COLUMN-BASED HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE IMAGING SYSTEMS
First Claim
1. An image sensor, comprising:
- an array of image pixels arranged in pixel rows and pixel columns;
a conductive column line coupled to each pixel column;
column readout circuitry coupled to the pixel columns through the conductive column lines; and
row control circuitry configured to operate the array of image pixels to capture a column-interleaved image with short-exposure pixel values and long-exposure pixel values that are interleaved in a column-based pattern.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Electronic devices may have camera modules that include an image sensor and processing circuitry. An image sensor may include a pixel array having pixel rows and pixel columns. The image pixels in a pixel row may include long-integration pixels and short-integration pixels. Row control signal lines for each pixel row may include a row-select control line, a reset control line, and two transfer control lines or may include a row-select control line, two reset control lines, and a transfer control line. Row control circuitry may be used to operate the pixel array to capture a column-interleaved image with short-exposure pixel values and long-exposure pixel values interleaved in a column-based pattern. The column-interleaved image may be used to form an interpolated short-exposure image and an interpolated long-exposure image from which a column-based interleaved high-dynamic-range image is generated.
17 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An image sensor, comprising:
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an array of image pixels arranged in pixel rows and pixel columns; a conductive column line coupled to each pixel column; column readout circuitry coupled to the pixel columns through the conductive column lines; and row control circuitry configured to operate the array of image pixels to capture a column-interleaved image with short-exposure pixel values and long-exposure pixel values that are interleaved in a column-based pattern. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of generating high-dynamic-range images using an image sensor with an image pixel array, the method comprising:
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with the image pixel array, capturing a column-interleaved image having columns of short-integration pixel values interleaved with long-integration pixel values; and generating a high-dynamic-range based on the captured column-interleaved image. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system, comprising:
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a central processing unit; memory; input-output circuitry; an imaging device, wherein the imaging device comprises; an array of image pixels arranged in pixel rows and pixel columns, wherein each pixel row includes short-integration pixels and long-integration pixels, a conductive column line coupled to each pixel column, and column readout circuitry coupled to the pixel columns through the conductive column lines; and processing circuitry configured to generate a column-based interleaved high-dynamic-range image using a column-interleaved image captured by the array of image pixels. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification