Providing multiple video signals from single sensor

• US 8,031,258 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2006
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnivision Technologies Incorporated (Will Semiconductor Co., Ltd. Shanghai)
• Original Assignee: Omnivision Technologies Incorporated (Will Semiconductor Co., Ltd. Shanghai)
• Inventors: Enge, Amy D., Pillman, Bruce H., Compton, John T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Sinh
• Assistant Examiner(s): CUTLER, ALBERT H
• Application Number:
  US11/538,599
• Publication Number:
  US 20080084486A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,826 Days
• Field of Search: 348/221.1, 348/276, 348/333.11, 348/349, 348/350, 348/364
• US Class Current: 348/350
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/42 by switching between different modes of operation using different resolutions or aspect ratios, e.g. switching between interlaced and non-interlaced mode

Abstract

A method for using a capture device to capture at least two video signals corresponding to a scene, includes: providing a two-dimensional image sensor having a plurality of pixels; reading a first group of pixels from the image sensor at a first frame rate to produce a first video signal of the image scene; reading a second group of pixels from the image sensor at a second frame rate for producing a second video signal; and using at least one of the video signals for adjusting one or more of the capture device parameters.

Claims

1. A method for using a capture device to capture a stream of images to produce a video signal corresponding to a particular image scene, comprising:

a) providing a two-dimensional image sensor having a plurality of pixels;

b) reading a first group of pixels from the image sensor at a first frame rate to produce a first video signal of the particular image scene that is used to produce the video signal;

c) while reading the first group of pixels, reading a second group of pixels from the image sensor that are different from the first group of pixels at a second frame rate to produce a second video signal of at least a portion of the particular image scene, wherein the first group of pixels surrounds on all sides the second group of pixels; and

d) using the second video signal for adjusting one or more capture device parameters wherein the one or more capture device parameters effect a change in at least the first group of pixels; and

e) repeating steps b through d while capturing the stream of images to produce the video signal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the second video signal is at a faster frame rate than the first video signal.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second video signal is used for adjusting focus of the capture device.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the second video signal is used for adjusting exposure of the capture device.

5. The method of claim 4 further including:

f) using pixels from the two-dimensional image sensor to provide a final capture of an image of the scene after adjustment of capture parameter(s).

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the second video signal is used for adjusting exposure of the capture device.

7. The method of claim 1 further including:

f) using pixels from the two-dimensional image sensor to provide a final capture of an image of the scene after adjustment of capture parameter(s).

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the image sensor includes panchromatic and color pixels.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the first group of pixels includes either panchromatic or color pixels or both and the second group of pixels includes either panchromatic or color pixels or both.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the second video signal includes only panchromatic pixels.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the frame rate for the second video signal is adjusted based on a scene mode for the capture device.