Abstract: Look ahead shutter pointer used for exposure control determination. One shutter is used to remove the pixels from reset. This begins the integration process. The pixels are integrated by turning them on one by one and sampling their outputs sometime later. The amount of time between turning them on and sampling them can be varied. This can be done while the system is being used. In the preferred embodiment the time of exposure is changed at the interface between two frames to avoid problems in the image.

Abstract: An improved bus system having input ports and output ports for transporting data is described. The bus system includes bus lines, switching elements, and a sequencing element. The bus lines channel data from the input ports to the output ports. The switching elements are configured to place data from the input ports onto the bus lines. Each of the switching elements enable one of a group of data to be placed on each of the bus lines simultaneously. The sequencing element selects a predetermined number of the group of data on the bus lines and sequentially directs the selected number of data to the output ports at different points in time.

Abstract: A random access memory stores values indicative of fixed pattern noise from a pixel circuit, which are used to compensate the pixel output to compensate for the fixed pattern noise.

Abstract: A circuit has an analog-to-digital converter that, during a first mode of the circuit, is configured to use capacitors of the converter to furnish a digital representation of an analog input voltage. The circuit also has an amplifier that has a gain responsive to a capacitance, and the switches are configured to, during a second mode of the circuit, selectively connect the capacitors to the amplifier to select the gain.