A method for controlling an autoexposure function of a camera to a gray level setting, the method including exposing an imaging device of the camera for a first exposure duration and obtaining a first gray level of the imaging device of the camera, exposing the imaging device of the camera for a second exposure duration within the first exposure duration and the maximum exposure duration and obtaining a second gray level of the imaging device of the camera, determining whether the first gray level and the second gray level are upward-trending from the first exposure duration to the second exposure duration and if the first gray level and the second gray level are determined to be upward-trending, interpolating for a target exposure duration based on the gray level setting, the first exposure duration and the first gray level.

According to one embodiment, a solid-state image sensor includes a linear array of pixels, a timing generator that outputs a pulse signal, a plurality of clock drivers that generate each generate a different drive signal based on the pulse signal, an analog shift register that transfers the signal charges in one direction along the linear array by applying the drive signals to the respective transfer blocks. The plurality of drive signals generated by the plurality of clock drivers each have a different phase.

An imaging device having first and second pixels is described. The first pixel includes a first transfer transistor, a first reset transistor, a first amplifier transistor and a first select transistor. The second pixel includes a first photoelectric conversion element, a second transfer transistor, a second reset transistor, a second amplifier transistor and a second select transistor.

An imaging device having first and second pixels is described. The first pixel includes a first transfer transistor, a first reset transistor, a first amplifier transistor and a first select transistor. The second pixel includes a first photoelectric conversion element, a second transfer transistor, a second reset transistor, a second amplifier transistor and a second select transistor.

There are disclosed methods and apparatus (10) for measuring Raman spectral features (52) of a sample (12), from which background light of variable intensity is also received, for example due to the incidence of ambient light (14) or due to variable fluorescence. Detection pixels (42) and storage pixels (44) are defined on a CCD device (40). Laser probe light (22) is directed to the sample. In a repeated cycle of first and second intervals, in each first interval background light is received at detection pixels, and in each second interval both background light and scattered laser probe light is received at the detection pixels. The accumulated signal from each of the first and second intervals is retained in the storage pixels during the second and first intervals respectively. In other aspects laser probe light is directed to the sample during both of the first and second intervals, but has a different wavelength in each interval.

According to at least some example embodiments of the inventive concepts, a sensor includes a pixel array including a pixel configured to generate a first pixel signal and a second pixel signal, based on a light sensed during a window time of a sensing time; processing circuitry configured to select a measuring range from among a plurality of measuring ranges and set a width of the window time based on the selected measuring range; a converting circuit configured to convert the first and second pixel signals into digital signals; and a driving circuit configured to generate an overflow control signal, a first photo gate signal, and a second photo gate signal so as to sense the light during the window time, wherein the pixel includes, a photoelectric conversion element, first and second readout circuits configured to receive charges, and an overflow transistor configured to remove charges.

An image sensor includes a pixel array; a logic circuit configured to convert an image signal generated from the pixel array during a first period into image data; and a memory. The image data may be written in the memory during a second period, of which at least a portion overlaps the first period. The logic circuit may write dummy data in the memory during a third period overlapping the first period and not overlapping the second period.

An apparatus includes an image sensor having a plurality of pixels that form regions of interest (ROIs), analog-to-digital converter (ADC) banks, and multiplexers. Each respective multiplexer is electrically connected to (i) a corresponding ADC bank and (ii) a corresponding subset of the ROIs. The apparatus also includes control circuitry configured to obtain a full-resolution image of an environment by electrically connecting, by way of the multiplexers, each respective ADC bank to the associated respective ROI. The control circuitry is also configured to select a particular ROI based on the full-resolution image and obtain a plurality of ROI images of the particular ROI by (i) electrically connecting, to the particular ROI, a first ADC bank associated with the particular ROI and a second ADC bank associated with another ROI and (ii) digitizing pixels of the particular ROI by way of parallel operation of the first and second ADC banks.

Multi-stage auto-zeroing signal amplifiers are deployed within event-shuttering pixels of a quanta image sensor (QIS) pixel array to enable reliable per-pixel reporting of photonic events, down to resolution of a single photon strike, for each of a continuous sequence of sub-microsecond event-detection intervals.

An electronic imaging system for a digital camera or imaging device includes a secondary filter having a plurality of filter openings. Each of the filter openings configured to align with a respective light sensor positioned in a grid of light sensors on a CCD. Light filtering media located in the filter openings is employed to reduce light transmitted to the light sensors to either prevent overloads of the sensors or to calculate a corrected light sensor output from a light sensor positioned adjacent an overloaded light sensor.