Patent ID: 8441090

Claim:
A photodetector comprising: a pixel region comprising an optically sensitive material; pixel circuitry electrically coupled to the optically sensitive material, the pixel circuitry establishing a voltage over an integration period of time, wherein a signal is generated based on the voltage after the integration period of time, the signal having a noise level; wherein a rate of the current flow through the optically sensitive material at relatively high light levels causes the voltage to remain above a minimum threshold as a result of a non-linear relationship between the voltage and intensity of the light absorbed by the optically sensitive material of the respective pixel region, wherein generating of the signal occurs when the voltage is greater than the minimum threshold; a converter configured to convert the signal into digital pixel data, wherein the converter has an input range; and at least one of the pixel circuitry and the optically sensitive layer providing a dynamic range more than at least twice the ratio of the input range of the converter divided by the noise level.