Pixel read-out architecture
First Claim
1. A method of extracting data representative of photo-exposure intensity from light-sensitive elements in an array of light-sensitive elements, the array having distinct first and second sets of rows of the light-sensitive elements, each of the light-sensitive elements having a sensitivity to energy in-one of a plurality of spectral regions and being associated with a corresponding spectral region, each row having light-sensitive elements which are associated with at least two spectral regions, the method comprising:
- at a first scanning circuit, from each row in the first set of rows, extracting signals which are representative of an intensity of photo-exposure of light-sensitive elements associated with a first spectral region; and
from each row in the second set of rows, extracting signals which are representative of an intensity of photo-exposure of light-sensitive elements associated with a second spectral region which is distinct from the first spectral region; and
at a second scanning circuit, from each row in the first set of rows, extracting signals which are representative of an intensity of photo-exposure of light-sensitive elements associated with a third spectral region which is distinct from the first and second spectral regions; and
from each row in the second set of rows, extracting signals which are representative of an intensity of photo-exposure of light-sensitive elements associated with a fourth spectral region which is distinct from the first, second, and third spectral regions, wherein the signals representative of the intensity photo-exposure of each light-sensitive element associated with the first and second spectral regions is extracted at the first scanning circuit and the signals representative of the intensity of photo-exposure of each light-sensitive element associated with the third spectral region and the fourth spectral region are extracted at the second scanning circuit.
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Abstract
A system and method for reading out pixel signals from a multi-color imaging array. The imaging array includes light-sensitive elements which are arranged in rows and columns. Each of the light-sensitive elements is sensitive to photon energy in one of a plurality of spectral regions or color bands. Read-out circuits extract signals representative of an intensity of the photo exposure of the light-sensitive elements at extraction intervals one row at a time. At any particular extraction interval, all of the signals extracted by a particular read-out circuit originate at light-sensitive elements which are sensitive to photon energy in the same spectral region or color band.
71 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method of extracting data representative of photo-exposure intensity from light-sensitive elements in an array of light-sensitive elements, the array having distinct first and second sets of rows of the light-sensitive elements, each of the light-sensitive elements having a sensitivity to energy in-one of a plurality of spectral regions and being associated with a corresponding spectral region, each row having light-sensitive elements which are associated with at least two spectral regions, the method comprising:
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at a first scanning circuit, from each row in the first set of rows, extracting signals which are representative of an intensity of photo-exposure of light-sensitive elements associated with a first spectral region; and
from each row in the second set of rows, extracting signals which are representative of an intensity of photo-exposure of light-sensitive elements associated with a second spectral region which is distinct from the first spectral region; and
at a second scanning circuit, from each row in the first set of rows, extracting signals which are representative of an intensity of photo-exposure of light-sensitive elements associated with a third spectral region which is distinct from the first and second spectral regions; and
from each row in the second set of rows, extracting signals which are representative of an intensity of photo-exposure of light-sensitive elements associated with a fourth spectral region which is distinct from the first, second, and third spectral regions, wherein the signals representative of the intensity photo-exposure of each light-sensitive element associated with the first and second spectral regions is extracted at the first scanning circuit and the signals representative of the intensity of photo-exposure of each light-sensitive element associated with the third spectral region and the fourth spectral region are extracted at the second scanning circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2)
at the first scanning circuit, extracting signals which are representative of an intensity of photo-exposure of light-sensitive elements associated with red and blue spectral regions; and
at the second scanning circuit, extracting signals which are representative of an intensity of photo-exposure of light-sensitive elements associated with green and white spectral regions.
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3. A method of extracting data representative of photo-exposure intensity values from light-sensitive elements in an array of light-sensitive elements, the array having distinct first and second sets of rows of the light sensitive elements, each of the light-sensitive elements having a sensitivity to energy in one of a plurality of spectral regions and being associated with a corresponding spectral region, the extraction process occurring in first extraction intervals in which data is extracted from rows in the first set of rows and second extraction intervals in which data is extracted from rows in the second set of rows, the method comprising:
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at a first scanning circuit, extracting signals representative of an intensity of photo-exposure of each light-sensitive element associated with a first spectral region during the first extraction intervals and extracting signals representative of an intensity of photo-exposure of each light-sensitive element associated with a second spectral region, at the second extraction intervals; and
at a second scanning circuit, extracting signals representative of an intensity of photo-exposure of each light-sensitive element associated with a third spectral region, at the first extraction intervals, the third spectral region being distinct from the first and second spectral regions, and extracting signals representative of an intensity of photo-exposure of each light-sensitive element associated with a spectral region distinct from the first and second spectral regions at the second extraction intervals. - View Dependent Claims (4)
following each of the first extraction intervals, reading out data from the first scanning circuit which is representative of the intensity of photo-exposure of light sensitive elements associated with the first spectral region, and reading out data from the second scanning circuit which is representative of the intensity of photo-exposure of light sensitive elements associated with the third spectral region; and
following each of the second extraction intervals, reading out data from the first scanning circuit which is representative of the intensity of photo-exposure of light sensitive elements associated with the second spectral region, and reading out data from the second scanning circuit which is representative of the intensity of photo-exposure of light sensitive elements associated with the third spectral region.
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5. A system for extracting data from an array of light-sensitive elements, each of the light-sensitive elements having a sensitivity to energy in a corresponding one of a plurality of spectral regions and being associated with the corresponding spectral region, the system comprising:
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a first scanning circuit for extracting signals representative of an intensity of photo-exposure of light sensitive elements associated with a first spectral region at a first set of extraction intervals, and extracting signals representative of an intensity of photo-exposure of light sensitive elements associated with a second spectral region at a second set of extraction intervals time multiplexed with the first set of extraction intervals, the second spectral region being distinct from the first spectral region; and
a second scanning circuit for extracting signals representative of an intensity of photo-exposure of light sensitive elements associated with a third spectral region at the first set of extraction intervals, the third spectral region being distinct from the first and second spectral regions, and extracting signals representative of an intensity of photo-exposure of light sensitive elements associated with a spectral region which is distinct from the first and second spectral regions at the second set of extraction intervals.
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6. In a camera for focusing light from an object onto an array of light sensitive-elements, each of the light-sensitive elements having a sensitivity to energy in a corresponding one of a plurality of spectral regions and being associated with the corresponding spectral region, the improvement including:
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a first extraction circuit for extracting data representative of an intensity of photo-exposure of each of a plurality of the light-sensitive elements at the extraction intervals, the data extracted at any particular extraction interval originating from light-sensitive elements associated with a single spectral region which is one of a first and a second spectral region, the first and second spectral regions being distinct from one another; and
a second extraction circuit for extracting data representative of an intensity of photo-exposure of each of a plurality of the light-sensitive elements at the extraction intervals, the data extracted at each extraction interval originating from light-sensitive elements associated with a third spectral region, the third spectral region being distinct from the first and second spectral regions, wherein a gain circuit applies a first uniform gain to extracted data representative of the intensity of photo-exposure of the light-sensitive elements associated with the first spectral region, a second uniform gain to extracted data representative of the intensity of photo-exposure of the light-sensitive elements associated with the second spectral region, and a third uniform gain to extracted data representative of the intensity of photo-exposure of the light-sensitive elements associated with the third spectral region. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A method of processing data from an array of light-sensitive elements which is representative of intensity of photo-exposure of light-sensitive elements, each of the light-sensitive elements having a sensitivity to energy in a corresponding one of a plurality of spectral regions and being associated with the corresponding spectral region, the method comprising:
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extracting data at a first extraction circuit, representative of an intensity of photo-exposure of each of a plurality of the light-sensitive elements at the extraction intervals, the data extracted at any particular extraction interval originating from light-sensitive elements associated with a single spectral region which is either a first or a second spectral region, the first and second spectral regions being distinct from one another;
extracting data at a second extraction circuit, representative of an intensity of photo-exposure of each of a plurality of the light-sensitive elements at the extraction intervals, the data extracted at each extraction interval originating from light-sensitive elements associated with a third spectral region, the third spectral region being distinct from the first and second spectral regions; and
applying a first uniform gain to extracted data representative of the intensity of photo-exposure of the light-sensitive elements associated with the first spectral region, a second uniform gain to extracted data representative of the intensity of photo-exposure of the light-sensitive elements associated with the second spectral region, and a third uniform gain to extracted data representative of the intensity of photo-exposure of the light-sensitive elements associated with the third spectral region.
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9. A method of processing data from an array of light-sensitive elements which is representative of intensity of photo-exposure of light-sensitive elements, each of the light-sensitive elements having a sensitivity to energy in a corresponding one of a plurality of spectral regions and being associated with the corresponding spectral region, the method comprising:
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extracting data at a first extraction circuit representative of an intensity of photo exposure of each of a plurality of the light-sensitive elements at the extraction intervals, the data extracted at any particular extraction interval originating from light-sensitive elements associated with a single spectral region which is one of a first and a second spectral region, the first and second spectral regions being distinct from one another; and
extracting data at a second extraction circuit representative of an intensity of photo-exposure of each of a plurality of the light-sensitive elements at the extraction intervals, the data extracted at any particular extraction interval originating from light-sensitive elements associated with a single spectral region which is either a third or a fourth spectral region, the third spectral region being distinct from the first and second spectral regions, the fourth spectral region being distinct from the first, second and third spectral regions, and applying a first uniform gain to extracted data representative of the intensity of photo-exposure of the light-sensitive elements associated with the first spectral region, a second uniform gain to extracted data representative of the intensity of photo-exposure of the light-sensitive elements associated with the second spectral region, a third uniform gain to extracted data representative of the intensity of photo-exposure of the light-sensitive elements associated with the third spectral region, and a fourth uniform gain to extracted data representative of the intensity of photo-exposure of the light-sensitive elements associated with the fourth spectral region.
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Specification