Image sensor and imaging method with single shot compressed sensing
First Claim
1. An image sensor comprising:
- a plurality of pixel blocks including pixel elements, wherein each pixel element is configured to generate an analog signal corresponding to an intensity of light impinged on the pixel element;
a plurality of analog to digital, A/D, converters connected to each of the pixel block, wherein each A/D converter is configured to sample a corresponding average value of an input analog signal and convert the input analog signal to a digital signal based on a predetermined activation code that determines which A/D converters of the plurality of A/D converters are activated; and
a plurality of multiplexers, wherein each multiplexer is connected to the pixel block and the plurality of A/D converters and is configured to sequentially select and distribute the analog signal and subsequent analog signals obtained from the pixel block to the plurality of A/D converters in a cycle of A/D conversion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A CMOS image sensor includes a plurality of pixel elements arranged in a two-dimensional array, analog signal multiplexers, over-sampling A/D converters and an activation code generator. The sensor is configured to construct an image by using less number of A/D conversions, thereby reducing the power consumption of the sensor. The activation code generator generates a bit stream of random binary sequences which determine which A/D converter is activated. The image sensor offers digitally compressed data, the number of which is significantly less than the total number of pixels. Further, the image sensor not only reduces the power consumption of the A/D converters (by reducing the number of A/D conversions) but also reduces the I/O power consumption. An original image focused on the sensor is recovered from the compressed data by using principles of compressed sensing.
8 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An image sensor comprising:
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a plurality of pixel blocks including pixel elements, wherein each pixel element is configured to generate an analog signal corresponding to an intensity of light impinged on the pixel element; a plurality of analog to digital, A/D, converters connected to each of the pixel block, wherein each A/D converter is configured to sample a corresponding average value of an input analog signal and convert the input analog signal to a digital signal based on a predetermined activation code that determines which A/D converters of the plurality of A/D converters are activated; and a plurality of multiplexers, wherein each multiplexer is connected to the pixel block and the plurality of A/D converters and is configured to sequentially select and distribute the analog signal and subsequent analog signals obtained from the pixel block to the plurality of A/D converters in a cycle of A/D conversion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An image sensor comprising:
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a plurality of pixel elements, wherein each pixel element is configured to generate an analog signal corresponding to an intensity of light impinged on the pixel element; a plurality of analog to digital, A/D, converters, wherein each A/D converter is configured to sample a corresponding average value of an input analog signal and convert the input analog signal to a digital signal; a plurality of multiplexers, wherein each multiplexer is connected to a pixel block and a first subset of the plurality of A/D converters and is configured to sequentially select and distribute the analog signal and following analog signals from the pixel block to the A/D converters in a cycle of A/D conversion, wherein each multiplexer of the plurality of multiplexers further comprises a plurality of sub-multiplexers connected to the same pixel block, each sub-multiplexer of the plurality of sub-multiplexers is connected to a second subset of the plurality of A/D converters. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. An image processing method performed by an image sensor, the method comprising:
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generating a plurality of analog signals from a plurality of pixel blocks, each pixel block including a plurality of pixel elements, each analog signal corresponding to an intensity of light impinged on the corresponding pixel element; selecting by a decoder, a subset of analog signals generated by the generating; multiplexing sequentially the subset of analog signals selected by the selecting and distributing the subset of analog signals to a plurality of analog to digital, A/D, converters connected to each of the pixel block; generating a random activation code that determines which A/D converters of the plurality of A/D converters are activated; and obtaining a digital read-out of the analog signals from the activated A/D converters.
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Specification