Patent ID: 7916196

Claim:
An image sensing microelectronic device comprising: at least one detector including at least one photodetector element, at least one integration capacitor associated with the photodetector element and configured to deliver at least one analog signal able to vary at least in relation to quantities of photons received by the photodetector element, and clock-free or asynchronous analog/digital conversion means comprising: a comparator configured to receive an analog signal from an integration capacitor and to deliver a two-states output signal which, in relation to the analog signal, is able to be in a first stable state or in a second state, charge injector means configured to modify the analog signal by injecting at least a quantity of charges into the capacitor, and an asynchronous command means commanding the charge injector means, configured to receive the two-states signal and configured to command the injector means, the asynchronous command means comprising: means for identifying at least one state change of the signal output by the comparator, from the first state to the second state, and means for triggering automatically and asynchronously, consecutive to the state change, plural consecutive charge injections by the injector for as long as the output signal leaving the comparator is held in the second state.