Patent ID: 8773564
Filing Date: 2014-07-08
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An image sensor, comprising: a horizontal shift register electrically connected to a pixel array for receiving charge packets from the pixel array; a non-destructive sense node connected to an output of the horizontal shift register; a charge directing switch electrically connected to the non-destructive sense node, wherein the charge directing switch includes first and second outputs; a charge multiplying horizontal shift register electrically connected to the first output of the charge directing switch; a bypass horizontal shift register connected to the second output of the charge directing switch; wherein the charge directing switch selectively directs charge packets either to the charge multiplying horizontal shift register or to the bypass horizontal shift register; and wherein the charge directing switch directs charge packets smaller than a threshold level to the charge multiplying horizontal shift register and directs charge packets larger than a threshold level to the bypass horizontal shift register.