CMOS image sensors with increased dynamic range and methods of operating the same
First Claim
1. A method of operating an image sensor apparatus, the method comprising:
- generating first digital image data based on a first exposure data signal, the first exposure data signal being indicative of an exposure level of an image sensor during a first exposure period;
storing the first digital image data;
generating second digital image data based on a second exposure data signal, the second exposure data signal being indicative of an exposure level of the image sensor during a second exposure period, the second exposure period being shorter than the first exposure period, and the second exposure period following the first exposure period;
selectively storing the second digital image data associated with the image sensor based on a value of the first digital image data associated with the image sensor.
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Abstract
A method of operating an image sensor apparatus is provided. In this method, first digital image data is generated based on a first exposure data signal, wherein the first exposure data signal is indicative of an exposure level of the image sensor during a first exposure period. The first digital image data is stored in a storage circuit. Second digital image data is generated based on a second exposure data signal, wherein the second exposure data signal is indicative of an exposure level of the image sensor during a second exposure period. The second exposure period is different from the first exposure period. The second digital image data associated with the image sensor is selectively stored based on a value of the first digital image data associated with the image sensor.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of operating an image sensor apparatus, the method comprising:
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generating first digital image data based on a first exposure data signal, the first exposure data signal being indicative of an exposure level of an image sensor during a first exposure period; storing the first digital image data; generating second digital image data based on a second exposure data signal, the second exposure data signal being indicative of an exposure level of the image sensor during a second exposure period, the second exposure period being shorter than the first exposure period, and the second exposure period following the first exposure period; selectively storing the second digital image data associated with the image sensor based on a value of the first digital image data associated with the image sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of operating an image sensor apparatus, the method comprising:
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generating first digital image data based on a first exposure data signal, the first exposure data signal being indicative of an exposure level of an image sensor during a first exposure period; storing the first digital image data; generating second digital image data based on a second exposure data signal, the second exposure data signal being indicative of an exposure level of the image sensor during a second exposure period, the second exposure period being different from the first exposure period, and the second exposure period following the first exposure period; selectively storing the second digital image data associated with the image sensor based on a value of the first digital image data associated with the image sensor. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. An image sensor apparatus comprising:
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an image sensor array including a plurality of image sensors arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, each image sensor being configured to output a first and a second exposure data signal, the first exposure data signal being indicative of an exposure of the image sensor to light during a first exposure period, and the second exposure data signal being indicative of an exposure of the image sensor to light during a second exposure period, the first exposure period being longer than the second exposure period, and the second exposure period being subsequent to the first exposure period; a sample and hold unit configured to, for each image sensor, digitize the first exposure data signal to generate first digital image data, and digitize the second exposure data signal to generate second digital image data; and a storage circuit configured to, for each image sensor, store the first digital image data, and selectively store the second digital image data based on a value of the stored first digital image data. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification