US 11,856,301 B2
Method and system for extending image dynamic range using per-pixel coding of pixel parameters
Roman Genov, Toronto (CA); Kiriakos Kutulakos, Toronto (CA); Navid Sarhangnejad, Toronto (CA); Rahul Gulve, Toronto (CA); and Hui Ke, Toronto (CA)
Assigned to THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO, Toronto (CA)
Appl. No. 17/606,969
Filed by THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO, Toronto (CA)
PCT Filed Jun. 19, 2020, PCT No. PCT/CA2020/050858
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 27, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/252592, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 24, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/864,895, filed on Jun. 21, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0239822 A1, Jul. 28, 2022
Int. Cl. H04N 23/741 (2023.01); G01S 17/894 (2020.01); G01S 7/481 (2006.01); H04N 23/73 (2023.01); H04N 23/76 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 23/741 (2023.01) [G01S 7/4816 (2013.01); G01S 17/894 (2020.01); H04N 23/73 (2023.01); H04N 23/76 (2023.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for extending image sensor dynamic range using coded pixels, the image sensor comprising a photodetector array to convert an incoming light signal into a photo-generated electronic signal, the method comprising:
providing pixel codes to pixels in the photodetector array for each subframe of a frame;
receiving a sensor readout of each of the pixels in the photodetector array for each subframe;
for each subframe, based on the pixel code, routing each sensor readout value for collection at one or more taps or to a drain, the pixel codes determined adaptively based on previously received pixel values by sorting the collected sensor readout values on each tap based on the pixel codes for a previous subframe as the sensor readouts of a current subframe are collected;
combining the collected sensor readout values at each of the taps to determine a single pixel value for the frame; and
outputting the single pixel value for each pixel for the frame.