Microsoft Corporation
TIME OF FLIGHT IMAGING USING LONG AND SHORT-EXPOSURE STORAGE NODES

Abstract:

Examples are disclosed that relate to time of flight imaging using long-exposure and short-exposure storage nodes for each pixel tap of a pixel in an image sensor. One example provides a time-of-flight camera, comprising an image sensor comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel of the plurality of pixels comprising one or more taps, each tap comprising a photogate, a short-exposure storage node configured to receive charge during a short-exposure interval of an integration period, a long-exposure storage node configured to receive charge during a long-exposure interval of the integration period, a short-exposure switch gate configured to direct charge generated during the short-exposure interval to the short-exposure storage node, a long-exposure switch gate configured to direct charge generated during the long-exposure period to the long-exposure storage node, and a readout mechanism comprising one or more floating diffusion capacitors.