Apparatus having an image sensor that is variable in spatial resolution and bit resolution and associated method
US6552746B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 21, 1999 |
| Grant date | Apr 22, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 21, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N2201/0458
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The invention relates to a CMOS image sensor that can be embedded in portable imaging systems. This high spatial resolution and low bit resolution CMOS area image sensor not only enables portable imaging systems such as cellular fax phone, portable copy machines, barcode reader, but also it can be fabricated in standard digital CMOS processes, particularly at 0.35 micron and below. This invention also discloses several portable imaging systems using such a CMOS image sensor. This invention further discloses a CMOS image sensor that has variable spatial resolution and bit resolution. Starting as a high spatial resolution low-bit resolution image sensor, the high bit-resolution is achieved by combining information from a group of nearest-neighbor pixels into a single super-pixel via spatial oversampling. This variable CMOS image sensor can be used in a multiple function imaging device for both document and video imaging, or photography.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.