Patent ID: 6970195
Filing Date: 2005-11-29
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An image sensor, comprising: a sensor array comprising a two-dimensional array of photodetectors and a plurality of analog-to-digital (A/D) converters forming a two-dimensional array of pixel elements, each pixel element comprising a photodetector and at least a portion of an A/D converter, each of the pixel elements outputting digital signals as pixel data representing an image of a scene, wherein each A/D converter in the sensor array is connected to a group of at least two neighboring photodetectors for receiving analog output signals from the group of photodetectors, each A/D converter multiplexing between the photodetectors in the group to convert the analog output signals of the photodetectors into digital signals as the pixel data associated with the photodetectors; each group of photodetectors connected to an A/D converter comprising a first photodetector having a first sensitivity level and a second photodetector having a second sensitivity level, all of the first photodetectors in the sensor array forming a first set of photodetectors having the first sensitivity level and all of the second photodetectors in the sensor array forming a second set of photodetectors having the second sensitivity level; wherein the first set of photodetectors having the first sensitivity level generates the analog output signals after a first exposure time and the second set of photodetectors having the second sensitivity level generates the analog output signals after a second exposure time different than the first exposure time, the first exposure time and the second exposure time being within a snapshot of the scene; and the A/D converters multiplex between the first and second photodetectors in the groups according to the first and second exposure times.