Patent ID: 8395685

Claim:
A method for generating a wide dynamic range image, comprising the steps of: providing a semiconductor block extending from an input face along a reference axis, wherein points in the semiconductor block are characterized by hole-electron pair photocharge generation coefficient as a function of wavelength of incident illumination across a predetermined wavelength range; directing an optical signal to be incident on the input face, to generate a photo-generated spatial charge distribution in the semiconductor block; detecting the photo-generated spatial charge distribution resident in a plurality of substantially planar regions of the semiconductor block, wherein the plurality of substantially planar regions are (i) non-intersecting, (ii) at least partially transverse to the reference axis, (iii) mutually spaced apart along the reference axis, and (iv) overlapping in the direction of the reference axis; and generating an image signal representative of a weighted sum of the detected spatial charge distributions for the plurality of substantially planar regions of the semiconductor block, wherein each of the weights of the weighted sum is proportional to the integral of the photocharge generation coefficient over the predetermined wavelength range for the respective substantially planar region; wherein the semiconductor block includes a plurality of stacked signal integration wells at a single pixel location; and wherein the stacked signal integration wells are configured to perform contrast blending at each pixel location.