Patent ID: 6919549

Claim:
A method to increase effective differential dynamic range for a differential pixel detector exposed to optical energy having a common mode component, the differential pixel detector including a first photodetector and an associated first capacitor, and a second photodetector and an associated second capacitor, the method comprising: (a) at start of an integration time T, resetting voltage on each said capacitor to a fixed reference voltage; (b) during said integration time T, directly integrating photocurrent generated by said first photodetector in said first capacitor, and directly integrating photocurrent generated by said second photodetector in said second capacitor; (c) within said integration time T, before voltage developed across either said first capacitor or said second capacitor attains a saturation voltage V sat associated with said differential pixel detector resetting the developed voltage on said capacitor such that a desired differential pixel detector signal is still determinable.