Method and apparatus for array camera pixel readout
US9157988B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 10, 2012 |
| Grant date | Oct 13, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 23, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10F39/15
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Imaging systems may include camera modules that include an array of image sensors. An image sensor may include multiple image pixel arrays arranged in rows and columns, multiple control circuits for operating the image pixels of that image sensor, and shared readout circuitry for reading out the image pixels of the image pixel arrays of that image sensor. Each control circuit may be operable to select rows of image pixels that extend across a row of image pixel arrays. Shared readout circuitry may include one or more line buffers configured to temporarily store image data captured by image pixels in the selected rows of image pixels. Shared readout circuitry may include selection circuitry configured to readout image data from groups of associated pixels located in separate image pixel arrays. An imaging system may include processing circuitry for processing the image data from each group of pixels.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.