Imaging apparatus comprising image sensor array having shared global shutter circuitry
First Claim
1. An imaging apparatus comprising:
- an image sensor array for generating frames of image data, the image sensory array comprising shared global shutter circuitry;
wherein the imaging apparatus, when in a first configuration, is configured for;
sequentially initiating exposure of pixels of a first row and a second row of pixels of the image sensor array; and
reading out a frame of image data from the image sensor array wherein pixel values are un-binned pixel values that represent light incident on a spatial area delimited by a single pixel of the image sensor array;
wherein the imaging apparatus, when in a second configuration, is configured for;
simultaneously initiating exposure of pixels of a first row and a second row of pixels of the image sensor array;
simultaneously terminating exposure of pixels of the first row and the second row of pixels of the image sensor array; and
reading out a frame of image data from the image sensor array using the shared global shutter circuitry, wherein pixel values are binned pixel values that represent light incident on a spatial area delimited by an arrangement of two or more pixels of the image sensor array; and
wherein the imaging apparatus is configured to switch between the first configuration and the second configuration responsively to a sensed condition.
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Abstract
There is set forth herein in one embodiment an image sensor array including a global shutter shared by first and second pixels. The global shutter can include a charge storage area having an associated shield for reducing charge build up on the charge storage area attributable to incident light rays. There is set forth herein in one embodiment an imaging apparatus having one or more configuration. The one or more configuration can include one or more of a configuration wherein a frame read out from an image sensor array has unbinned pixel values, a configuration wherein a frame read out from an image sensor array has binned pixel values corresponding to an M×N, M>=2, N>=2 arrangement of pixel values, and a configuration wherein a frame read out from an image sensor array has binned pixel values corresponding to a 1×N, N>=2 arrangement of pixel values.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An imaging apparatus comprising:
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an image sensor array for generating frames of image data, the image sensory array comprising shared global shutter circuitry; wherein the imaging apparatus, when in a first configuration, is configured for; sequentially initiating exposure of pixels of a first row and a second row of pixels of the image sensor array; and reading out a frame of image data from the image sensor array wherein pixel values are un-binned pixel values that represent light incident on a spatial area delimited by a single pixel of the image sensor array; wherein the imaging apparatus, when in a second configuration, is configured for; simultaneously initiating exposure of pixels of a first row and a second row of pixels of the image sensor array; simultaneously terminating exposure of pixels of the first row and the second row of pixels of the image sensor array; and reading out a frame of image data from the image sensor array using the shared global shutter circuitry, wherein pixel values are binned pixel values that represent light incident on a spatial area delimited by an arrangement of two or more pixels of the image sensor array; and wherein the imaging apparatus is configured to switch between the first configuration and the second configuration responsively to a sensed condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An imaging apparatus comprising:
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a trigger for generating a trigger signal; an image sensor array for generating frames of image data, the image sensory array comprising shared global shutter circuitry; wherein the imaging apparatus, when in a first configuration, is configured for; sequentially initiating exposure of pixels of a first row and a second row of pixels of the image sensor array; and reading out a frame of image data from the image sensor array wherein pixel values are un-binned pixel values that represent light incident on a spatial area delimited by a single pixel of the image sensor array; wherein the imaging apparatus, when in a second configuration, is configured for; simultaneously initiating exposure of pixels of a first row and a second row of pixels of the image sensor array; simultaneously terminating exposure of pixels of the first row and the second row of pixels of the image sensor array; and reading out a frame of image data from the image sensor array using the shared global shutter circuitry, wherein pixel values are binned pixel values that represent light incident on a spatial area delimited by an arrangement of two or more pixels of the image sensor array; and wherein the imaging apparatus is configured to switch between the first configuration and the second configuration responsively to the trigger signal. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method comprising:
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activating a first configuration or a second configuration of an imaging apparatus in response to operator input and/or a sensed condition, the imaging apparatus comprising an image sensor array comprising shared global shutter circuitry, the image sensor array having rows of pixels; if the first configuration is activated; sequentially initiating exposure of pixels of a first row and a second row of pixels of the image sensor array; and reading out a frame of image data from the image sensor array wherein pixel values are un-binned pixel values that represent light incident on a spatial area delimited by a single pixel of the image sensor array; if the second configuration is activated; simultaneously initiating exposure of pixels of a first row and a second row of pixels of the image sensor array; simultaneously terminating exposure of pixels of the first row and the second row of pixels of the image sensor array; and reading out a frame of image data from the image sensor array using the shared global shutter circuitry, wherein pixel values are binned pixel values that represent light incident on a spatial area delimited by an arrangement of two or more pixels of the image sensor array. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification