US 11,808,624 B2
Method for measuring ambient light and corresponding integrated device
Nicolas Moeneclaey, Vourey (FR)
Assigned to STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS, Grenoble (FR)
Filed by STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS, Grenoble (FR)
Filed on Oct. 13, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/500,432.
Claims priority of application No. 2011768 (FR), filed on Nov. 17, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0155143 A1, May 19, 2022
Int. Cl. G01J 1/42 (2006.01); G01J 1/44 (2006.01)
CPC G01J 1/4204 (2013.01) [G01J 1/44 (2013.01); G01J 2001/446 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for measuring ambient light, the method comprising:
successively synchronizing optical signal acquisition phases with extinction phases of a disruptive light source, wherein the disruptive light source periodically provides illumination phases and the extinction phases;
receiving an external control signal representative of the extinction phases of the disruptive light source;
accumulating, in each acquisition phase, photo-generated charges by at least one photosensitive pixel comprising a pinned photodiode;
transferring the accumulated photo-generated charges to an integration node; and
integrating, for each pixel, the transferred charges on the integration node during a series of the successive acquisition phases.