Floating point image sensors with tile-based memory
US9307172B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 13, 2014 |
| Grant date | Apr 5, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 28, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N25/78
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An image sensor may include an array of image sensor pixels arranged in rows and columns. Each image pixel arranged along a given column may be coupled to analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuitry that is capable of converting analog pixel signals into a digital floating point equivalent representation. The ADC circuitry may be configured to obtain an illumination value during an auto exposure period. The illumination value, which serves as an exponent value, can be stored as tile data in a tile column memory circuit. During actual readout, the ADC circuitry may be configured to perform mantissa conversion. During mantissa conversion, the ADC circuitry may use a reference voltage value that is adjusted based on the tile data. A mantissa value that is obtained during the mantissa conversion may then be combined with the exponent value for that tile to yield a final floating number point for that image pixel.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.