Patent ID: 9686490
Date: 2017-06-20
CPC Classifications: H04N

Claim:
1. A pixel cell comprising: a first integration capacitor with a first lead thereof operatively coupled to a photo detector; a reset switch connected to a reset voltage, the reset switch being directly coupled to the first integration capacitor and uncoupled to the photo detector; a second integration capacitor with a first lead operatively coupled in series with respect to the current path for the electrical signal output by the photo detector; and a transistor receiving a gate voltage input at its gate, the transistor being operatively coupled between the leads of the first and second integration capacitors, wherein the transistor is positioned so that at least one of current generated at the photo detector and current proportional to the current generated at the photo detector that reaches the first integration capacitor must pass through the transistor, and wherein, the transistor controls current flow to the first and second integration capacitors causing an integration voltage of the pixel cell to change from being a function of only the first integration capacitor to being a function of both the first and second integration capacitors.