Power efficient image sensing apparatus, method of operating the same and eye/gaze tracking system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An image sensing apparatus comprising:
- a light sensitive area configured to register image data in response to an incoming amount of light, the light sensitive area being operable in an active mode wherein image data can be read out there from and a standby mode wherein image data cannot be read out; and
a control unit configured to produce a control signal for setting the light sensitive area in the active mode and the standby mode respectively, said control unit configured to produce the control signal such that the light sensitive area operates in the active mode and the standby mode in a cyclic manner during an operation period, wherein the operation period extends over at least two capture times during which the light sensitive area operates in the active mode, separated by a respective delay period during which the light sensitive area operates in the standby mode.
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Abstract
An image sensing apparatus has a light sensitive area and a control unit. The light sensitive area registers image data in response to an incoming amount of light, and is operable in an active mode wherein image data can be read out there from as well as in a standby mode wherein image data cannot be read out. The control unit produces a control signal setting the light sensitive area to operate in the active mode and the standby mode respectively in a cyclic manner during an operation period, which preferably encompasses multiple data frame read-outs of image data from the light sensitive area.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. An image sensing apparatus comprising:
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a light sensitive area configured to register image data in response to an incoming amount of light, the light sensitive area being operable in an active mode wherein image data can be read out there from and a standby mode wherein image data cannot be read out; and a control unit configured to produce a control signal for setting the light sensitive area in the active mode and the standby mode respectively, said control unit configured to produce the control signal such that the light sensitive area operates in the active mode and the standby mode in a cyclic manner during an operation period, wherein the operation period extends over at least two capture times during which the light sensitive area operates in the active mode, separated by a respective delay period during which the light sensitive area operates in the standby mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An eye/gaze tracking system comprising an image sensing apparatus, said image sensing apparatus comprising:
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a light sensitive area configured to register image data in response to an incoming amount of light, the light sensitive area being operable in an active mode wherein image data can be read out there from and a standby mode wherein image data cannot be read out, wherein the light sensitive area comprises a set of light sensitive elements arranged in a first number of columns and a second number of rows, and wherein the light sensitive area is controllable to read out image data to an output interface, which image data have been registered exclusively by at least one sub-set of the first number of columns and/or the second number of rows; and a control unit configured to produce a control signal for setting the light sensitive area in the active mode and the standby mode respectively, said control unit configured to produce the control signal such that the light sensitive area operates in the active mode and the standby mode in a cyclic manner during an operation period, wherein the operation period extends over at least two capture times during which the light sensitive area operates in the active mode, separated by a respective delay period during which the light sensitive area operates in the standby mode, and wherein the control unit is further configured to produce the control signal so that said at least one subset of image data is fed to the output interface when the light sensitive area operates in the active mode, wherein the image sensing apparatus being arranged to capture image data of a subject whose eye and/or and or gaze is tracked, and wherein the control unit is configured to produce the control signal so that said at least one subset of image data represents the image of at least one eye of the subject.
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7. A method of controlling an image sensing apparatus having a light sensitive area configured to register image data in response to an incoming amount of light, the light sensitive area being operable in an active mode wherein image data can be read out there from and a standby mode wherein image data cannot be read out, the method comprising:
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producing a control signal for setting the light sensitive area in the active mode and the standby mode respectively; and producing the control signal such that the light sensitive area operates in the active mode and the standby mode in a cyclic manner during an operation period, wherein the operation period extends over at least two capture times during which the light sensitive area operates in the active mode, separated by a respective delay period during which the light sensitive area operates in the standby mode. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising software instructions for operation by a computer controller for controlling an image sensing apparatus having a light sensitive area configured to register image data in response to an incoming amount of light, the light sensitive area being operable in an active mode wherein image data can be read out there from and a standby mode wherein image data cannot be read out, said instructions comprising:
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first instructions for producing a control signal for setting the light sensitive area in the active mode and the standby mode respectively; and second instructions for producing the control signal such that the light sensitive area operates in the active mode and the standby mode in a cyclic manner during an operation period, wherein the operation period extends over at least two capture times during which the light sensitive area operates in the active mode, separated by a respective delay period during which the light sensitive area operates in the standby mode. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An image sensing apparatus comprising:
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a light sensitive area configured to register image data in response to an incoming amount of light, the light sensitive area being operable in an active mode wherein image data can be read out there from and a standby mode wherein image data cannot be read out; a control unit configured to produce a control signal for setting the light sensitive area in the active mode and the standby mode respectively, in a cyclic manner during an operation period, wherein the operation period extends over at least one capture time where the light sensitive area operates in the active mode, and wherein prior to the operation period, the control unit is configured to produce the control signal so that the light sensitive area operates in the active mode during an unbroken period of time exceeding a typical capture time associated with a full readout of image data from the light sensitive area. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An eye/gaze tracking system comprising an image sensing apparatus, said image sensing apparatus comprising:
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a light sensitive area configured to register image data in response to an incoming amount of light, the light sensitive area being operable in an active mode wherein image data can be read out there from and a standby mode wherein image data cannot be read out, wherein the light sensitive area comprises a set of light sensitive elements arranged in a first number of columns and a second number of rows, and wherein the light sensitive area is controllable to read out image data to an output interface, which image data have been registered exclusively by at least one sub-set of the first number of columns and/or the second number of rows; and a control unit configured to produce a control signal for setting the light sensitive area in the active mode and the standby mode respectively, in a cyclic manner during an operation period, wherein the operation period extends over at least one capture time where the light sensitive area operates in the active mode, wherein the control unit is further configured to produce the control signal so that said at least one subset of image data is fed to the output interface when the light sensitive area operates in the active mode, and wherein prior to the operation period, the control unit is configured to produce the control signal so that the light sensitive area operates in the active mode during an unbroken period of time exceeding a typical capture time associated with a full readout of image data from the light sensitive area, wherein the image sensing apparatus being arranged to capture image data of a subject whose eye and or gaze is tracked, and wherein the control unit is configured to produce the control signal so that said at least one subset of image data represents the image of at least one eye of the subject.
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24. A method of controlling an image sensing apparatus having a light sensitive area configured to register image data in response to an incoming amount of light, the light sensitive area being operable in an active mode wherein image data can be read out there from and a standby mode wherein image data cannot be read out;
- the method comprising;
producing a control signal for setting the light sensitive area in the active mode and the standby mode respectively; producing the control signal such that the light sensitive area operates in the active mode and the standby mode in a cyclic manner during an operation period; and prior to the operation period, producing the control signal so that the light sensitive area operates in the active mode during an unbroken period of time exceeding a typical capture time associated with a full readout of image data from the light sensitive area. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 33)
- the method comprising;
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29. A computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising software instructions for operation by a computer controller for controlling an image sensing apparatus having a light sensitive area configured to register image data in response to an incoming amount of light, the light sensitive area being operable in an active mode wherein image data can be read out there from and a standby mode wherein image data cannot be read out, said instructions comprising:
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first instructions for producing a control signal for setting the light sensitive area in the active mode and the standby mode respectively; second instructions for producing the control signal such that the light sensitive area operates in the active mode and the standby mode in a cyclic manner during an operation period; and third instructions for, prior to the operation period, producing the control signal so that the light sensitive area operates in the active mode during an unbroken period of time exceeding a typical capture time associated with a full readout of image data from the light sensitive area. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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Specification