HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE IMAGE SENSOR WITH FULL RESOLUTION RECOVERY
First Claim
1. A method of reading pixel data from a pixel array including a plurality of pixels, wherein the plurality of pixels is organized into a plurality of regions of pixels arranged in a pattern in the pixel array, the method comprising:
- exposing a first one of the plurality of regions of pixels for a first exposure time;
exposing a second one of the plurality of regions of pixels for a second exposure time;
reading pixel data from the plurality of regions of pixels;
interpolating the pixel data from the first one of the plurality of regions of pixels to determine the pixel data of the plurality of regions of pixels other than the first one of the plurality of regions of pixels for the first exposure time to generate a first image of a plurality of images from the pixel array, wherein the first image of the plurality of images has the first exposure time;
interpolating the pixel data from the second one of the plurality of regions of pixels to determine the pixel data of the plurality of regions of pixels other than the second one of the plurality of regions for the second exposure time to generate a second image of the plurality of images from the pixel array, wherein the second image of the plurality of images has the second exposure time; and
combining the plurality of images to produce a high dynamic range image.
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Abstract
A method of reading pixel data from a pixel array includes exposing each one of a plurality of regions of pixels a respective exposure time. Pixel data is read from the plurality of regions of pixels. The pixel data is interpolated from a first one of the plurality of regions of pixels to determine the pixel data of the regions of pixels other than the first one of the plurality of regions of pixels to generate a first image having the first exposure time. The pixel data is interpolated from the second one of the plurality of regions of pixels to determine the pixel data of the regions of pixels other than the second one of the plurality of regions to generate a second image having the second exposure time. The images are combined to produce a high dynamic range image.
20 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of reading pixel data from a pixel array including a plurality of pixels, wherein the plurality of pixels is organized into a plurality of regions of pixels arranged in a pattern in the pixel array, the method comprising:
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exposing a first one of the plurality of regions of pixels for a first exposure time; exposing a second one of the plurality of regions of pixels for a second exposure time; reading pixel data from the plurality of regions of pixels; interpolating the pixel data from the first one of the plurality of regions of pixels to determine the pixel data of the plurality of regions of pixels other than the first one of the plurality of regions of pixels for the first exposure time to generate a first image of a plurality of images from the pixel array, wherein the first image of the plurality of images has the first exposure time; interpolating the pixel data from the second one of the plurality of regions of pixels to determine the pixel data of the plurality of regions of pixels other than the second one of the plurality of regions for the second exposure time to generate a second image of the plurality of images from the pixel array, wherein the second image of the plurality of images has the second exposure time; and combining the plurality of images to produce a high dynamic range image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of reading pixel data from a pixel array including a plurality of pixels, wherein the plurality of pixels is organized into a plurality of regions of pixels arranged in a pattern in the pixel array, the method comprising:
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exposing each one of a plurality of regions of pixels for a respective one of a plurality of exposure times; reading pixel data from the plurality of regions of pixels; for each respective one of the plurality of exposure times, determining an exposure ratio for each one of the plurality of regions of pixels, wherein the exposure ratio for each one of the plurality of regions of pixels for each respective one of the plurality of exposure times is equal to respective one of the plurality of exposure times divided by the exposure time for said one of the plurality regions of pixels; for each respective one of the plurality of exposure times, substituting the pixel data for each one of the plurality of regions of pixels for which the exposure ratio is less than a first threshold with the pixel data from said one of the plurality of regions of pixels multiplied by the exposure ratio for said one of the plurality of regions of pixels to generate an image for respective one of the plurality of exposure times; and combining the plurality of images to produce a high dynamic range image. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An imaging system, comprising:
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a pixel array including a plurality of pixels, wherein the plurality of pixels is organized into a plurality of regions of pixels arranged in a pattern in the pixel array; control circuitry coupled to the pixel array to control operation of the pixel array, wherein the control circuitry is coupled to expose each one of a plurality of regions of pixels for a respective one of a plurality of exposure times; and readout circuitry coupled to the pixel array to readout pixel data from the plurality of regions of pixels, the imaging system coupled to; for each respective one of the plurality of exposure times, determine an exposure ratio for each one of the plurality of regions of pixels, wherein the exposure ratio for each one of the plurality of regions of pixels for each respective one of the plurality of exposure times is equal to respective one of the plurality of exposure times divided by the exposure time for said one of the plurality regions of pixels; for each respective one of the plurality of exposure times, substituting the pixel data for each one of the plurality of regions of pixels for which the exposure ratio is less than a first threshold with the pixel data from said one of the plurality of regions of pixels multiplied by the exposure ratio for said one of the plurality of regions of pixels to generate an image for respective one of the plurality of exposure times; and combine the plurality of images to produce a high dynamic range image. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification