Methods for capturing and reading out images from an image sensor
First Claim
1. A method for producing multiple images with an image sensor that includes a plurality of pixels each including a photosensitive area, a plurality of vertical charge coupled devices (VCCDs) each comprising a plurality of charge storage elements and positioned adjacent to respective columns of pixels, and transfer mechanisms for transferring charge packets from the photosensitive areas to respective charge storage elements, the method comprising:
- beginning light integration for all of the pixels, wherein the photosensitive areas accumulate charge packets;
transferring charge packets from all of the pixels to respective charge storage elements in the VCCDs at a first time, wherein the charge packets from the pixels have a first integration period;
binning charge packets in the VCCDs by shifting a portion of the charge packets one or more charge storage elements in each VCCD, thereby combining charge packets in the portion of charge packets with other charge packets in the VCCDs;
ending light integration for all of the pixels;
transferring charge packets from all of the pixels to respective charge storage elements in the VCCDs at a second time, wherein the charge packets from the pixels have a second integration period, thereby binning charge packets of the same color and having at least two different integration periods in the VCCDs; and
reading out the charge packets from the VCCDs.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Multiple images are captured where the exposure times for some of the images overlap and the images are spatially overlapped. Charge packets are transferred from one or more portions of pixels after particular integration periods, thereby enabling the portion or portions of pixels to begin another integration period while one or more other portions of pixels continue to integrate charge. Charge packets may be binned during readout of the images from the image sensor. Comparison of two or more images having different lengths of overlapping or non-overlapping exposure periods provides motion information. The multiple images can then be aligned to compensate for motion between the images and assembled into a combined image with an improved signal to noise ratio and reduced motion blur.
64 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for producing multiple images with an image sensor that includes a plurality of pixels each including a photosensitive area, a plurality of vertical charge coupled devices (VCCDs) each comprising a plurality of charge storage elements and positioned adjacent to respective columns of pixels, and transfer mechanisms for transferring charge packets from the photosensitive areas to respective charge storage elements, the method comprising:
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beginning light integration for all of the pixels, wherein the photosensitive areas accumulate charge packets; transferring charge packets from all of the pixels to respective charge storage elements in the VCCDs at a first time, wherein the charge packets from the pixels have a first integration period; binning charge packets in the VCCDs by shifting a portion of the charge packets one or more charge storage elements in each VCCD, thereby combining charge packets in the portion of charge packets with other charge packets in the VCCDs; ending light integration for all of the pixels; transferring charge packets from all of the pixels to respective charge storage elements in the VCCDs at a second time, wherein the charge packets from the pixels have a second integration period, thereby binning charge packets of the same color and having at least two different integration periods in the VCCDs; and reading out the charge packets from the VCCDs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for producing multiple images with an image sensor that includes a plurality of pixels each including a photosensitive area, a plurality of vertical charge coupled devices (VCCDs) each comprising a plurality of charge storage elements and positioned adjacent to respective columns of pixels, and transfer mechanisms for transferring charge packets from the photosensitive areas to respective charge storage elements, the method comprising:
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beginning light integration for all of the pixels, wherein the photosensitive areas accumulate charge packets; transferring charge packets from all of the pixels to respective charge storage elements in the VCCDs at a first time, wherein the charge packets from the pixels have a first integration period; binning charge packets in the VCCDs by shifting a portion of the charge packets one or more charge storage elements in each VCCD, thereby combining charge packets in the portion of charge packets with other charge packets in the VCCDs; ending light integration for all of the pixels; transferring charge packets from all of the pixels to respective charge storage elements in the VCCDs at a second time, wherein the charge packets from the pixels have a second integration period, thereby binning charge packets of different colors and having at least two different integration periods in the VCCDs; and reading out the charge packets from the VCCDs. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification