Single image sensor for capturing mixed structured-light images and regular images

A capsule camera system, comprising:

• an image sensor comprising a pixel array being responsive to light energy received by the image sensor to produce pixel signals having a voltage level depending on the light energy received;
• a structured light source;
• a non-structured light source;
• one or more output circuits coupled to the image sensor to access the pixel signals produced by the image sensor;
• one or more analog-to-digital converters having a first dynamic range and a second dynamic range;
• one or more timing and control circuits, wherein said one or more timing and control circuits are arranged to:
• project a first structured-light to a scene in a field of view of the image sensor;
• apply first reset signals to the pixel array to reset rows of the pixel array;
• expose the rows of the pixel array to the first structured light to cause first analog signals from the rows of the pixel array;
• capture a first structured-light image using the image sensor during a first frame period by converting the first analog signals from the rows of the pixel array into first digital outputs to form the first structured-light image using one or more analog-to-digital converters;
• project a second structured light to the scene in the field of view of the image sensor;
• apply second reset signals to the pixel array to reset rows of the pixel array;
• expose the rows of the pixel array to the second structured light to cause second analog signals from the rows of the pixel array;
• capture a second structured-light image using the image sensor during a second frame period by converting the second analog signals from the rows of the pixel array into second digital outputs to form the second structured-light image using said one or more analog-to-digital converters;
• apply third reset signals to the pixel array to reset the rows of the pixel array;
• exposing the rows of the pixel array to non-structured light to cause third analog signals from the rows of the pixel array, and
• capture a regular image using the image sensor during a third frame period by converting the third analog signals from the rows of the pixel array into third digital outputs to form the regular image using said one or more analog-to-digital converters;
• derive first depth information from the first structured-light image;
• derive second depth information from the second structured-light image;
• and
• derive current depth information associated with the regular image based on the first depth information and the second depth information;
• and
• wherein same pixels of the pixel array are used for the first structured-light image, the second structured-light image and the regular image;
• wherein the regular image is captured before, after or between the first structured-light image and the second structured-light image;
• and
• wherein the third frame period is longer than the first frame period and the second frame period.