Patent ID: 8134624
Filing Date: 2012-03-13
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: storing a first reset voltage as an intermediate reset voltage and a first signal voltage as an intermediate signal voltage for a pixel corresponding to a first integration time t overwriting the first reset voltage with a second reset voltage as the intermediate reset voltage and the first signal voltage with a second signal voltage as the intermediate signal voltage for the pixel if the difference between the first reset and signal voltages corresponds to a saturation condition of the pixel, wherein the second reset and signal voltages correspond to a second integration time t amplifying the intermediate reset and signal voltages using a first gain to provide a low gain intermediate differential signal and using a second gain that is greater than the first gain to provide a high gain intermediate differential signal; and providing a qualifying intermediate signal, wherein the qualifying intermediate signal is the high gain intermediate differential signal if the high gain intermediate differential signal is less than a reference threshold, and wherein the qualifying intermediate signal is the low gain intermediate differential signal if the high gain intermediate differential signal is greater than the reference threshold.