line in either case the analog output lines from each column or row are fed to an analog to digital a d conversion unit which in turn provides digital signals to be further processed according to digital signal processing techniques the a d unit can be part of the sensor ic or a different ic depending on the system implementation an embodiment of the invention as an imaging system 500 is shown as a logical block diagram in fig5 the imaging system 500 includes a number of conventional elements such as an optical system having a lens 504 and aperture 508 that is exposed to the incident light reflected from a scene or object 502 the optical system properly channels the incident light towards the image sensor 514 which by virtue of an array of pixels 200 or 400 generates analog or digital sensor signals in response to an image of the object 502 being formed on the sensor 514 the various control signals used in the operation of the pixels 200 and 400 such as reset sample sample and address can be generated by a system controller 560 the controller 560 may include a microcontroller or a processor with input output i o interfaces that generates the control signals in response to instructions stored in a non volatile programmable memory alternatively a logic circuit that is tailored to generate the control signals with proper timing can be used the system controller also acts in response to user input via the local user interface.