Image sensor having resolution adjustment employing an analog column averaging/row averaging for high intensity light or row binning for low intensity light

• US 20060113459A1
• Filed: 11/30/2004
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gula Consulting Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor GmbH (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Inventors: Yang, Guang, Dosluoglu, Taner
• Granted Patent: US 7,479,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/208.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/46 by combining or binning pixels

Abstract

A photo-sensor image resolution adjustment apparatus is in communication with an array of image photo-sensors that are organized in columns and rows and have multiple sensor types arranged in a pattern such as a Bayer pattern to detect light. The photo-sensor image resolution adjustment apparatus has a photo-sensor array decimation circuit to partition the array of image photo-sensors into a plurality of sub-groups. A column averaging circuit averages the light conversion electrical signals from common color photo-sensors within the sub-groups. A row averaging circuit averages the common color adjacent light conversion electrical signals from color adjacent rows within the sub-groups in high light intensity condition. In low light conditions, a row binning circuit integrates the common color adjacent light conversion electrical signals from color adjacent rows within the sub-groups.

Claims

1. A sensor resolution adjustment apparatus in communication with an array of sensors, wherein said array of sensors is organized in arrangements having a first dimension and a second dimension and has a plurality of sensor types arranged in a pattern to detect a phenomena and convert said phenomena to a conversion electrical signal, whereby each sensor type detects unique attributes of said phenomena, said sensor resolution adjustment apparatus adjusting sensor resolution for reception of the phenomena and comprising:

a sensor array decimation circuit in communication with said array of sensors to partition said array of sensors into a plurality of sub-groups of said array of sensors and generate partition control signals identifying addresses of said sub-groups;

a first dimensional averaging circuit in communication with said array of sensors to receive said conversion electrical signals and in communication with said sensor array decimation circuit to receive said partition control signals, from said partition control signals averaging said conversion electrical signals from sensors detecting common attributes from the first dimension of each of said plurality of said sub-groups of said array of sensors to generate first dimensional averaged electrical signals of said first dimension of said plurality of said sub-group of said array of sensors;

a second dimensional binning circuit;

in communication with said first dimensional averaging circuit to receive said first dimensional averaged electrical signals of each sub-group of sensors that detect said common attributes arranged on said first dimension within each sub-group of the array of sensors, and

in communication with said sensor array decimation circuit to receive said partition control signals and from said partition control signals integrating said first dimensional averaged electrical signals for sensors having said common attributes on the second dimension of each of said plurality of said sub-groups of said array of sensors to selectively generate second dimensional binning electrical signals for said second dimension of said plurality of said sub-group of sensors having common attributes of said array of sensors; and

a second dimensional averaging circuit

in communication with said first dimensional averaging circuit to receive said first dimensional averaged electrical signals of each sub-group of sensors that detect said common attributes arranged on said first dimension within each sub-group of the array of sensors, and

in communication with said sensor array decimation circuit to receive said partition control signals and from said partition control signals to integrate said first dimensional averaged electrical signals for sensors having said common attributes on a second dimension of each of said plurality of said sub-groups of said array of sensors to selectively generate second dimensional averaged electrical signals of said second dimension of said plurality of said sub-group of sensors having common attributes of said array of sensors.

2. The sensor resolution adjustment apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an addressing, timing, and control processor circuit in communication with the sensor array decimation circuit, the first dimensional averaging circuit, the second dimensional binning circuit, and the second dimensional averaging circuit to generate addressing, timing, control, and select signals to coordinate generation of the conversion electrical signals from the plurality of sub-groups of the array of sensors, averaging of the conversion electrical signals from selected sensors within said sub-group to generate the first dimensional averaged electrical signals, selectively binning of the first dimensional averaged electrical signals from selected sensors within said sub-group to generate the second dimensional binning electrical signals, selectively averaging of the first dimensional averaged electrical signals selectively generate the second dimensional averaged electrical signals.

3. The sensor resolution adjustment apparatus of claim 2 wherein said addressing, timing, and control processor circuit receives an average phenomena intensity signal, such that if said average phenomena intensity signals indicates a low intensity phenomena environment, said addressing, timing, and control processor circuit selects said second dimensional binning circuit for generating said second dimensional binning electrical signals.

4. The sensor resolution adjustment apparatus of claim 2 wherein if said average phenomena intensity signals indicates a high intensity phenomena environment, said addressing, timing, and control processor circuit selects said second dimensional averaging circuit for generating said second dimensional averaging electrical signals.

5. The sensor resolution adjustment apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a sample and hold circuit connected to the array of sensors to sample and hold the conversion electrical signals from selected sensors for transfer to said averaging circuit and in communication with said timing and control circuit to receive said timing, control, and select signals for sampling and holding said conversion electrical signals

6. The sensor resolution adjustment apparatus of claim 2 wherein the second dimensional binning circuit comprises:

a signal integrator that additively combines said first dimensional averaged electrical signals for sensors having said common attributes on the second dimension of each of said plurality of said sub-groups of said array of sensors to selectively generate said second dimensional binning electrical signals for said second dimension of said plurality of said sub-group of sensors having common attributes of said array of sensors.

7. The sensor resolution adjustment apparatus of claim 6 wherein said signal integrator comprises:

a sampling capacitor in communication with said first dimensional averaging circuit to receive and sample said first dimensional averaged electrical signals;

an operational amplifier in communication with said sampling capacitor to receive and amplify the sample of said first dimensional averaged electrical signals;

a feedback capacitor connected to transfer an accumulation signal integrating said first dimensional averaged electrical signals for sensors having said common attributes on the second dimension of each of said plurality of said sub-groups of said array of sensors from an output of said operational amplifier to input of said operational amplifier such that said accumulation signal and a current first dimensional averaged signal of one rank of said second dimension of said sensors having said common attributes on the second dimension of each of said plurality of said sub-groups of said array of sensors are additively combined to generate said second dimensional binning electrical signal.

8. The sensor resolution adjustment apparatus of claim 7 further comprising:

a first sampling switch in communication between said sampling capacitor and said first dimensional averaging circuit to control said sampling of said first dimension averaged electrical signals;

a second sampling switch in communication between said sampling capacitor and said operational amplifier to control additively combining of said first dimensional electrical signals and the accumulation signal; and

a feedback capacitor reset switch in communication between a top and a bottom plate of the feedback capacitor to remove said second dimensional binning electrical signals at completion of said additive combining said first dimensional averaged electrical signals for sensors having said common attributes on the second dimension of each of said plurality of said sub-groups of said array of sensors.

9. The sensor resolution adjustment apparatus of claim 2wherein the second dimensional averaging circuit comprises:

a plurality of second dimensional averaging switches, each second dimensional averaging switch connected to the first dimensional averaging circuit to receive first dimensional averaged electrical signals for sensors with said common attributes on the second dimension of each of said plurality of sub-groups of said array of sensors to average the first dimensional averaged electrical signals to create the second dimensional averaged electrical signals, each of said plurality of second dimensional averaging switches in communication with said addressing, timing, and control processor circuit to receive said addressing, timing, control, and select signals to selectively connect said first dimensional averaging circuits of sensors having said common attributes on the second dimension of each of said plurality of sub-groups of said array of sensors for said averaging.

10. The sensor resolution adjustment apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first dimensional averaging circuit comprises:

a first plurality of averaging capacitors, each averaging capacitor connected to receive the conversion electrical signal from the sensors of an associated sensor of the array of sensors on the first dimension; and

a first plurality of averaging switches connected to receive the electrical signal from an adjacent sensor on said first dimension to selectively transfer said electrical signal from said adjacent sensor to a first selected averaging capacitor to average the electrical signals from an attached sensor and the adjacent sensors, each of said first plurality of averaging switches in communication with said timing and control circuit to receive said timing, control, and select signals to selectively connect one said averaging capacitors to average the conversion electrical signals of said associated sensors of the array of sensors on the first dimension.

11. The sensor resolution adjustment apparatus of claim 9 wherein the first dimensional averaging circuit further comprises:

a second plurality of averaging capacitors, each averaging capacitor connected to receive the conversion electrical signal from the sensors of an associated sensor of the array of sensors on the first dimension; and

a second plurality of averaging switches connected to receive the conversion electrical signals from an adjacent sensor on said second dimension to selectively transfer said electrical signal from said adjacent sensor to a selected second averaging capacitor to average the electrical signals from an attached sensor and the adjacent sensors, each of said second plurality of averaging switches in communication with said timing and control circuit to receive said timing, control, and select signals to selectively connect said second averaging capacitors to average the conversion electrical signals of said associated sensors of the array of sensors on the second dimension.

12. The sensor resolution adjustment apparatus of claim 1 of wherein the first dimension of the array of sensors is a column of said sensors and the second dimension of the array of sensors is a row of said sensors.

13. The sensor resolution adjustment apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensors are active pixels sensors, said phenomena is light impinging upon said array of sensors converts said light to the conversion electrical signal, and said pattern is a Bayer pattern.

14. The sensor resolution adjustment apparatus of claim 5 wherein said signal integrator further comprises an amplifier connected to selectively receive one of a group of electrical signals comprising the conversion electrical signals, the second dimensional averaging electrical signals, and the second dimensional binned electrical signals to amplify and condition said selected electrical signals for external processing.

15. The sensor resolution adjustment apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of source follower circuits, each source follower connected to receive one of said conversion electrical signals, said first dimensional averaged electrical signals, and said second dimensional averaged electrical signals to isolate said received one of said conversion electrical signals, said first dimensional averaged electrical signals, and said second dimensional averaged electrical signals from effects of a parasitic capacitor present at an output bus of said sensor resolution adjustment circuit.

16. A photo-sensor image resolution adjustment apparatus in communication with an array of image photo-sensors, wherein said array of image photo-sensors is organized in columns and rows and has a plurality of sensor types arranged in a pattern to detect light and convert said light to a light conversion electrical signal, whereby each sensor type detects unique colors of said light, said photo-sensor image resolution adjustment apparatus adjusting sensor resolution for reception of the light and comprising:

a photo-sensor array decimation circuit in communication with said array of image photo-sensors to partition said array of image photo-sensors into a plurality of sub-groups of said array of image photo-sensors and generate partition control signals identifying addresses of said sub-groups;

a column averaging circuit in communication with said array of image photo-sensors to receive said light conversion electrical signals and in communication with said photo-sensor array decimation circuit to receive said partition control signals, from said partition control signals averaging said light conversion electrical signals from photo-sensors detecting common colors from the columns of each of said plurality of said sub-groups of said array of image photo-sensors to generate column averaged electrical signals of said columns of said plurality of said sub-group of said array of image photo-sensors;

a row binning circuit;

in communication with said column averaging circuit to receive said column averaged electrical signals of each sub-group of photo-sensors that detect said common colors arranged on said columns within each sub-group of the array of image photo-sensors, and

in communication with said photo-sensor array decimation circuit to receive said partition control signals and from said partition control signals to integrate said column averaged electrical signals for sensors having said common colors on the rows of each of said plurality of said sub-groups of said array of image photo-sensors to selectively generate row binning electrical signals of said rows of said plurality of said sub-group of photo-sensors having common colors of said array of image photo-sensors; and

a row averaging circuit;

in communication with said column averaging circuit to receive said column averaged electrical signals of each sub-group of photo-sensors that detect said common colors arranged on said columns within each sub-group of the array of image photo-sensors, and

in communication with said photo-sensor array decimation circuit to receive said partition control signals and from said partition control signals to average said column averaged electrical signals for sensors having said common colors on rows of each of said plurality of said sub-groups of said array of image photo-sensors to create row averaged electrical signals of said rows of said plurality of said sub-group-of photo-sensors having common colors of said array of image photo-sensors, and in communication with said timing and control circuit to receive said timing, control, and select signals for creating said row averaged electrical signals.

17. The photo-sensor image resolution adjustment apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:

an addressing, timing, and control processor circuit in communication with the photo-sensor array decimation circuit, the column averaging circuit, and the row binning circuit, and the row averaging circuit to provide addressing, timing, control, and select signals to coordinate generation of the light conversion electrical signals from the plurality of sub-groups of the array of image photo-sensors, averaging of the light conversion electrical signals from selected sensors within said sub-group to generate the column averaged electrical signals, selectively binning of the column averaged electrical signals from selected photo-sensors within said sub-group to generate the row binning electrical signals, selectively averaging of the column averaged electrical signals selectively generate the row averaged electrical signals.

18. The photo-sensor image resolution adjustment apparatus of claim 17 wherein said addressing, timing, and control processor circuit receives an averaging light intensity signal, such that if said averaging light intensity signals indicates a low intensity light environment, said addressing, timing, and control processor circuit selects said row binning circuit for generating said row binning electrical signals.

19. The photo-sensor image resolution adjustment apparatus of claim 17 wherein, if said averaging light intensity signals indicates a high intensity light environment, said addressing, timing, and control processor circuit selects said row averaging circuit for generating said row averaging electrical signals.

20. The photo-sensor image resolution adjustment apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a sample and hold circuit connected to the array of image photo-sensors to sample and hold the light conversion electrical signals from selected photo-sensors for transfer to said column averaging circuit and in communication with said timing and control circuit to receive said timing, control, and select signals for sampling and holding said light conversion electrical signals.

21. The photo-sensor image resolution adjustment apparatus of claim 16 wherein the row binning circuit comprises:

a signal integrator that additively combines said row averaged electrical signals for photo-sensors having said common colors on the rows of each of said plurality of said sub-groups of said array of photo-sensors to selectively generate said row binning electrical signals for said rows of said plurality of said sub-group of photo-sensors having common colors of said array of photo-sensors.

22. The photo-sensor image resolution adjustment apparatus of claim 21 wherein said signal integrator comprises:

a sampling capacitor in communication with said column averaging circuit to receive and sample said column averaged electrical signals;

an operational amplifier in communication with said sampling capacitor to receive and amplify the sampling of said column averaged electrical signals;

a feedback capacitor connected to transfer a row accumulation signal integrating said column averaged electrical signals for photo-sensors having said common colors on the rows of each of said plurality of said sub-groups of said array of sensors from an output of said operational amplifier to input of said operational amplifier such that said row accumulation signal and a current column averaged signal of one row of said rows of said photo-sensors having said common attributes on the rows of each of said plurality of said sub-groups of said array of photo-sensors are additively combined to generate said row binning electrical signal.

23. The photo-sensor image resolution adjustment apparatus of claim 22 wherein the signal integrator further comprises:

a first sampling switch in communication between said sampling capacitor and said column averaging circuit to control said sampling of said column electrical signals;

a second sampling switch in communication between said sampling capacitor and said operational amplifier to control additively combining of said column averaged electrical signals and the row accumulation signal; and

a feedback capacitor reset switch in communication between a top and a bottom plate of the feedback capacitor to remove said row binning electrical signals at completion of said additive combining said column averaged electrical signals for photo-sensors having said common on the columns of each of said plurality of said sub-groups of said array of photo-sensors.

24. The photo-sensor image resolution adjustment apparatus of claim 17 wherein the row averaging circuit comprises:

a plurality of row averaging switches, each row averaging switch connected to the column averaging circuit to receive column averaged electrical signals for sensors with said common colors on the rows of each of said plurality of sub-groups of said array of image photo-sensors to average the column averaged light conversion electrical signals to create the row averaged electrical signals, each of said plurality of row averaging switches in communication with said addressing, timing, and control processor circuit to receive said addressing, timing, control, and select signals to selectively connect said column averaging circuits of sensors having said common colors on the rows of each of said plurality of sub-groups of said array of image photo-sensors for said averaging.

25. The photo-sensor image resolution adjustment apparatus of claim 17 wherein the column averaging circuit comprises:

a first plurality of averaging capacitors, each averaging capacitor connected to receive the light conversion electrical signal from the photo-sensors of a photo-sensor having a common color of the array of image photo-sensors on the columns; and

a first plurality of averaging switches connected to receive the electrical signal from an adjacent photo-sensor on said columns to selectively transfer said electrical signal from said adjacent photo-sensor to a first selected averaging capacitor to average the conversion electrical signals from an attached photo-sensor and the adjacent photo-sensors, each of said first plurality of averaging switches in communication with said timing and control circuit to receive said timing, control, and select signals to selectively connect one said averaging capacitors to average the light conversion electrical signals of said associated photo-sensors of the array of image photo-sensors on the columns.

26. The photo-sensor image resolution adjustment apparatus of claim 25 wherein the column averaging circuit further comprises:

a second plurality of averaging capacitors, each averaging capacitor connected to receive the light conversion electrical signal from the photo-sensors of a photo-sensor having the common color of the array of image photo-sensors on the columns; and

a second plurality of averaging switches connected to receive the light conversion electrical signals from the adjacent photo-sensor on said rows to selectively transfer said electrical signal from said adjacent photo-sensor to a selected second averaging capacitor to average the electrical signals from an attached sensor and the adjacent photo-sensors, each of said second plurality of averaging switches in communication with said timing and control circuit to receive said timing, control, and select signals to selectively connect said second averaging capacitors to average the light conversion electrical signals of said associated sensors of the array of image photo-sensors on the rows.

27. The photo-sensor image resolution adjustment apparatus of claim 16 wherein said photo-sensors are active pixels sensors and said light is impinging upon said array of active pixel sensors to convert the light to the light conversion electrical signal.

28. The photo-sensor image resolution adjustment apparatus of claim 16 wherein the row binning circuit further comprises an amplifier connected to selectively receive one of a group of electrical signals comprising the light conversion electrical signals, the row averaging electrical signals, and the row binning electrical signals to amplify and condition said selected electrical signals for external processing.

29. The photo-sensor image resolution adjustment apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:

a plurality of source follower circuits, each source follower connected to receive one of said light conversion electrical signals, said column averaged electrical signals, and said row averaged electrical signals to isolate said light conversion electrical signals, said column averaged electrical signals, and said row averaged electrical signals from effects of a parasitic capacitor present at an output bus of said photo-sensor image resolution adjustment circuit.

30. An image photo-sensing device comprising:

an array of image photo-sensors organized in columns and rows and having a plurality of sensor types arranged in a pattern to detect light and convert said light to a light conversion electrical signal, whereby each sensor type detects unique colors of said light; and

a photo-sensor image resolution adjustment apparatus in communication with the array of image photo-sensors for adjusting sensor resolution for reception of the light of said array of photo-sensors, said photo-sensor image resolution adjustment apparatus comprising;

a photo-sensor array decimation circuit in communication with said array of image photo-sensors to partition said array of image photo-sensors into a plurality of sub-groups of said array of image photo-sensors and generate partition control signals identifying addresses of said sub-groups,

a column averaging circuit in communication with said array of image photo-sensors to receive said light conversion electrical signals and in communication with said photo-sensor array decimation circuit to receive said partition control signals, from said partition control signals averaging said light conversion electrical signals from photo-sensors detecting common colors from the columns of each of said plurality of said sub-groups of said array of image photo-sensors to generate column averaged electrical signals of said columns of said plurality of said sub-group of said array of image photo-sensors,

a row binning circuit;

in communication with said column averaging circuit to receive said column averaged electrical signals of each sub-group of photo-sensors that detect said common colors arranged on said columns within each sub-group of the array of image photo-sensors, and

in communication with said photo-sensor array decimation circuit to receive said partition control signals and from said partition control signals to integrate said column averaged electrical signals for sensors having said common colors on the rows of each of said plurality of said sub-groups of said array of image photo-sensors to selectively generate row binning electrical signals of said rows of said plurality of said sub-group of photo-sensors having common colors of said array of image photo-sensors; and

a row averaging circuit;

in communication with said column averaging circuit to receive said column averaged electrical signals of each sub-group of photo-sensors that detect said common colors arranged on said columns within each sub-group of the array of image photo-sensors, and

in communication with said photo-sensor array decimation circuit to receive said partition control signals and from said partition control signals to average said column averaged electrical signals for sensors having said common colors on rows of each of said plurality of said sub-groups of said array of image photo-sensors to create row averaged electrical signals of said rows of said plurality of said sub-group of photo-sensors having common colors of said array of image photo-sensors, and in communication with said timing and control circuit to receive said timing, control, and select signals for creating said row averaged electrical signals.

31. The image photo-sensing device of claim 30 wherein the photo-sensor image resolution adjustment apparatus further comprises:

an addressing, timing, and control processor circuit in communication with the photo-sensor array decimation circuit, the column averaging circuit, the row binning circuit, and the row averaging circuit to provide addressing, timing, control, and select signals to coordinate generation of the light conversion electrical signals from the plurality of sub-groups of the array of image photo-sensors, averaging of the light conversion electrical signals from selected sensors within said sub-group to generate the column averaged electrical signals, selectively binning of the column averaged electrical signals from selected photo-sensors within said sub-group to generate the row binning electrical signals, selectively averaging of the column averaged electrical signals selectively generate the row averaged electrical signals.

32. The image photo-sensing device of claim 31 wherein said addressing, timing, and control processor circuit receives an averaging light intensity signal, such that if said averaging light intensity signals indicates a low intensity light environment, said addressing, timing, and control processor circuit selects said row binning circuit for generating said row binning electrical signals.

33. The image photo-sensing device of claim 31 wherein, if said averaging light intensity signals indicates a high intensity light environment, said addressing, timing, and control processor circuit selects said row averaging circuit for generating said row averaging electrical signals.

34. The image photo-sensing device of claim 31 wherein the photo-sensor image resolution-adjustment apparatus further comprises a sample and hold circuit connected to the array of image photo-sensors to sample and hold the light conversion electrical signals from selected photo-sensors for transfer to said averaging circuit and in communication with said timing and control circuit to receive said timing, control, and select signals for sampling and holding said light conversion electrical signals

35. The image photo-sensing device of claim 33 wherein the photo-sensor image resolution adjustment apparatus wherein the row binning circuit comprises:

a signal integrator that additively combines said row averaged electrical signals for photo-sensors having said common colors on the rows of each of said plurality of said sub-groups of said array of photo-sensors to selectively generate said row binning electrical signals for said rows of said plurality of said sub-group of photo-sensors having common colors of said array of photo-sensors.

36. The image photo-sensing device of claim 35 wherein said signal integrator comprises:

a sampling capacitor in communication with said column averaging circuit to receive and sample said column averaged electrical signals;

an operational amplifier in communication with said sampling capacitor to receive and amplify the sampling of said column averaged electrical signals;

a feedback capacitor connected to transfer a row accumulation signal integrating said column averaged electrical signals for photo-sensors having said common colors on the rows of each of said plurality of said sub-groups of said array of sensors from an output of said operational amplifier to input of said operational amplifier such that said row accumulation signal and a current column averaged signal of one row of said rows of said photo-sensors having said common attributes on the rows of each of said plurality of said sub-groups of said array of photo-sensors are additively combined to generate said row binning electrical signal.

37. The image photo-sensing device of claim 31 wherein the signal integrator further comprises:

a first sampling switch in communication between said sampling capacitor and said column averaging circuit to control said sampling of said column electrical signals;

a second sampling switch in communication between said sampling capacitor and said operational amplifier to control additively combining of said column averaged electrical signals and the row accumulation signal; and

a feedback capacitor reset switch in communication between a top and a bottom plate of the feedback capacitor to remove said row binning electrical signals at completion of said additive combining said column averaged electrical signals for photo-sensors having said common on the columns of each of said plurality of said sub-groups of said array of photo-sensors.

38. The image photo-sensing device of claim 31 wherein the row averaging circuit comprises:

a plurality of row averaging switches, each row averaging switch connected to the column averaging circuit to receive column averaged electrical signals for sensors with said common colors on the rows of each of said plurality of sub-groups of said array of image photo-sensors to average the column averaged light conversion electrical signals to create the row averaged electrical signals, each of said plurality of row averaging switches in-communication with said timing and control circuit to receive said timing, control, and select signals to selectively connect said column averaging circuits of sensors having said common colors on the rows of each of said plurality of sub-groups of said array of image photo-sensors for said averaging.

39. The image photo-sensing device of claim 31 wherein the column averaging circuit comprises:

a first plurality of averaging capacitors, each averaging capacitor connected to receive the light conversion electrical signal from the photo-sensors of a photo-sensor having a common color of the array of image photo-sensors on the columns; and

a first plurality of averaging switches connected to receive the electrical signal from an adjacent photo-sensor on said columns to selectively transfer said electrical signal from said adjacent photo-sensor to a first selected averaging capacitor to average the conversion electrical signals from an attached photo-sensor and the adjacent photo-sensors, each of said first plurality of averaging switches in communication with said timing and control circuit to receive said timing, control, and select signals to selectively connect one said averaging capacitors to average the light conversion electrical signals of said associated photo-sensors of the array of image photo-sensors on the columns.

40. The image photo-sensing device of claim 39 wherein the column averaging circuit further comprises:

a second plurality of averaging capacitors, each averaging capacitor connected to receive the light conversion electrical signal from the photo-sensors of a photo-sensor having the common color of the array of image photo-sensors on the columns; and

a second plurality of averaging switches connected to receive the light conversion electrical signals from the adjacent photo-sensor on said rows to selectively transfer said electrical signal from said adjacent photo-sensor to a selected second averaging capacitor to average the electrical signals from an attached sensor and the adjacent photo-sensors, each of said second plurality of averaging switches in communication with said timing and control circuit to receive said timing, control, and select signals to selectively connect said second averaging capacitors to average the light conversion electrical signals of said associated sensors of the array of image photo-sensors on the rows.

41. The image photo-sensing device of claim 30 wherein said photo-sensors are active pixels sensors, said light is impinging upon said array of active pixel sensors to convert the light to the light conversion electrical signal, and said pattern is a Bayer pattern.

42. The image photo-sensing device of claim 30 wherein the row binning circuit further comprises an amplifier connected to selectively receive one of a group of electrical signals comprising the light conversion electrical signals, the row averaging electrical signals, and the row binning electrical signals to amplify and condition said selected electrical signals for external processing.

43. A method for photo-sensor image resolution adjustment comprising the steps of:

providing an array of image photo-sensors, wherein said array of image photo-sensors is organized in columns and rows and has a plurality of sensor types arranged in a pattern to detect light and convert said light to a light conversion electrical signal, whereby each sensor type detects unique colors of said light;

communicating with said array of image photo-sensors to partition said array of image photo-sensors into a plurality of sub-groups of said array of image photo-sensors and provide partition control signals;

column averaging said light conversion electrical signals from photo-sensors detecting common colors from the columns of each of said plurality of said sub-groups of said array of image photo-sensors from said partition control signals to create column averaged electrical signals of said columns of said plurality of said sub-group of said array of image photo-sensors;

selectively binning said column averaged electrical signals for sensors with said common colors on the rows of each of said plurality of said sub-groups of said array of image photo-sensors to generating binning electrical signals of said rows of said plurality of said sub-group of photo-sensors having common colors of said array of image photo-sensors; and

selectively row averaging said column averaged electrical signals of each sub-group of photo-sensors that detect said common colors arranged on said columns within each sub-group of the array of image photo-sensors from said partition control signals

48. The method for photo-sensor image resolution adjustment of claim 43 wherein selectively binning is accomplished by a row binning circuit, said row binning circuit comprising:

a signal integrator that additively combines said row averaged electrical signals for photo-sensors having said common colors on the rows of each of said plurality of said sub-groups of said array of photo-sensors to selectively generate said row binning electrical signals for said rows of said plurality of said sub-group of photo-sensors having common colors of said array of photo-sensors.

49. The method for photo-sensor image resolution adjustment of claim 48 wherein said signal integrator comprises:

a sampling capacitor connected to receive and sample said column averaged electrical signals;

an operational amplifier in communication with said sampling capacitor to receive and amplify the sampling of said column averaged electrical signals;

a feedback capacitor connected to transfer a row accumulation signal integrating said column averaged electrical signals for photo-sensors having said common colors on the rows of each of said plurality of said sub-groups of said array of sensors from an output of said operational amplifier to input of said operational amplifier such that said row accumulation signal and a current column averaged signal of one row of said rows of said photo-sensors having said common attributes on the rows of each of said plurality of said sub-groups of said array of photo-sensors are additively combined to generate said row binning electrical signal.

50. The method for photo-sensor image resolution adjustment of claim 49 wherein the signal integrator further comprises:

a first sampling switch in communication with said sampling capacitor and to control said sampling of said column electrical signals;

a second sampling switch in communication between said sampling capacitor and said operational amplifier to control additively combining of said column averaged electrical signals and the row accumulation signal; and

a feedback capacitor reset switch in communication between a top and a bottom plate of the feedback capacitor to remove said row binning electrical signals at completion of said additive combining said column averaged electrical signals for photo-sensors having said common on the columns of each of said plurality of said sub-groups of said array of photo-sensors.

51. The method for photo-sensor image resolution adjustment of claim 43 wherein said row averaging is accomplished by a row averaging circuit comprising:

a plurality of row averaging switches,.each row averaging switch connected to the column averaging circuit to receive column averaged electrical signals for sensors with said common colors on the rows of each of said plurality of sub-groups of said array of image photo-sensors to average the column averaged light conversion electrical signals to create the row averaged electrical signals, each of said plurality of row averaging switches to receive said addressing, timing, control, and select signals to selectively connect said column averaging circuits of sensors having said common colors on the rows of each of said plurality of sub-groups of said array of image photo-sensors for said averaging.

52. The method for photo-sensor image resolution adjustment of claim 43 wherein column averaging is accomplished by a column averaging circuit comprising:

a first plurality of averaging capacitors, each averaging capacitor connected to receive the light conversion electrical signal from the photo-sensors of a photo-sensor having a common color of the array of image photo-sensors on the columns; and

a first plurality of averaging switches connected to receive the electrical signal from an adjacent photo-sensor on said columns to selectively transfer said electrical signal from said adjacent photo-sensor to a first selected averaging capacitor to average the conversion electrical signals from an attached photo-sensor and the adjacent photo-sensors, each of said first plurality of averaging switches in communication with said timing and control circuit to receive said timing, control, and select signals to selectively connect one said averaging capacitors to average the light conversion electrical signals of said associated photo-sensors of the array of image photo-sensors on the columns.

53. The method for photo-sensor image resolution adjustment of claim 52 wherein the column averaging circuit further comprises:

a second plurality of averaging capacitors, each averaging capacitor connected to receive the light conversion electrical signal from the photo-sensors of a photo-sensor having the common color of the array of image photo-sensors on the columns; and

a second plurality of averaging switches connected to receive the light conversion electrical signals from the adjacent photo-sensor on said rows to selectively transfer said electrical signal from said adjacent photo-sensor to a selected second averaging capacitor to average the electrical signals from an attached sensor and the adjacent photo-sensors, each of said second plurality of averaging switches in communication with said timing and control circuit to receive said timing, control, and select signals to selectively connect said second averaging capacitors to average the light conversion electrical signals of said associated sensors of the array of image photo-sensors on the rows.

55. The method for photo-sensor image resolution adjustment of claim 48 wherein the row binning circuit further comprises an amplifier connected to selectively receive one of a group of electrical signals comprising the light conversion electrical signals, the row averaging electrical signals, and the row binning electrical signals to amplify and condition said selected electrical signals for external processing.

56. The method for photo-sensor image resolution adjustment of claim 43 further comprising the steps of:

isolating said light conversion electrical signals, said column averaged electrical signals, and said row averaged electrical signals from effects of a parasitic capacitor.

44. The method for photo-sensor image resolution adjustment of claim 44 further comprising the steps of:

providing addressing, timing, control, and select signals to coordinate generation of the light conversion electrical signals from the plurality of sub-groups of the array of image photo-sensors, averaging of the light conversion electrical signals from selected sensors within said sub-group to generate the column averaged electrical signals, select signals to activate the step of selectively binning of the column averaged electrical signals from selected photo-sensors within said sub-group to generate the row binning electrical signals, and provide select signals to activate the step of selectively averaging of the column averaged electrical signals selectively generate the row averaged electrical signals.

45. The method for photo-sensor image resolution adjustment of claim 44 comprises the steps of:

determining an averaging light intensity signal;

if said averaging light intensity signals indicates a low intensity light environment, providing select signals to activate binning said column averaged electrical signals for generating said row binning electrical signals.

46. The method for photo-sensor image resolution adjustment of claim 45 comprises the step of:

if said averaging light intensity signals indicates a high intensity light environment, providing select signals to activate row averaging said column averaged electrical signals for generating said row averaging electrical signals.

47. The method for photo-sensor image resolution adjustment of claim 44 further comprising the steps of:

sampling and holding the light conversion electrical signals from selected photo-sensors for averaging; and

providing timing, control, and select signals for sampling and holding said light conversion electrical signals.

54. The method for photo-sensor image resolution adjustment of claim 44 wherein said photo-sensors are active pixels sensors and said light is impinging upon said array of active pixel sensors to convert the light to the light conversion electrical signal.

57. An apparatus for photo-sensor image resolution adjustment comprising:

means for providing an array of image photo-sensors, wherein said array of image photo-sensors is organized in columns and rows and has a plurality of sensor types arranged in a pattern to detect light and convert said light to a light conversion electrical signal, whereby each sensor type detects unique colors of said light;

means for communicating with said array of image photo-sensors to partition said array of image photo-sensors into a plurality of sub-groups of said array of image photo-sensors and provide partition control signals;

means for column averaging said light conversion electrical signals from photo-sensors detecting common colors from the columns of each of said plurality of said sub-groups of said array of image photo-sensors from said partition control signals to create column averaged electrical signals of said columns of said plurality of said sub-group of said array of image photo-sensors;

means for selectively binning said column averaged electrical signals for sensors with said common colors on the rows of each of said plurality of said sub-groups of said array of image photo-sensors to generating binning electrical signals of said rows of said plurality of said sub-group of photo-sensors having common colors of said array of image photo-sensors; and

means for selectively row averaging said column averaged electrical signals of each sub-group of photo-sensors that detect said common colors arranged on said columns within each sub-group of the array of image photo-sensors from said partition control signals.

58. The apparatus for photo-sensor image resolution adjustment of claim 57 further comprising:

means for providing addressing, timing, control, and select signals to coordinate generation of the light conversion electrical signals from the plurality of sub-groups of the array of image photo-sensors, averaging of the light conversion electrical signals from selected sensors within said sub-group to generate the column averaged electrical signals, select signals to activate the step of selectively binning of the column averaged electrical signals from selected photo-sensors within said sub-group to generate the row binning electrical signals, and provide select signals to activate the step of selectively averaging of the column averaged electrical signals selectively generate the row averaged electrical signals.

59. The apparatus for photo-sensor image resolution adjustment of claim 58 comprises:

means for determining an averaging light intensity signal;

means for providing select signals to activate binning said column averaged electrical signals for generating said row binning electrical signals, if said averaging light intensity signals indicates a low intensity light environment.

60. The apparatus for photo-sensor image resolution adjustment of claim 59 comprises:

means for providing select signals to activate row averaging said column averaged electrical signals for generating said row averaging electrical signals, if said averaging light intensity signals indicates a high intensity light environment.

61. The apparatus for photo-sensor image resolution adjustment of claim 58 further comprising:

means for sampling and holding the light conversion electrical signals from selected photo-sensors for averaging; and

means for providing timing, control, and select signals for sampling and holding said light conversion electrical signals.

62. The apparatus for photo-sensor image resolution adjustment of claim 61 wherein means for selectively binning comprises a row binning circuit, said row binning circuit comprising:

a signal integrator that additively combines said row averaged electrical signals for photo-sensors having said common colors on the rows of each of said plurality of said sub-groups of said array of photo-sensors to selectively generate said row binning electrical signals for said rows of said plurality of said sub-group of photo-sensors having common colors of said array of photo-sensors.

63. The apparatus for photo-sensor image resolution adjustment of claim 62 wherein said signal integrator comprises:

a sampling capacitor connected to receive and sample said column averaged electrical signals;

an operational amplifier in communication with said sampling capacitor to receive and amplify the sampling of said column averaged electrical signals;

a feedback capacitor connected to transfer a row accumulation signal integrating said column averaged electrical signals for photo-sensors having said common colors on the rows of each of said plurality of said sub-groups of said array of sensors from an output of said operational amplifier to input of said operational amplifier such that said row accumulation signal and a current column averaged signal of one row of said rows of said photo-sensors having said common attributes on the rows of each of said plurality of said sub-groups of said array of photo-sensors are additively combined to generate said row binning electrical signal.

64. The apparatus for photo-sensor image resolution adjustment of claim 63 wherein the signal integrator further comprises:

a first sampling switch in communication with said sampling capacitor and to control said sampling of said column electrical signals;

a second sampling switch in communication between said sampling capacitor and said operational amplifier to control additively combining of said column averaged electrical signals and the row accumulation signal; and

a feedback capacitor reset switch in communication between a top and a bottom plate of the feedback capacitor to remove said row binning electrical signals at completion of said additive combining said column averaged electrical signals for photo-sensors having said common on the columns of each of said plurality of said sub-groups of said array of photo-sensors.

65. The apparatus for photo-sensor image resolution adjustment of claim 57 wherein said means for row averaging comprises a row averaging circuit, said row averaging circuit comprising:

a plurality of row averaging switches, each row averaging switch connected to the column averaging circuit to receive column averaged electrical signals for sensors with said common colors on the rows of each of said plurality of sub-groups of said array of image photo-sensors to average the column averaged light conversion electrical signals to create the row averaged electrical signals, each of said plurality of row averaging switches to receive said address, timing, control, and select signals to selectively connect said column averaging circuits of sensors having said common colors on the rows of each of said plurality of sub-groups of said array of image photo-sensors for said averaging.

66. The apparatus for photo-sensor image resolution adjustment of claim 57 wherein means for column averaging comprises a column averaging circuit, said column averaging circuit comprising:

a first plurality of averaging capacitors, each averaging capacitor connected to receive the light conversion electrical signal from the photo-sensors of a photo-sensor having a common color of the array of image photo-sensors on the columns; and

a first plurality of averaging switches connected to receive the electrical signal from an adjacent photo-sensor on said columns to selectively transfer said electrical signal from said adjacent photo-sensor to a first selected averaging capacitor to average the conversion electrical signals from an attached photo-sensor and the adjacent photo-sensors, each of said first plurality of averaging switches in communication with said timing and control circuit to receive said timing, control, and select signals to selectively connect one said averaging capacitors to average the light conversion electrical signals of said associated photo-sensors of the array of image photo-sensors on the columns.

67. The apparatus for photo-sensor image resolution adjustment of claim 66 wherein the column averaging circuit further comprises:

a second plurality of averaging capacitors, each averaging capacitor connected to receive the light conversion electrical signal from the photo-sensors of a photo-sensor having the common color of the array of image photo-sensors on the columns; and

a second plurality of averaging switches connected to receive the light conversion electrical signals from the adjacent photo-sensor on said rows to selectively transfer said electrical signal from said adjacent photo-sensor to a selected second averaging capacitor to average the electrical signals from an attached sensor and the adjacent photo-sensors, each of said second plurality of averaging switches in communication with said timing and control circuit to receive said timing, control, and select signals to selectively connect said second averaging capacitors to average the light conversion electrical signals of said associated sensors of the array of image photo-sensors on the rows.

68. The apparatus for photo-sensor image resolution adjustment of claim 57 wherein said photo-sensors are active pixels sensors and said light is impinging upon said array of active pixel sensors to convert the light to the light conversion electrical signal.

69. The apparatus for photo-sensor image resolution adjustment of claim 62 wherein the row binning circuit further comprises an amplifier connected to selectively receive one of a group of electrical signals comprising the light conversion electrical signals, the row averaging electrical signals, and the row binning electrical signals to amplify and condition said selected electrical signals for external processing.

70. The apparatus for photo-sensor image resolution adjustment of claim 63 further comprising:

a means for isolating said light conversion electrical signals, said column averaged electrical signals, said row averaged electrical signals, and row binned electrical signals from effects of a parasitic capacitor.