Patent ID: 7474345
Filing Date: 2009-01-06
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A solid state time domain image system comprising: a pixel array having a plurality of CMOS pixel sensors responsive to light, each pixel sensor having a value functionally related to incident light received thereby, wherein at least one of the plurality of CMOS pixel sensors comprising a photodiode coupled to provide an indication of a photodiode voltage to an associated comparator, the comparator comparing the photodiode voltage relative to a reference voltage corresponding to the reference, the comparator provides a state signal that indicates when the photodiode voltage has the predefined condition relative to the reference voltage; a detection system that compares the value of at least some of the pixel sensors relative to a reference during a sampling period defined by an integration time parameter and associates a time value with when the value has a predefined condition relative to the reference, the integration time parameter and the reference being variable during sampling in the time domain; and a memory device that stores an indication of time associated with when the photodiode voltage has the predefined condition relative to the reference voltage, the indication of time being stored at a memory location associated with the at least one pixel sensor and the reference voltage that enabled the comparator to provide the state signal.