Patent ID: 6987536

Claim:
An image sensor, comprising: a sensor array comprising a two-dimensional array of pixel elements, said sensor array outputting digital signals as k-bit pixel data representing an image of a scene, and said sensor array generating multiple representations of said image at a plurality of exposure times; and a data memory, in communication with said sensor array, for storing an m-bit time index value and said pixel data for each of said pixel elements, said time index value indicating one of said plurality of exposure times in which said pixel data exceeds a predetermined threshold level and for which said pixel data is stored, said time index value including a t-bit threshold indication for each of said pixel elements encoded within said m-bit time index value; wherein said data memory includes k+t bits of memory space for each of said pixel element; said data memory stores said time index value in t bits and said k-bit pixel data for pixel data being captured in a last one of said plurality of exposure times; and said data memory stores said time index value in m-bit and stores the lower r bits, where r=k+t−m, of said pixel data for pixel data exceeding said predetermined threshold level in other exposure times.