Patent · US Active

Pixel binning in an image sensor

US9686485B2 · kind B2 · utility

39Cited by
122References
25Claims
0Family size

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Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 30, 2014
Grant dateJun 20, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 30, 2034

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N25/78
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Pixel binning is performed by summing charge from some pixels positioned diagonally in a pixel array. Pixel signals output from pixels positioned diagonally in the pixel array may be combined on the output lines. A signal representing summed charge produces a binned 2×1 cluster. A signal representing combined voltage signals produces a binned 2×1 cluster. A signal representing summed charge and a signal representing combined pixel signals can be combined digitally to produce a binned 2×2 pixel. Orthogonal binning may be performed on other pixels in the pixel array by summing charge on respective common sense regions and then then combining the voltage signals that represent the summed charge on respective output lines.

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