Patent · US Expired

Sampling image signals generated by pixel circuits of an active pixel sensor (APS) image sensor in a sub-sampling mode

US7304674B2 · kind B2 · utility

27Cited by
8References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 15, 2002
Grant dateDec 4, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 8, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N25/00
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method of sampling image signals generated by pixel circuits of an active pixel sensor (APS) image sensor. The APS image sensor supports a normal mode of operation and a sub-sampling mode of operation. The method includes providing a plurality of column amplifiers. A row of pixels circuits to sample is selected. Image signals from each pixel circuit in the selected row are routed to a different one of the plurality of column amplifiers when the APS image sensor is in the normal mode of operation. Image signals from a plurality of the pixel circuits in the selected row are routed to one of the plurality of column amplifiers when the APS image sensor is in the sub-sampling mode of operation.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.