Importance

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Abstract

A system and a method for imaging a scene of interest utilize variable exposure periods that have durations based upon detecting a fixed voltage drop in order to determine the scene segment radiance. The rate of voltage drop corresponds to the degree of scene segment radiance, such that high radiant scene segments yield faster voltage drops than lower radiant scene segments. The variable exposure period is determined within each pixel in a pixel array of the system to gather exposure periods from different segments of the scene being imaged. The measured exposure periods are translated into grayscale information that can be used to generate a composite image having various levels of grayscale that is representative of the imaged scene. Each pixel includes a photo sensor, an analog-to-digital converter and a memory to measure, digitize and store the exposure period. The memory contains a number of memory cells having a three-transistor configuration that are each connected to a bi-directional bit line. The bi-directional bit line functions as both a read bit line and a write bit line. The three-transistor configuration allows for non-destructive read-outs of data stored in the memory cells.

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First Claim