Image sensor combining high dynamic range techniques
First Claim
1. A three-dimensional integrated circuit (3D-IC) image sensor, comprising:
- a sensor layer, comprising;
a pixel array that comprises pixels; and
an image signal processing layer, the image signal processing layer being separate from the sensor layer, the image signal processing layer and the sensor layer being vertically integrated in the 3D-IC image sensor, the image signal processing layer comprising;
a timing controller configured to control exposure times of the pixels in the pixel array, the timing controller configured to;
control a first subset of the pixels in the pixel array to have a first exposure time during a first time period, wherein a first frame of an input image stream is captured during the first time period;
control a second subset of the pixels in the pixel array to have a second exposure time during the first time period;
control the first subset of the pixels in the pixel array to have a third exposure time during a second time period, wherein a second frame of the input image stream is captured during the second time period; and
control the second subset of the pixels in the pixel array to have a fourth exposure time during the second time period;
wherein the first exposure time, the second exposure time, the third exposure time, and the fourth exposure time differ from each other;
a readout circuit configured to read out signals from the pixels in the pixel array for the first frame and the second frame of the input image stream; and
at least one analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the signals to pixel values for the first frame and the second frame of the input image stream;
wherein the first subset of the pixels in the pixel array comprises first non-rectangular units of pixels;
wherein the second subset of the pixels in the pixel array comprises second non-rectangular units of pixels; and
wherein each of the first non-rectangular units of pixels and each of the second non-rectangular units of pixels are L-shaped and comprise three adjacent pixels in a row of the pixel array and a fourth pixel in an adjacent row of the pixel array.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various technologies described herein pertain to combining high dynamic range techniques to enable rendering higher dynamic range scenes with an image sensor. The image sensor can implement a combination of spatial exposure multiplexing and temporal exposure multiplexing, for example. By way of another example, the image sensor can implement a combination of spatial exposure multiplexing and dual gain operation. Pursuant to another example, the image sensor can implement a combination of temporal exposure multiplexing and dual gain operation. In accordance with yet another example, the image sensor can implement a combination of spatial exposure multiplexing, temporal exposure multiplexing, and dual gain operation. The image sensor can be formed on a single wafer or the image sensor can be a 3D-IC image sensor that includes at least two vertically integrated layers.
18 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A three-dimensional integrated circuit (3D-IC) image sensor, comprising:
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a sensor layer, comprising; a pixel array that comprises pixels; and an image signal processing layer, the image signal processing layer being separate from the sensor layer, the image signal processing layer and the sensor layer being vertically integrated in the 3D-IC image sensor, the image signal processing layer comprising; a timing controller configured to control exposure times of the pixels in the pixel array, the timing controller configured to; control a first subset of the pixels in the pixel array to have a first exposure time during a first time period, wherein a first frame of an input image stream is captured during the first time period; control a second subset of the pixels in the pixel array to have a second exposure time during the first time period; control the first subset of the pixels in the pixel array to have a third exposure time during a second time period, wherein a second frame of the input image stream is captured during the second time period; and control the second subset of the pixels in the pixel array to have a fourth exposure time during the second time period; wherein the first exposure time, the second exposure time, the third exposure time, and the fourth exposure time differ from each other; a readout circuit configured to read out signals from the pixels in the pixel array for the first frame and the second frame of the input image stream; and at least one analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the signals to pixel values for the first frame and the second frame of the input image stream; wherein the first subset of the pixels in the pixel array comprises first non-rectangular units of pixels; wherein the second subset of the pixels in the pixel array comprises second non-rectangular units of pixels; and wherein each of the first non-rectangular units of pixels and each of the second non-rectangular units of pixels are L-shaped and comprise three adjacent pixels in a row of the pixel array and a fourth pixel in an adjacent row of the pixel array. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A three-dimensional integrated circuit (3D-IC) image sensor, comprising:
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a sensor layer, comprising; a pixel array that comprises pixels; an image signal processing layer, the image signal processing layer being separate from the sensor layer, the image signal processing layer and the sensor layer being vertically integrated in the 3D-IC image sensor, the image signal processing layer comprising; a timing controller configured to control exposure times of the pixels in the pixel array, the timing controller configured to control the exposure times of the pixels at least one of temporally or spatially such that an input image stream has two or more differing exposure times; a readout circuit configured to; read out signals from the pixels in the pixel array for the input image stream having the two or more differing exposure times; amplify the signals read out from the pixels in the pixel array by a first analog gain to output first amplified signals for the input image stream having the two or more differing exposure times; and amplify the signals read out from the pixels in the pixel array by a second analog gain to output second amplified signals for the input image stream having the two or more differing exposure times, wherein the first analog gain differs from the second analog gain; and at least one analog-to-digital converter configured to; convert the first amplified signals to first amplified pixel values for the input image stream having the two or more differing exposure times; and convert the second amplified signals to second amplified pixel values for the input image stream having the two or more differing exposure times; wherein the timing controlling being configured to control the exposure times of the pixels both temporally and spatially comprises the timing controller being configured to; control a first subset of the pixels in the pixel array to have a first exposure time during a first time period, wherein a first frame of the input image stream is captured during the first time period; control a second subset of the pixels in the pixel array to have a second exposure time during the first time period; control the first subset of the pixels in the pixel array to have a third exposure time during a second time period, wherein a second frame of the input image stream is captured during the second time period; and control the second subset of the pixels in the pixel array to have a fourth exposure time during the second time period; wherein the first exposure time, the second exposure time, the third exposure time, and the fourth exposure time differ from each other; wherein the first subset of the pixels in the pixel array comprises first non-rectangular units of pixels; wherein the second subset of the pixels in the pixel array comprises second non-rectangular units of pixels; and wherein each of the first non-rectangular units of pixels and each of the second non-rectangular units of pixels are L-shaped and comprise three adjacent pixels in a row of the pixel array and a fourth pixel in an adjacent row of the pixel array. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. An image sensor, comprising:
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a pixel array that comprises pixels; a timing controller configured to control exposure times of the pixels in the pixel array, the timing controller configured to; control a first subset of the pixels in the pixel array to have a first exposure time during a first time period, wherein a first frame of an input image stream is captured during the first time period; control a second subset of the pixels in the pixel array to have a second exposure time during the first time period; control the first subset of the pixels in the pixel array to have a third exposure time during a second time period, wherein a second frame of the input image stream is captured during the second time period; and control the second subset of the pixels in the pixel array to have a fourth exposure time during the second time period; wherein the first exposure time, the second exposure time, the third exposure time, and the fourth exposure time differ from each other; a readout circuit configured to read out signals from the pixels in the pixel array for the first frame and the second frame of the input image stream; and at least one analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the signals to pixel values for the first frame and the second frame of the input image stream; wherein the pixel array, the timing controller, the readout circuit, and the at least one analog-to-digital converter are formed on a single wafer; wherein the first subset of the pixels in the pixel array comprises first non-rectangular units of pixels; wherein the second subset of the pixels in the pixel array comprises second non-rectangular units of pixels; and wherein each of the first non-rectangular units of pixels and each of the second non-rectangular units of pixels are L-shaped and comprise three adjacent pixels in a row of the pixel array and a fourth pixel in an adjacent row of the pixel array. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification