Patent ID: 7518645

Claim:
An improved CMOS imaging array comprising a plurality of individual pixels arranged in rows and columns, each pixel comprising: a) a photodetector receiving incident light and generating a signal output; b) a first relatively lower gain, wide dynamic range amplifier circuit responsive to the output of the photodetector, the first circuit having a first sense node and a first amplifier, the first circuit optimized for a linear response to high light level input signals; c) a second, independent, relatively higher gain, lower dynamic range amplifier circuit responsive to the output of the photodetector, the second circuit having a second sense node and a second amplifier, the second circuit optimized to provide a high signal to noise ratio for low light level input signals; d) a first output select circuit for directing the output of the first amplifier circuit to a first output multiplexer; e) a second, independent, output select circuit for directing the output of the second independent amplifier circuit to a second output multiplexer; wherein separate outputs of the first and second circuits are provided for each of the individual pixels of the CMOS imaging array such that a signal from each of the first and second amplifier circuits can be independently and simultaneously read out from the pixel.