Sampling and Readout of an Image Sensor Having a Sparse Color Filter Array Pattern
First Claim
1. An image sensor comprising:
- an array of pixels arranged in rows and columns, the columns being separated into groups each comprising a plurality of the columns and sharing a common output; and
sampling and readout circuitry comprising, for each group of columns in the pixel array, a corresponding plurality of column circuits, the sampling and readout circuitry being configured to sample the common output for each group of columns independently into one of the plurality of column circuits associated with said group, and to read out the common output for each group of columns as previously sampled into another of the plurality of column circuits associated with said group.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A CMOS image sensor or other type of image sensor comprises an array of pixels arranged in rows and columns, with the columns being separated into groups each comprising two or more columns that share a common output. The image sensor further comprises sampling and readout circuitry that includes, for each group of columns in the pixel array, a corresponding set of two or more column circuits. The sampling and readout circuitry is configured to sample the common output for each group of columns independently into one of the column circuits associated with that group, and to read out the common output for each group of columns as previously sampled into another of the column circuits associated with that group. The image sensor may be implemented in a digital camera or other type of image capture device.
78 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An image sensor comprising:
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an array of pixels arranged in rows and columns, the columns being separated into groups each comprising a plurality of the columns and sharing a common output; and sampling and readout circuitry comprising, for each group of columns in the pixel array, a corresponding plurality of column circuits, the sampling and readout circuitry being configured to sample the common output for each group of columns independently into one of the plurality of column circuits associated with said group, and to read out the common output for each group of columns as previously sampled into another of the plurality of column circuits associated with said group. - 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 digital imaging device comprising:
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an image sensor; and one or more processing elements configured to process outputs of the image sensor to generate a digital image; wherein said image sensor comprises; an array of pixels arranged in rows and columns, the columns being separated into groups each comprising a plurality of the columns and sharing a common output; and sampling and readout circuitry comprising, for each group of columns in the pixel array, a corresponding plurality of column circuits, the sampling and readout circuitry being configured to sample the common output for each group of columns independently into one of the plurality of column circuits associated with said group, and to read out the common output for each group of columns as previously sampled into another of the plurality of column circuits associated with said group. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification