# US 12,119,357 B2 · Image sensor with image receiver and automatic image switching

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- Number: US 12,119,357 B2
- Document ID: US12119357B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/383,399
- Filed: 2023-10-24
- Published: 2024-02-29
- Granted: 2024-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2019-01-18
- Assignees: Cista System Corp.
- Applicants: Cista System Corp.
- Inventors: Zhaojian Li; Jiangtao Pang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12119357B2

## CPC

- H10F 39/802: {Geometry or disposition of elements in pixels, e.g. address-lines or gate electrodes}
- H10F 39/8023: {Disposition of the elements in pixels, e.g. smaller elements in the centre of the imager compared to larger elements at the periphery}
- H04N 23/45: for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
- H10F 39/8027: {Geometry of the photosensitive area}
- H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

Provided are an image sensor with one or more image receivers for image switching, and an imaging system and method therefor. The image sensor includes an image sensor array to generate first image data for a first image; a receiver to receive, into the image sensor, second image data for a second image; an image selection circuit coupled to the image sensor array and the receiver to receive the first image data and the second image data and select one of the first image data and the second image data according to one or more image selection criteria and at least one of the first image data and the second image data; and a transmitter coupled to the image selection circuit to transmit the selected one of the first image data and the second image data from the image sensor.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An imaging system comprising:
an image sensor comprising:
a first image sensor array to sense light using a first pixel size, and to generate first image data based on the light sensed using the first pixel size,
a receiver to receive, into the image sensor, second image data,
an image selection circuit to receive the first image data from first image sensor array, to receive the second image data from the receiver, and to select one of the first image data or the second image data according to one or more image selection criteria, and
a transmitter to transmit the selected one of the first image data or the second image data from the image sensor; and
a second image sensor array to sense light using a second pixel size, and to generate the second image data based on the light sensed using the second pixel size, wherein the first pixel size and the second pixel size are different, and wherein the second image sensor array is external to the image sensor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The imaging system of claim 1, further comprising:
an image signal processor to process the selected one of the first image data or the second image data into a processed image.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The imaging system of claim 2, further comprising:
a display to display the processed image.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The imaging system of claim 1, wherein:
the first image data and the second image data are generated substantially concurrently.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the first and second image sensor arrays possess different image capture characteristics, wherein the image capture characteristics include at least one of:
exposure time;
sensitivity;
read noise; and
spectrum.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the one or more image selection criteria include at least one of:
noise;
dynamic range;
resolution;
brightness;
a quantity of features;
a quality of features;
a presence of text;
facial recognition; and
facial expression recognition.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The imaging system of claim 1, wherein:
the receiver is a Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) receiver; and
the transmitter is a MIPI transmitter.

### Claim 8

An image sensor comprising:
a first image sensor array to sense light using a first pixel size, and to generate first image data based on the light sensed using the first pixel size;
a receiver to receive, into the image sensor, second image data generated by a second image sensor array by sensing light using a second pixel size, wherein the first pixel size and the second pixel size are different, and wherein the second image sensor array is external to the image sensor;
an image selection circuit to receive the first image data from the first image sensor array, to receive the second image data from the receiver, and to select one of the first image data or the second image data according to one or more image selection criteria; and
a transmitter to transmit the selected one of the first image data and the second image data from the image sensor.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The image sensor of claim 8, wherein:
the first image data and the second image data are generated substantially concurrently.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The image sensor of claim 9, wherein:
the first image data represents a scene; and
the second image data represents the scene.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The image sensor of claim 8, wherein the first image sensor array and the second image sensor array possess different image capture characteristics, wherein the image capture characteristics include at least one of:
exposure time;
sensitivity;
read noise; and
spectrum.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The image sensor of claim 8, wherein the one or more image selection criteria include at least one of:
noise;
dynamic range;
resolution;
brightness;
a quantity of features;
a quality of features;
a presence of text;
facial recognition; and
facial expression recognition.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The image sensor of claim 8, wherein:
the receiver is a Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) receiver; and
the transmitter is a MIPI transmitter.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

A single integrated circuit comprising the image sensor of claim 8.

### Claim 15

A method for an image sensor, the method comprising:
generating, in a first image sensor array of the image sensor, first image data based on light sensed by the first image sensor array using a first pixel size;
receiving, into the image sensor, second image data generated by a second image sensor array based on light sensed by the second image sensor array using a second pixel size, wherein the first pixel size and the second pixel size are different, and wherein the second image sensor array is external to the image sensor;
selecting one of the first image data or the second image data according to one or more image selection criteria; and
transmitting the selected one of the first image data or the second image data from the image sensor.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein:
the first image data and the second image data are generated substantially concurrently.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein:
the first image data represents a scene; and
the second image data represents the scene.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the first image sensor array and the second image sensor array possess different characteristics, wherein the characteristics include at least one of:
exposure time;
sensitivity;
read noise; and
spectrum.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more image selection criteria include at least one of:
noise;
dynamic range;
resolution;
brightness;
a quantity of features;
a quality of features;
a presence of text;
facial recognition; and
facial expression recognition.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein:
the second image data are received according to a Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) specification; and
the selected image data are transmitted according to the MIPI specification.