US 11,974,044 B2
Pixel sensor having adaptive exposure time
Xinqiao Liu, Medina, WA (US); Andrew Samuel Berkovich, Bellevue, WA (US); and Song Chen, Redmond, WA (US)
Assigned to Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC, Menlo Park, CA (US)
Filed by Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC, Menlo Park, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 19, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/180,207.
Application 17/180,207 is a continuation of application No. 16/544,136, filed on Aug. 19, 2019, granted, now 10,931,884.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/719,953, filed on Aug. 20, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0203830 A1, Jul. 1, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H01L 27/146 (2006.01); F21V 8/00 (2006.01); G02B 27/01 (2006.01); G06V 10/143 (2022.01); G06V 10/147 (2022.01); G06V 20/20 (2022.01); G06V 40/19 (2022.01); H04N 23/73 (2023.01); H04N 25/583 (2023.01); H04N 25/59 (2023.01); H04N 25/771 (2023.01); H04N 25/772 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 23/73 (2023.01) [G02B 27/0172 (2013.01); G06V 10/143 (2022.01); G06V 10/147 (2022.01); G06V 40/19 (2022.01); H01L 27/14605 (2013.01); H01L 27/14612 (2013.01); H04N 25/583 (2023.01); H04N 25/59 (2023.01); H04N 25/771 (2023.01); H04N 25/772 (2023.01); G02B 6/0016 (2013.01); G02B 6/0036 (2013.01); G02B 2027/0112 (2013.01); G02B 2027/0118 (2013.01); G02B 2027/0138 (2013.01); G02B 2027/0178 (2013.01); G02B 27/0179 (2013.01); G02B 2027/0187 (2013.01); G06V 20/20 (2022.01); H01L 27/14621 (2013.01); H01L 27/14627 (2013.01); H01L 27/14636 (2013.01); H01L 27/1465 (2013.01); H01L 27/14652 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus comprising:
a first photodiode;
a second photodiode; and
a controller configured to:
start a first exposure period in which the first photodiode generates a first charge in response to incident light;
start a second exposure period in which the second photodiode generates a second charge in response to the incident light;
stop the second exposure period for the second photodiode based on determining that a quantity of the first charge generated by the first photodiode reaches a threshold quantity;
connect an ADC to a first charge sensing unit to generate a first digital output for the first photodiode based on measuring a time elapsed after the first exposure period starts for the quantity of the first charge to reach the threshold quantity; and
connect the ADC to a second charge sensing unit to generate a second digital output for the second photodiode based on a quantity of the second charge generated by the second photodiode within the second exposure period.