US6665010B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Controlling integration times of pixel sensors
Assignee: Intel Corp
•
Filing: 1998-07-21
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Granted: 2003-12-16
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Expires: 2018-07-21
Abstract
Abstract An imager includes groups of pixel sensing units and a control circuit. Each group of the pixel sensing units integrates photons from a different associated portion of an optical image over an integration interval for the group. The control circuit independently regulates the integration intervals for the groups. Photons from an optical image may be integrated to capture a pixel image. An energy may be determined by the integration, and times for the energy to reach different predetermined threshold levels may be measured. The duration of the integration may be regulated based on the measured times.
Inventors
- 👤 Tonia G. Morris
- 👤 Cynthia S. Bell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 04:20
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N25/00; H04N25/70; H04N25/76; H04N25/77; H04N23/00; H04N23/70; H04N23/71; H04N25/50; H04N25/53; H04N25/533; H04N25/772
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
An imager comprising: groups of pixel sensing units, each group of pixel sensing units to integrate photons from a different associated portion of an optical image over an integration interval for the group to provide indications of light intensities; and a circuit to independently regulate durations of the integration intervals for the groups in response to the indications of the light intensities; wherein each group is associated with a concentric brightness circle of a lens.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
75 words
An imager comprising: groups of pixel sensing units, each group of pixel sensing units to integrate photons from a different associated portion of an optical image over an integration interval for the group to provide indications of light intensities; and a circuit to independently regulate durations of the integration intervals for the groups in response to the indications of the light intensities; wherein each group is associated with a concentric brightness circle of a lens.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
A camera comprising: groups of pixel sensing units, each group of pixel sensing units to integrate photons from a different associated portion of an optical image over an integration interval for the group to provide indications of light intensities; a control circuit to independently regulate the integration intervals; and a processor coupled to the control circuit to determine the durations of the integration intervals for the groups in response to the indications of the light intensities, wherein each group is associated with a concentric brightness circle of a lens.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
89 words
A camera comprising: groups of pixel sensing units, each group of pixel sensing units to integrate photons from a different associated portion of an optical image over an integration interval for the group to provide indications of light intensities; a control circuit to independently regulate the integration intervals; and a processor coupled to the control circuit to determine the durations of the integration intervals for the groups in response to the indications of the light intensities, wherein each group is associated with a concentric brightness circle of a lens.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
85 words
An imager comprising: groups of pixel sensing units, each group of pixel sensing units to integrate photons from a different associated portion of an optical image over an integration interval for the group to provide indications of light intensities; and a circuit to independently regulate durations of the integration intervals for the groups in response to the indications of the light intensities, wherein each group is associated with a pixel color sensed by the group, the pixel color being different for each of the groups.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
85 words
An imager comprising: groups of pixel sensing units, each group of pixel sensing units to integrate photons from a different associated portion of an optical image over an integration interval for the group to provide indications of light intensities; and a circuit to independently regulate durations of the integration intervals for the groups in response to the indications of the light intensities, wherein each group is associated with a pixel color sensed by the group, the pixel color being different for each of the groups.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The imager of claim 3 , wherein the groups sense red, green and blue pixel colors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
99 words
A camera comprising: groups of pixel sensing units, each group of pixel sensing units to integrate photons from a different associated portion of an optical image over an integration interval for the group to provide indications of light intensities; a control circuit to independently regulate the integration intervals; and a processor coupled to the control circuit to determine the durations of the integration intervals for the groups in response to the indications of the light intensities, wherein each group is associated with a pixel color sensed by the group, the pixel color being different for each of the groups.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
99 words
A camera comprising: groups of pixel sensing units, each group of pixel sensing units to integrate photons from a different associated portion of an optical image over an integration interval for the group to provide indications of light intensities; a control circuit to independently regulate the integration intervals; and a processor coupled to the control circuit to determine the durations of the integration intervals for the groups in response to the indications of the light intensities, wherein each group is associated with a pixel color sensed by the group, the pixel color being different for each of the groups.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The camera of claim 5 , wherein the groups sense red, green and blue pixel colors.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
44 words
A method comprising: integrating photons from an optical image to capture a pixel image; determining an energy indicated by the integration; measuring times for the energy to reach different predetermined threshold levels; and regulating the duration of the integration based on the measured times.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
44 words
A method comprising: integrating photons from an optical image to capture a pixel image; determining an energy indicated by the integration; measuring times for the energy to reach different predetermined threshold levels; and regulating the duration of the integration based on the measured times.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein the act of integrating comprises: indicating intensities of pixels of the optical image.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the act of determining the energy comprises: counting a number of the intensities that exceed a predetermined intensity threshold.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the act of measuring times comprises: determining when the number exceeds predetermined threshold numbers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
An imager comprising: pixel sensing units, each pixel sensor to indicate a light intensity; and a measurement circuit to indicate a distribution of times for the indicated light intensities to reach a first predetermined intensity threshold.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
An imager comprising: pixel sensing units, each pixel sensor to indicate a light intensity; and a measurement circuit to indicate a distribution of times for the indicated light intensities to reach a first predetermined intensity threshold.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
The imager of claim 11 , wherein the measurement circuit comprises: comparators, each comparator to indicate when a different one of the light intensities exceeds the first predetermined intensity; and a summer coupled to the comparators to indicate a number of the intensities that exceed the predetermined intensity threshold.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
56 words
The imager of claim 12 , wherein the measurement circuit farther comprises: additional comparators, each additional comparator coupled to the summer to compare the number to different predetermined number thresholds; and a time stamp circuit to, based on the comparisons by the additional comparators, indicate times at which the number exceeds the different predetermined number thresholds.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The imager of claim 13 , wherein the time stamp circuit comprises: registers individually activated by the additional comparators to load a clock signal when the number exceeds the different predetermined number thresholds.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
54 words
A camera comprising: pixel sensors, each pixel sensor to indicate a light intensity; measurement circuit to indicate a duration for a predetermined number of the light intensities to exceed a predetermined intensity threshold; and a processor coupled to the measurement circuit to use the duration to establish an integration interval for the pixel sensors.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
54 words
A camera comprising: pixel sensors, each pixel sensor to indicate a light intensity; measurement circuit to indicate a duration for a predetermined number of the light intensities to exceed a predetermined intensity threshold; and a processor coupled to the measurement circuit to use the duration to establish an integration interval for the pixel sensors.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
47 words
The camera of claim 15 , wherein the measurement comprises: comparators, each comparator to indicate when a different one of the light intensities exceeds the first predetermined intensity; and a summer coupled to the comparators to indicate how many of the intensities exceed the predetermined intensity threshold.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The camera of claim 16 , wherein the measurement circuit further comprises: a timer coupled to the summer to indicate the duration.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
41 words
The camera of claim 17 , wherein the timer comprises: another comparator to compare the indication from the summer to an indication of the predetermined threshold; and a register to load a value indicative of a clock based on the comparison.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-12-15 | 2007-06-16 | 2007-12-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-12-15 | 2011-06-16 | 2011-12-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-12-15 | 2015-06-16 | 2015-12-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |