Multi-layered high-dynamic range sensor

1. An image capturing device, comprising:

a plurality of sensing elements, each sensing element including a plurality of layers of varying sensitivities,

wherein the plurality of layers is configured to measure impinging photons,

wherein each layer of each sensing element is configured to attenuate flow of the photons into the next layer, and

wherein each layer measures the photons at different sensitivity; and

a processor configured to determine, for each sensing element, a first layer with the measurements that do not show saturation from the measurements of the plurality of layers, the processor configured to record the measurements from the first layer as a measurement for each sensing element such that the first layer for each sensing element may be a different layer of the plurality of layers depending on which layer the measurements do not show saturation, the processor further configured to combine the measurements of the plurality of sensing elements.

2. The image capturing device of claim 1 , wherein a top layer of the plurality of layers is configured to be most sensitive.

3. The image capturing device of claim 2 , wherein a second layer coupled to and below the top layer is configured to be less sensitive than the first layer.

4. The image capturing device of claim 2 , wherein each successive layer below the top layer is configured to be successively less sensitive than the layer above.

5. The images capturing device of claim 1 , wherein each layer includes additional circuitry to calibrate each sensing element.

6. The image capturing device of claim 1 , wherein sensitivity of each layer of each sensing element is configured to be linear so that an output image of the image sensor is piece-wise linear.

7. The image capturing device of claim 1 , wherein sensitivity of each layer of each sensing element is configured to be non-linear so that an output image of the image sensor is piece-wise non-linear.

8. The image capturing device of claim 1 , wherein sensitivity of each layer of each sensing element is configured to be logarithmic so that an output image of the image sensor is piece-wise logarithmic.

9. A method, comprising:

measuring photons incident on a plurality of layers of each sensing element of a plurality of image sensing elements in an image sensor;

configuring each layer of the plurality of layers to measure the photons at different sensitivity;

determining, for each sensing element, a first layer with the measurements that do not show saturation from the measurements of the plurality of layers;

recording the measurements from the first layer as a measurement for each sensing element such that the first layer for each sensing element may be at a different layer of the plurality of layers depending on which layer the measurements do not show saturation; and

combining the measurements of the plurality of sensing elements.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein configuring each layer comprises

configuring a top layer of the plurality of layers to be most sensitive.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein configuring each layer comprises

configuring each successive layer below the top layer to be successively less sensitive than the layer above.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein configuring each layer comprises

configuring sensitivity of each layer of each sensing element to be non-linear so that an output image of the image sensor is piece-wise non-linear.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

multiple means for measuring incident photons, each means for measuring configured with multiple layers of varying sensitivities;

means for determining, for each means for measuring, a first layer with the measurements that do not show saturation from the measurements of the multiple layers;

means for recording the measurements from the first layer as a measurement for each means for measuring such that the first layer for each means for measuring may be at a different layer of the plurality of layers depending on which layer the measurements do not show saturation; and

means for combining the measurements of the plurality of means for measuring.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein a top layer of the multiple layers is configured with most sensitivity.