Image sensor apparatus and method for obtaining multiple exposures with zero interframe time
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- circuitry for;
receiving an analog signal associated with an image of an image sensor, wherein the analog signal includes;
i) at least one analog pixel value of a pixel array of the image sensor;
ii) a line of analog pixel values associated with a line of pixels of the pixel array;
oriii) a frame of analog pixel values associated with a frame of pixels of the pixel array;
generating a first amplified analog signal associated with the image by amplifying the analog signal utilizing a first gain, wherein the first gain is applied to the analog pixel values associated with (i), (ii), or (iii);
generating a second amplified analog signal associated with the image by amplifying the analog signal utilizing a second gain, wherein the second gain is applied to the analog pixel values associated with (i), (ii), or (iii);
transmitting the first amplified analog signal and the second amplified analog signal to an analog-to-digital converter circuit;
converting the first amplified analog signal to a first digital signal utilizing the analog-to-digital converter circuit;
converting the second amplified analog signal to a second digital signal utilizing the analog-to-digital converter circuit; and
combining the first digital signal and the second digital signal to create a high dynamic range (HDR) image.
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Abstract
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for obtaining multiple exposures with zero interframe time. In use, a first an analog signal associated with an image is received from at least one pixel of an image sensor. Next, a first amplified analog signal associated with the image is generated by amplifying the analog signal utilizing a first gain. Further, a second amplified analog signal associated with the image is generated by amplifying the analog signal utilizing a second gain. Finally, the first amplified analog signal and the second amplified analog signal are transmitted.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
circuitry for; receiving an analog signal associated with an image of an image sensor, wherein the analog signal includes; i) at least one analog pixel value of a pixel array of the image sensor; ii) a line of analog pixel values associated with a line of pixels of the pixel array;
oriii) a frame of analog pixel values associated with a frame of pixels of the pixel array; generating a first amplified analog signal associated with the image by amplifying the analog signal utilizing a first gain, wherein the first gain is applied to the analog pixel values associated with (i), (ii), or (iii); generating a second amplified analog signal associated with the image by amplifying the analog signal utilizing a second gain, wherein the second gain is applied to the analog pixel values associated with (i), (ii), or (iii); transmitting the first amplified analog signal and the second amplified analog signal to an analog-to-digital converter circuit; converting the first amplified analog signal to a first digital signal utilizing the analog-to-digital converter circuit; converting the second amplified analog signal to a second digital signal utilizing the analog-to-digital converter circuit; and combining the first digital signal and the second digital signal to create a high dynamic range (HDR) image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising:
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code for receiving an analog signal associated with an image of an image sensor, wherein the analog signal includes; i) at least one analog pixel value of a pixel array of the image sensor; ii) a line of analog pixel values associated with a line of pixels of the pixel array;
oriii) a frame of analog pixel values associated with a frame of pixels of the pixel array; code for generating a first amplified analog signal associated with the image by amplifying the analog signal utilizing a first gain, wherein the first gain is applied to the analog pixel values associated with (i), (ii), or (iii); code for generating a second amplified analog signal associated with the image by amplifying the analog signal utilizing a second gain, wherein the second gain is applied to the analog pixel values associated with (i), (ii), or (iii); code for transmitting the first amplified analog signal and the second amplified analog signal to an analog-to-digital converter circuit; code for converting the first amplified analog signal to a first digital signal utilizing the analog-to-digital converter circuit; code for converting the second amplified analog signal to a second digital signal utilizing the analog-to-digital converter circuit; and code for combining the first digital signal and the second digital signal to create a high dynamic range (HDR) image.
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20. A method, comprising:
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receiving an analog signal associated with an image of an image sensor, wherein the analog signal includes; i) at least one analog pixel value of a pixel array of the image sensor; ii) a line of analog pixel values associated with a line of pixels of the pixel array;
oriii) a frame of analog pixel values associated with a frame of pixels of the pixel array; amplifying the analog signal utilizing a first gain resulting in a first amplified analog signal associated with the image, wherein the first gain is applied to the analog pixel values associated with (i), (ii), or (iii); amplifying the analog signal utilizing a second gain resulting in a second amplified analog signal associated with the image, wherein the second gain is applied to the analog pixel values associated with (i), (ii), or (iii); transmitting the first amplified analog signal and the second amplified analog signal to an analog-to-digital converter circuit; converting the first amplified analog signal to a first digital signal utilizing the analog-to-digital converter circuit; converting the second amplified analog signal to a second digital signal utilizing the analog-to-digital converter circuit; and combining the first digital signal and the second digital signal to create a high dynamic range (HDR) image.
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Specification