IMAGE SENSOR WITH SIMULTANEOUS AUTO-FOCUS AND IMAGE PREVIEW
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of light sensor cells disposed in a substrate;
first common readout circuitry coupled to at least two light sensor cells in the plurality of light sensor cells, wherein the first common readout circuitry is to read out image information from the at least two light sensor cells simultaneously;
auto-focus circuitry coupled to the first common readout circuitry to receive the simultaneously read out image information;
second common readout circuitry coupled to a second at least two light sensor cells in the plurality of light sensor cells, wherein the second common readout circuitry is to read out image information from the second at least two light sensor cells simultaneously; and
preview circuitry coupled to the second common readout circuitry to cause an image to be displayed using the simultaneously read out image information in the second at least two light sensor cells,wherein the auto focus circuitry and the preview circuitry are configured to simultaneously read out image information.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a plurality of light sensor cells disposed in a substrate in a shared pixel arrangement. Common readout circuitry is used to simultaneously read out image information from a group of light sensor cells. The image information from the group of light sensor cells is added together simultaneously and coupled to auto-focus circuitry and/or preview circuitry to provide for better lens adjustments and preview display.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of light sensor cells disposed in a substrate; first common readout circuitry coupled to at least two light sensor cells in the plurality of light sensor cells, wherein the first common readout circuitry is to read out image information from the at least two light sensor cells simultaneously; auto-focus circuitry coupled to the first common readout circuitry to receive the simultaneously read out image information; second common readout circuitry coupled to a second at least two light sensor cells in the plurality of light sensor cells, wherein the second common readout circuitry is to read out image information from the second at least two light sensor cells simultaneously; and preview circuitry coupled to the second common readout circuitry to cause an image to be displayed using the simultaneously read out image information in the second at least two light sensor cells, wherein the auto focus circuitry and the preview circuitry are configured to simultaneously read out image information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11)
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8. (canceled)
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12. An apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of light sensor cells disposed in a substrate; first common readout circuitry coupled to a first group of light sensor cells in the plurality of light sensor cells, wherein the first common readout circuitry is to read out image information from the first group of light sensor cells simultaneously; auto-focus circuitry coupled to the first common readout circuitry to receive the simultaneously read out image information; automatic gain control circuitry coupled to control an amplitude of the simultaneously read out image information coupled to the auto-focus circuitry; second common readout circuitry coupled to a second at least two light sensor cells in the plurality of light sensor cells, wherein the second common readout circuitry is to read out image information from the second at least two light sensor cells simultaneously; and preview circuitry coupled to the second common readout circuitry to cause an image to be displayed using the simultaneously read out image information in the second group of light sensor cells, wherein the auto focus circuitry and the preview circuitry are configured to simultaneously read out image information. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method, comprising:
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accumulating image information in at least two light sensor cells in a plurality of light sensor cells in response to being exposed to light; reading out the image information accumulated in the at least two light sensor cells simultaneously; adjusting a focus of an optical system using the simultaneously read out accumulated image information accumulating image information in a second at least two light sensor cells in the plurality of light sensor cells in response to being exposed to light; reading out the image information accumulated in the at least two light sensor cells simultaneously; displaying an image in preview circuitry of the optical system using the simultaneously read out image information accumulated in the second at least two light sensor cells; and simultaneously adjusting the focus of the optical system and displaying the image in the preview circuitry of the optical system, wherein the auto focus circuitry and the preview circuitry are configured to simultaneously read out image information. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23-25. -25. (canceled)
Specification