Sony patents camera sensor that adjusts sensitivity to boost image quality
Sony has been granted a patent for a camera sensor design that improves image quality by handling light exposure more effectively. The system uses a circuit to convert light signals into voltage and then selects from different storage components based on the signal strength. This allows the sensor to manage both bright and dark areas of an image with better precision during simultaneous exposure.
In the filing’s own words
In a solid-state imaging element that performs exposure in all pixels at the same time, image quality is improved. A solid-state imaging element includes a previous-stage circuit, a plurality of capacitive elements, a selection circuit, and a subsequent-stage circuit. In the solid-state imaging element, the previous-stage circuit converts charges into a voltage using each of a plurality of conversion efficiencies and outputs it to the previous-stage node. One ends of the plurality of capacitive elements are connected to the previous-stage node in common. The selection circuit connects the other end of one of the plurality of capacitive elements to a subsequent-stage node. The subsequent-stage circuit reads the voltage via the subsequent-stage node.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A solid-state imaging element, comprising: a previous-stage circuit that converts charges into a voltage using each of a plurality of conversion efficiencies and outputs it to a previous-stage node; a plurality of capacitive elements whose one ends are connected to the previous-stage node in common; a selection circuit that connects another end of one of the plurality of capacitive elements to a subsequent-stage node; and a subsequent-stage circuit that reads the voltage via the subsequent-stage node, wherein the plurality of capacitive elements includes: a high capacitive element whose capacitance value is higher than a predetermined value; and a low capacitive element whose capacitance value is lower than the predetermined value, wherein the high capacitive element holds the voltage generated by a highest high conversion efficiency among the plurality of conversion efficiencies, and wherein the low capacitive element holds the voltage generated by a conversion efficiency lower than the highest conversion efficiency among the plurality of conversion efficiencies.
Facts
- Company
- Sony (SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION)
- Official title
- Solid-state imaging element
- Patent number
- US12732716B2
- Application number
- 18699397
- Filed
- Sep 2, 2022
- Granted
- Sep 8, 2026
- Inventors
- 6
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H04N 25/65 Electricity & electronicsH04N 25/532 Electricity & electronicsH04N 25/59 Electricity & electronicsH04N 25/771 Electricity & electronicsH04N 25/78 Electricity & electronicsH04N 25/79 Electricity & electronicsMore from Sony in Cameras & imaging
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.