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Selectable resolution image capture system

  • US 7,068,316 B1
  • Filed: 09/29/2000
  • Issued: 06/27/2006
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A selectable resolution image capture system comprising:

  • an imager having a plurality of photocells that produce an analog electrical response to light exposure;

    a circuit that converts the electrical responses of the plurality of photocells into digital signals;

    the circuit having a full-resolution mode and a low-resolution mode;

    an image processor that operates the circuit and selects between the full-resolution and low-resolution modes of the circuit to capture an image, where the image processor detects whether there is a low incident light condition, and in response to detecting the low incident light condition, the image processor switches from the full-resolution mode to the low-resolution mode of the circuit and captures the image using the low-resolution mode of the circuit;

    a row clock signal operating at a first clock rate;

    a column clock signal operating at a second clock rate; and

    a charge accumulator configured to accumulate charges from selected photocells during first clock cycles;

    wherein the image processor increases the first clock rate and the second clock rate during second clock cycles when the charge accumulator is not accumulating charges.

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