Smart column controls for high speed multi-resolution sensors
First Claim
1. A single-chip active pixel sensor operable in at least a first and second resolution mode comprising:
- at least first and second line arrays defined by a plurality of pixel storage elements, each storage element causing a current pixel value stored therein to be readout in response to at least a corresponding column address signal; and
column selection logic including a plurality of decoder blocks coupled to a plurality of shift registers, the column selection logic generating a first number of column address signals for reading out a first subset of the storage elements when in the first resolution mode, and generating a second number of column address signals for reading out a second subset of the storage elements when in the second resolution mode, wherein non-selected storage elements are not read out, and wherein the first and second subset include storage elements from all the line arrays.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Smarts are added to a CMOS active pixel color linear image sensor operable in any of parallel-packed, pixel-packed, and line-packed readout mode, to provide the added feature of variable imaging resolution operability. By combining decoder block functionality with shift selection logic to provide column selection adaptable for lowering the resolution of an imaging process, higher speed imaging is possible. Furthermore, the added functionality is implemented in a manner which does not unduly impact chip size. More importantly, the added functionality is compatible with, and in fact complements the specific architecture of an active pixel color linear sensor with variable readout mode functionality incorporated therein.
30 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A single-chip active pixel sensor operable in at least a first and second resolution mode comprising:
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at least first and second line arrays defined by a plurality of pixel storage elements, each storage element causing a current pixel value stored therein to be readout in response to at least a corresponding column address signal; and
column selection logic including a plurality of decoder blocks coupled to a plurality of shift registers, the column selection logic generating a first number of column address signals for reading out a first subset of the storage elements when in the first resolution mode, and generating a second number of column address signals for reading out a second subset of the storage elements when in the second resolution mode, wherein non-selected storage elements are not read out, and wherein the first and second subset include storage elements from all the line arrays. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An active pixel color linear image sensor operable in at least a first and second resolution mode and selectively operable in at least one of pixel-packed and line-packed pixel readout modes comprising:
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first, second and third line arrays each defined by a plurality of pixel storage elements, each storage element causing a current pixel value stored therein to be readout in response to at least a corresponding column address signal; and
column selection logic including a plurality of decoder blocks coupled to a plurality of shift registers, the column selection logic generating a first number of column address signals for reading out a first subset of the storage elements when in the first resolution mode, and generating a second number of column address signals for reading out a second subset of the storage elements when in the second resolution mode, wherein non-selected storage elements are not read out, and wherein the first and second subset include storage elements from all three line arrays. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification