Ambient luminosity level detection based on discharge times

1. A method wherein:

when a photodiode reaches a discharge threshold, the updating of a counter ( 109 ) is triggered and the photodiode is reset;

a discharge time of the photodiode is measured after each resetting of the photodiode ; and

a light intensity received by the photodiode is deduced from the state of the counter at the end of a time interval such that the sum of the discharge times measured during said interval is equal to a reference period.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said reference period is selected according to the frequency of A.C. signals provided by an electric power supply network.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said reference period is a multiple of 50 ms.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein a charge level of the photodiode at the end of said time interval is measured.

5. A use of the method of claim 1 , for detecting the ambient luminosity level close to the photodiode.

6. A circuit comprising a photodiode, a counter, and a control circuit configured to:

when the photodiode reaches a discharge threshold, trigger an update of the counter and reset the photodiode;

measure a discharge time of the photodiode after each resetting of the photodiode ; and

deduce a light intensity received by the photodiode from the state of the counter at the end of a time interval such that the sum of the discharge times measured during said interval is equal to a reference period.