US 12,231,788 B2
Method, apparatus, and system providing an imager with pixels having extended dynamic range
Nikolai E. Bock, San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by Lodestar Licensing Group LLC, Evanston, IL (US)
Filed on Nov. 13, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/389,123.
Application 13/112,912 is a division of application No. 11/509,710, filed on Aug. 25, 2006, granted, now 7,969,490, issued on Jun. 28, 2011.
Application 18/389,123 is a continuation of application No. 18/053,299, filed on Nov. 7, 2022, granted, now 11,832,004.
Application 18/053,299 is a continuation of application No. 17/087,305, filed on Nov. 2, 2020, granted, now 11,496,699, issued on Nov. 8, 2020.
Application 17/087,305 is a continuation of application No. 16/025,842, filed on Jul. 2, 2018, granted, now 10,863,119, issued on Dec. 8, 2020.
Application 16/025,842 is a continuation of application No. 15/243,266, filed on Aug. 22, 2016, granted, now 10,038,861, issued on Jul. 31, 2018.
Application 15/243,266 is a continuation of application No. 14/338,788, filed on Jul. 23, 2014, granted, now 9,426,384, issued on Aug. 23, 2016.
Application 14/338,788 is a continuation of application No. 13/112,912, filed on May 20, 2011, granted, now 8,917,339, issued on Dec. 23, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2024/0080582 A1, Mar. 7, 2024
Int. Cl. H04N 25/59 (2023.01); H01L 27/146 (2006.01); H04N 23/76 (2023.01); H04N 25/53 (2023.01); H04N 25/583 (2023.01); H04N 25/589 (2023.01); H04N 25/75 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 25/59 (2023.01) [H01L 27/14641 (2013.01); H04N 23/76 (2023.01); H04N 25/53 (2023.01); H04N 25/583 (2023.01); H04N 25/589 (2023.01); H04N 25/75 (2023.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of operating a pixel, comprising:
determining, based at least in part on a brightness level associated with a photosensor of the pixel, timing for charge transfer from the photosensor to a diffusion region of the pixel during a frame time;
transferring, at a first time associated with the frame time that is based at least in part on the determined timing, a first accumulated charge from the photosensor to the diffusion region based at least in part on applying, at the first time, a transfer control signal to a gate of a reset transistor between the photosensor and the diffusion region, and applying, at the first time, an enable signal to a drain of the reset transistor, wherein a pulse associated with the enable signal is shorter than a pulse associated with the transfer control signal;
transferring, at a second time associated the frame time that is after the first time, a second accumulated charge from the photosensor to the diffusion region based at least in part on applying, at the second time, the enable signal to the drain of the reset transistor, the second accumulated charge comprising charge accumulated at the photosensor between the first time and the second time; and
generating an image signal for the frame time based at least in part on the second accumulated charge transferred from the photosensor to the diffusion region.