Patent ID: 9578265
Date: 2017-02-21
CPC Classifications: H01L,H04N

Claim:
1. A method of acquiring an image using an image sensor comprising a pixel circuit having a photosensitive element, the method comprising: accumulating electrical charges from the photosensitive element of the pixel circuit during a first period; transferring the electrical charges accumulated during the first period to a first electrical charge storage region of the pixel circuit connected in series with a second electrical charge storage region of the pixel circuit; transferring the electrical charges from the first electrical charge storage region to the second electrical charge storage region of the pixel circuit and concurrently resetting the photosensitive element; accumulating electrical charges from the photosensitive element during a second period having a duration different from that of the first period; transferring the electrical charges accumulated during the second period to the first electrical charge storage region of the pixel circuit; successively transferring the electrical charges stored in the second and first storage regions to a common reading node of the pixel circuit separate from the first and second storage regions; acquiring a plurality of images from electrical charges transferred to the reading node from the first and second storage regions, respectively; and combining the acquired images into a resultant image.