Method and apparatus for pixel signal binning and interpolation in column circuits of a sensor circuit
First Claim
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1. An image sensor comprising:
- a pixel array comprising a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns and a plurality of column lines for producing pixel output signals; and
a first column readout circuit which samples and combines multiple pixel signal and reset signal values from a plurality of pixels from a first column line of the plurality of column lines, the first column readout circuit comprising;
a first plurality of charge storage devices for respectively storing each of the multiple pixel signal values from the first column of pixels;
a second plurality of charge storage devices for respectively storing each of the multiple reset signal values from the first column of pixels; and
a first combining circuit for combining the respectively stored multiple pixel signal values and reset signal values from the first column line.
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Abstract
A binning circuit and related method, wherein pixel signals from column circuits in a sensor circuit are sampled and interpolated. The binning circuit samples analog pixel and reset signals from different sensor circuit column lines. Once a predetermined number of column lines are sampled in the binning circuit, the sampled pixel signals are averaged together in one operation, while the reset signals are averaged together in another operation.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An image sensor comprising:
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a pixel array comprising a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns and a plurality of column lines for producing pixel output signals; and a first column readout circuit which samples and combines multiple pixel signal and reset signal values from a plurality of pixels from a first column line of the plurality of column lines, the first column readout circuit comprising; a first plurality of charge storage devices for respectively storing each of the multiple pixel signal values from the first column of pixels; a second plurality of charge storage devices for respectively storing each of the multiple reset signal values from the first column of pixels; and a first combining circuit for combining the respectively stored multiple pixel signal values and reset signal values from the first column line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An image sensor comprising:
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a storing circuit configured to store two or more pixel signal values and two or more reset signal values from a plurality of pixels on a column line, each of the reset signal values corresponding to one of the pixel signal values, each of the pixel and reset signal values being stored with a respective storage device; a pixel signal value combining circuit configured to combine the respectively stored pixel signal values; and a reset signal value combining circuit configured to combine the respectively stored reset signal values. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A method of reading an image sensor, the method comprising:
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reading a plurality of pixel signal values and reset signal values from a plurality of pixels on a column of pixels; storing each of the plurality of pixel signal values with a respective storage device; storing each of the plurality of reset signal values with a respective storage device; combining the respectively stored pixel signal values; combining the respectively stored reset signal values; and outputting the combined pixel signal values and combined reset signal values on a respective first and second output line. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of reading an image sensor, the method comprising:
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storing two or more pixel signal values from two or more pixels on a column line with a respective storage device; storing two or more reset signal values from said two or more pixels on the column line with a respective storage device; and combining the respectively stored pixel signal values and the respectively stored reset signal values. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification