METHOD AND HARDWARE FOR SINGLE-SHOT SIMULTANEOUS AE AND HDR IMAGING

CSIC and the University of Seville have developed a sensing method for simultaneous realization of auto-exposure (AE) and high dynamic range (HDR) during image capture. Hardware implementation based on pixel array circuitry that automatically adjusts its response to the ambient illumination and fits the radiance map of the scene into the available signal range. Linear sensor response for low levels of light intensity and non-linear sensing response for high levels of light intensity – “low” and “high” relative to the ambient illumination. No extra time apart from the photo-integration interval needed to generate a HDR image. Arbitrary radiance maps can be accommodated into the available signal range. Asynchronous operation of the proposed circuitry once the pixels are reset, requiring no external control.