Methods and apparatus for pixel binning and readout

A method for reducing frame rate while retaining relevant data, comprising:

• capturing a first image, comprising first image data, with an image sensor comprising a plurality of pixels arranged to form a plurality of rows;
• detecting a feature in the first image;
• identifying a region of interest corresponding to a first group of consecutive rows from the plurality of rows according to a location of the detected feature within the first image;
• capturing a second image, comprising second image data;
• combining portions of the second image data that are outside the region of interest to form a plurality of second groups of combined image data;
• reading out the plurality of second groups of combined image data;
• and
• reading out the second image data that corresponds to the region of interest in a row-by-row manner;
• wherein a duration for reading out each second group from the plurality of second groups is substantially equal to a duration for reading out one row from the second image data that corresponds to the region of interest.

A system capable of producing an output image with high and low resolution regions, comprising:

• an imaging apparatus capable of capturing a series of image frames, comprising:
• a pixel array, comprising a plurality of pixels arranged to form a plurality of rows;
• an image signal processor coupled to the pixel array and configured to:
• receive pixel data from the plurality of pixels;
• detect and identify a predetermined feature in a first image frame;
• determine:
• a region of interest according to a location of the predetermined feature within the plurality of pixels, wherein the region of interest corresponds to a first group of consecutive rows from the plurality of rows;
• and
• a region of non-interest comprising a plurality of remaining rows from the plurality of rows;
• monitor a characteristic of the predetermined feature in a second image frame;
• and
• transmit an output signal based on the characteristic of the predetermined feature;
• and
• a readout circuit coupled to the pixel array and configured to:
• facilitate combining pixel data from the region of non-interest to form a second group;
• readout each row of the first group according to a first readout rate;
• and
• readout the second group according to a second readout rate;
• wherein the first readout rate is substantially equal to the second readout rate;
• and
• a host processor coupled to the imaging apparatus and responsive to the output signal.