Image sensor with charge binning and dual channel readout
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An x-y addressable image sensor comprising:
- (a) a plurality of light receiving elements arranged in an array of rows and columns that convert the light to a signal;
(b) means for reading out two or more equivalent samples of a same signal from each light receiving element in at least one row, wherein the same signal is produced after a single integration period for all of the light receiving elements in the at least one row;
(c) at least two signal storage banks comprised of individual signal storage elements;
each of the at least two storage banks having enough individual storage elements to store the two or more signals from the at least one row of light receiving elements in the array, wherein the two or more samples of the same signal are concurrently stored in different individual signal storage elements; and
(d) at least two select mechanisms which can direct signals from the plurality of light receiving elements to any single or combination of the signal storage banks.
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Abstract
An image sensor includes: (a) a plurality of light measuring elements arranged in an array and at least a portion of the elements have a color filter mated with the light receiving elements which permits selective color reception by the light measuring elements; (b) a plurality of floating diffusions respectively mated with the plurality of light receiving elements; and c) an output structure electrically connected to two or more of the floating diffusions; wherein the at least two light receiving elements receiving the same color are transferred to the output structure substantially simultaneously.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An x-y addressable image sensor comprising:
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(a) a plurality of light receiving elements arranged in an array of rows and columns that convert the light to a signal; (b) means for reading out two or more equivalent samples of a same signal from each light receiving element in at least one row, wherein the same signal is produced after a single integration period for all of the light receiving elements in the at least one row; (c) at least two signal storage banks comprised of individual signal storage elements;
each of the at least two storage banks having enough individual storage elements to store the two or more signals from the at least one row of light receiving elements in the array, wherein the two or more samples of the same signal are concurrently stored in different individual signal storage elements; and(d) at least two select mechanisms which can direct signals from the plurality of light receiving elements to any single or combination of the signal storage banks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A camera comprising:
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an x-y addressable image sensor comprising; (a) a plurality of light receiving elements arranged in an array of rows and columns that convert the light to a signal; (b) means for reading out two or more equivalent samples of a same signal from each light receiving element in at least one row, wherein the same signal is produced after a single integration period for all of the light receiving elements in the at least one row; (c) at least two signal storage banks comprised of individual signal storage elements;
each of the at least two storage banks having enough individual storage elements to store the two or more signals from the at least one row of light receiving elements in the array, wherein the two or more samples of the same signal are concurrently stored in different individual signal storage elements; and(d) at least two select mechanisms which can direct signals from the plurality of light receiving elements to any single or combination of the signal storage banks. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for operating an x-y addressable image sensor that includes at least two storage banks comprised of individual storage elements each of the at least two storage banks having enough individual storage elements to store signals from at least one row of light receiving elements, the method comprising:
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capturing a single image using a single integration period for all of the light receiving elements in at least one row; after the single integration period, reading out two or more equivalent samples of the same signal for each light receiving element in the at least one row; storing the two or more samples of the same signal in respective storage elements in the at least two storage banks. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification