preset first capturing time; measuring the time of attainment when the output value is determined to attain the preset reference value for the preset first capturing time; and calculating brightness of the image by using the measured time of attainment.