Active pixel color linear sensor with line-packed pixel readout
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device, comprising:
- a focal plane array of pixels, comprising an array of m x n pixels having at least first, second and third pixel groups;
a plurality of storage elements, separate from said pixels, and enabling storage of information from said pixels into said plurality of storage elements, said plurality of storage elements including at least first, second and third groups of storage elements; and
readout logic, which selectively operates to control sampling of different ones of said pixels to different ones of said storage elements during a line packed pixel readout mode.
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Abstract
A CMOS active pixel color linear image sensor is operable in line-packed readout mode, and at very high speed. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the sensor is formed entirely on a single-chip and may be further configurable for operation in parallel-packed and/or pixel-packed modes. Line-packed pixel readout is accomplished by spreading same color pixel signal sampled values in storage elements across each of plural readout register arrays in a “cyclic” manner. Facility is introduced for starting the reading of a next pixel (e.g., R pixel 2) even before the previous pixel (R pixel 1) has been read out to increase the effective pixel readout rate.
29 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A device, comprising:
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a focal plane array of pixels, comprising an array of m x n pixels having at least first, second and third pixel groups;
a plurality of storage elements, separate from said pixels, and enabling storage of information from said pixels into said plurality of storage elements, said plurality of storage elements including at least first, second and third groups of storage elements; and
readout logic, which selectively operates to control sampling of different ones of said pixels to different ones of said storage elements during a line packed pixel readout mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A device, comprising:
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a focal plane array of photosensitive pixels, each of said photosensitive pixels including a photoreceptor, and at least one in-pixel transistor operating to select a pixel and at least one other in pixel transistor operating to buffer an output of the photosensitive pixel, said focal plane array being arranged into first, second and third groups, it each group representing a different color;
a plurality of storage elements, separate from said pixels, including first, second and third groups of storage elements respectively configured to store information from said first, second and third pixel groups; and
readout logic, operating in a line packed pixel mode and in another pixel mode different than said line packed pixel mode. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification