KEYWORDS: Sensors, Image sensors, Double positive medium, Image processing, CMOS sensors, Eye, Signal to noise ratio, Analog electronics, Photodetectors, Digital signal processing
The pixel array in a conventional image sensor performs worse than the human retina mainly in dynamic range and dark limit. These limitations may be overcome by introducing others, but we aim to overcome them without limitation given biological precedent and inspiration. Whereas conventional image sensors use linear analog pixels in a single-tier process, we design nonlinear digital pixels for multiple-tier processes. A wide dynamic range is easily achieved with nonlinearity, while image quality is ensured through digital signal processing and in-pixel analog-to-digital conversion. For low dark limit and high spatial resolution, we exploit the high fill factor and heterogeneous integration of emerging multiple-tier processes. Our progress is demonstrated with experimental results from three image sensor prototypes, which provide supporting evidence for the proposed approach.
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