Apple Just Patented an Image Sensor with 20 Stops of Dynamic Range

by consumer451on 6/27/25, 6:05 AMwith 4 comments
by consumer451on 6/27/25, 6:05 AM

From a very informative discussion on r/cinematography, which may have one of the best signal to noise ratios of any internet forum:

> I'm reading the patent abstract and it sounds like they're achieving 20 stops with a lot of CPU logic via a logic die being attached to the sensor/attached to each photosite.

> "An image sensor includes a logic die, including column readout circuits and bitlines connected to the column readout circuits. A sensor die is overlaid on the logic die. The image sensor includes an array of detector elements, each including a sensing circuit on the sensor die, which includes a pho-todiode, a floating diffusion node connected to one of the terminals of the photodiode, a reset transistor coupled to the floating diffusion node, and a source follower transistor. In each detector element, a pixel circuit on the logic die includes a select transistor, which has an input coupled to the output of the source follower and an output coupled to one of the bitlines. A current memory circuit is coupled to the input of the select transistor and is configured to sense and output a signal indicative of a level of noise in the detector element."

https://old.reddit.com/r/cinematography/comments/1lkijkw/app...

by Oarchon 6/27/25, 11:43 AM

Looks really promising!

Warning: The popups on this page are beyond obnoxious.

by rickydrollon 6/27/25, 1:58 PM

It appears it would work nicely in a dedicated astrophotography camera, particularly for solar eclipses.

by kjkjadksjon 6/27/25, 4:56 PM

Begun, the dynamic range wars, have.