An image sensor pixel has variable conversion gain to prevent overexposure of the pixel without reducing the exposure period. Under dim lighting conditions, the pixel operates with high conversion gain and is highly sensitive to light. When the incident light is bright, the pixel switches into a low conversion gain, low-sensitivity mode. The variable conversion gain is implemented by connecting a variable capacitive load in parallel with the photodiode of the image sensor pixel. When the inciden...

An amount of charges consonant with the intensity of the light entering photodiodes is generated, and the level of the charges is determined by a charge level determination circuit. Based on this determined charge level, a capacitance setting circuit sets a capacitance of an integrating capacitor unit in an integrating circuit. Thereafter, in the integrating circuit, the charges generated by the photodiodes are integrated in the integrating capacitor unit, and a voltage having a value consonant ...

A solid-state imaging device for preventing aging deterioration of image quality due to a thinning out reading mode in addition to a usual all pixel reading operation mode and maintaining a good image quality and a method for driving the same, including an imaging pixel portion 111 formed by arranging a plurality of pixels each including a photo-electric conversion element and a reading circuit of the photo-electric conversion element in a matrix, having an all pixel reading mode for reading pix...

A thin plate-shaped substrate 21 comprised of a monocrystal is provided with a piezoelectric element 24, and both ends of a movable piece 20 whose one surface is provided with a movable contact 25 are fixed and supported to a base 11. Then, by curving the movable piece 20 via the piezoelectric element 24, the movable contact 25 is brought in and out of contact with a pair of fixed contacts 38 and 39 that face the movable contact. With this arrangement, a subminiature micro-relay having a mechani...

A physical quantity distribution sensor is disclosed. The sensor comprises: a plurality of sensor/storage sections each having a sensor element for sensing a received physical quantity and a storage element for storing the information of physical quantity sensed by the sensor element; a selector for selecting at least one of the sensor/storage sections; and a plurality of buffers each capable of detecting and supplying the information stored in at least one selected sensor/storage section. This ...

The device for the acquisition and automatic processing of data obtained from optical codes comprises a CMOS optical sensor; an analog processing unit connected to the optical sensor; an analog/digital conversion unit connected to the analog processing unit; a logic control unit connected to the CMOS optical sensor, the analog processing unit and the analog/digital conversion unit; and a data-processing unit connected to the logic control unit and the analog/digital conversion unit. The CMOS opt...

Compact CMOS pixel sensors containing three or four total transistors and four or five control lines provide a high percentage of sensor area for the photodiode that measures light intensity. The CMOS pixel sensors thus have good light sensitivity. The CMOS pixel sensors also provide active reset operations yielding low noise when resetting node voltages. The low transistor count is achieved using the same transistors during both reset operations and readout operation. Reversing the current dire...

A ground referenced pixel reset circuit is disclosed. The ground referenced pixel reset circuit supplies a pixel with a reset signal such that when the reset signal is asserted high, the reset signal is at a ground referenced reset voltage independent from a supply voltage. The pixel includes a photosensor, such as a photodiode, that is coupled to a ground having a same potential as the ground of the reference voltage supply. In this manner, noise caused by fluctuations in the supply voltage is ...

The device for the acquisition and automatic processing of data obtained from optical codes comprises a CMOS optical sensor; an analog processing unit connected to the optical sensor; an analog/digital conversion unit connected to the analog processing unity; a logic control unit connected to the CMOS optical sensor, the analog processing unit and the analog/digital conversion unit; and a data-processing unit connected to the logic control unit and the analog/digital conversion unit. The CMOS op...

An anti-eclipse circuit of an image pixel includes a clamping circuit for pulling up a voltage of a reset signal output by the pixel and an eclipse detection circuit for controllably coupling the clamping circuit output to the output of the pixel. The clamping circuit includes a source follower transistor and a switching transistor. The eclipse detection circuit includes a comparator that is operated to detect an eclipse condition. The eclipse detection circuit outputs a control signal to cause ...