System for improving the dynamic range of solid-state imaging devices

1. A system for generating digital images having improved dynamic range comprising:

means for collecting a charge in a photodetector by exposing the photodetector with photons for a first predetermined period of time;

means for comparing the charge to a predetermined value;

means for normalizing a digital voltage value corresponding to the charge to generate a normalized voltage value if the charge is greater than or equal to the predetermined value;

means for storing the normalized voltage value; and

means for collecting additional charge in the photodetector by re-exposing the photodetector for a new period of time if the charge is less than the predetermined value.

2. The system of claim 1 further including means for non-destructively reading the charge.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for storing further comprises means for storing the normalized voltage value in a location in a frame memory.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the location in the frame memory is cleared before collecting the charge.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the means for storing the normalized voltage value in the location in the frame memory stores the normalized voltage value in the location in the frame memory only if the location in the frame memory is blank.

6. The system of claim 1 further including means for incrementing an index number before collecting additional charge in the photodetector.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for normalizing comprises means for shifting the digital voltage value to the right by a predetermined number of bits.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for normalizing comprises means for shifting the digital voltage value to the right by a number of bits equal to the index number.

9. The system of claim 1 further including means for determining if the charge is less than the predetermined value, and if the index number is greater than a predetermined index value, prior to storing the normalized voltage value.

10. The system of claim 1 further including means for determining if the charge is less than the predetermined value, and if the index number is greater than a width of the location in the frame memory, prior to storing the normalized voltage value.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for collecting additional charge comprises means for re-exposing the photodetector with photons for a period of time equal to

x*2 (N−1)

where x is equal to the first predetermined period of time and N is equal to the index number.

12. A system for generating digital images having improved dynamic range comprising:

a photodetector configured to collect a charge in by being exposed to photons for a first predetermined period of time;

a comparator configured to compare the charge to a predetermined value;

a normalizer configured to normalize a digital voltage value corresponding to the charge to generate a normalized voltage value if the charge is greater than or equal to the predetermined value;

a memory configured to store the normalized voltage value; and

wherein the photodetector collects additional charge by being re-exposed for a new period of time if the charge is less than the predetermined value.

13. The system of claim 12 further including a non-destructive charge reader.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the memory is a location in a frame memory.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the location in the frame memory is cleared before collecting the charge.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the normalized voltage value is stored in the location in the frame memory only if the location in the frame memory is blank.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein an index number is incremented before collecting additional charge in the photodetector.

18. The system of claim 12 wherein the normalizer shifts the digital voltage value to the right by a predetermined number of bits.

19. The system of claim 12 wherein the normalizer shifts the digital voltage value to the right by a number of bits equal to the index number.

20. The system of claim 12 , wherein prior to storing the normalized voltage value, the system determines if the charge is less than the predetermined value, and if the index number is greater than a predetermined index value.

21. The system of claim 12 wherein prior to storing the normalized voltage value, the system determines if the charge is less than the predetermined value, and if the index number is greater than a width of the location in the frame memory.

22. The system of claim 12 wherein the photodetector collects the additional charge by being re-exposed to photons for a period of time equal to

x*2 (N−1)

where x is equal to the first predetermined period of time and N is equal to the index number.

23. A method of generating digital images having improved dynamic range comprising:

collecting a charge in a photodetector by exposing the photodetector with photons for a first predetermined period of time;

comparing the charge to a predetermined value;

if the charge is greater than or equal to the predetermined value, normalizing a digital voltage value corresponding to the charge to generate a normalized voltage value and storing the normalized voltage value; and

if the charge is less than the predetermined value, collecting additional charge in the photodetector by re-exposing the photodetector for a new period of time.

24. The method of claim 23 further including non-destructively reading the charge.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of storing further comprises storing the normalized voltage value in a location in a frame memory.

26. The method of claim 25 further including clearing the location in the frame memory before collecting the charge.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of storing the normalized voltage value in the location in the frame memory comprises storing the normalized voltage value in the location in the frame memory only if the location in the frame memory is blank.

28. The method of claim 23 further including incrementing an index number before collecting additional charge in the photodetector.

29. The method of claim 23 wherein the normalizing step comprises shifting the digital voltage value to the right by a predetermined number of bits.

30. The method of claim 23 wherein the normalizing step comprises shifting the digital voltage value to the right by a number of bits equal to the index number.

31. The method of claim 23 further including, prior to the step of storing the normalized voltage value, determining if the charge is less than the predetermined value, and if the index number is greater than a predetermined index value.

32. The method of claim 23 further including, prior to the step of storing the normalized voltage value, determining if the charge is less than the predetermined value, and if the index number is greater than a width of the location in the frame memory.

33. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of collecting additional charge comprises re-exposing the photodetector with photons for a period of time equal to

X*2 (N−1)

where x is equal to the first predetermined period of time and N is equal to the index number.