Time multiplexing image processing functions for noise reduction
First Claim
1. A system on a chip for an image sensor, comprising:
- a sensor array, including a two-dimensional array of pixel elements, that outputs digital signals as pixel data representing an image of a scene, said sensor array comprising a plurality of analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) circuits, each ADC circuit being coupled to one or more pixel elements in said sensor array;
a readout circuit in communication with said sensor array for reading said pixel data from said sensor array;
a data memory, in communication with said sensor array, for storing said pixel data; and
a processor, in communication with said data memory, for processing said pixel data;
wherein said system on a chip deactivates at least one noise-inducing circuit while a noise-sensitive circuit is activated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system on a chip for an image sensor includes a sensor array, a readout circuit, a data memory and a processor. The sensor array includes a two-dimensional array of pixel elements and a plurality of analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) circuits where each ADC circuit is coupled to one or more pixel elements in the sensor array. The readout circuit is coupled for reading the pixel data from the sensor array. The data memory is coupled for the sensor array for storing the pixel data. The processor is coupled for processing the pixel data. In operation, the system on a chip deactivates at least one noise-inducing circuit while a noise-sensitive circuit is activated. In one embodiment, the noise-sensitive circuit is one or more of the ADC circuits, and the noise-inducing circuit is one of the readout circuit, the data memory and the processor.
54 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system on a chip for an image sensor, comprising:
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a sensor array, including a two-dimensional array of pixel elements, that outputs digital signals as pixel data representing an image of a scene, said sensor array comprising a plurality of analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) circuits, each ADC circuit being coupled to one or more pixel elements in said sensor array;
a readout circuit in communication with said sensor array for reading said pixel data from said sensor array;
a data memory, in communication with said sensor array, for storing said pixel data; and
a processor, in communication with said data memory, for processing said pixel data;
wherein said system on a chip deactivates at least one noise-inducing circuit while a noise-sensitive circuit is activated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system on a chip for an image sensor, comprising:
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a sensor array, including a two-dimensional array of pixel elements, that outputs digital signals as pixel data representing an image of a scene, said sensor array comprising a plurality of analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) circuits, each ADC circuit being coupled to one or more pixel elements in said sensor array;
a readout circuit in communication with said sensor array for reading said pixel data from said sensor array;
a data memory, in communication with said sensor array, for storing said pixel data; and
a processor, in communication with said data memory, for processing said pixel data;
wherein when said ADC circuits are activated, at least one of said readout circuit and said processor is deactivated. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method in a system on a chip for an image sensor, comprising:
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providing a sensor array, including a two-dimensional array of pixel elements, that outputs digital signals as pixel data representing an image of a scene, said sensor array comprising a plurality of analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) circuits, each ADC circuit being coupled to one or more pixel elements in said sensor array;
providing a readout circuit in communication with said sensor array for reading said pixel data from said sensor array;
providing a data memory, in communication with said sensor array, for storing said pixel data;
providing a processor, in communication with said data memory, for processing said pixel data;
activating at least one of said ADC circuits for generating said digital data at least one of said pixel elements; and
while said at least one of said ADC circuits is activated, deactivating said readout circuit, said data memory and said processor. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method in a system on a chip for an image sensor, comprising:
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providing a sensor array, including a two-dimensional array of pixel elements, that outputs digital signals as pixel data representing an image of a scene, said sensor array comprising a plurality of analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) circuits, each ADC circuit being coupled to one or more pixel elements in said sensor array;
providing a readout circuit in communication with said sensor array for reading said pixel data from said sensor array;
providing a data memory, in communication with said sensor array, for storing said pixel data;
providing a processor, in communication with said data memory, for processing said pixel data;
activating at least one noise-sensitive circuit; and
while said at least one noise-sensitive circuit is activated, deactivating at least one noise-inducing circuit. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification