Image sensors with blooming reduction mechanisms
AssigneeOmniVision Technologies, Inc.
InventorsJizhang Shan, James Xinping He, Henry Yang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A CMOS image sensor having blooming reduction mechanisms is disclosed. The image sensor can include a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and a timing and control circuit in electrical communication with the plurality of pixels. The timing and control circuit includes a readout module configured for outputting a first row of pixels exposed for a first exposure period, outputting a second row of pixels exposed for the first exposure period after outputting the first row of pixels, and thereafter outputting a third row of pixels exposed for a second exposure period different than the first exposure period, the third row of pixels being between the first and second rows of pixels.
Claims25
A CMOS image sensor, comprising:
- a plurality of pixels arranged in rows;
- a timing and control circuit in electrical communication with the plurality of pixels, wherein the timing and control circuit includes a readout module configured for outputting a first row of pixels exposed for a first exposure period;
- outputting a second row of pixels exposed for the first exposure period after outputting the first row of pixels;
- and
- thereafter, outputting a third row of pixels exposed for a second exposure period different than the first exposure period, the third row of pixels being between the first and second rows of pixels.
A timing and control circuit for image sensors having a plurality of pixels arranged in rows, comprising:
- an exposure control module for exposing first and second rows of pixels for a first exposure period and exposing a third row of pixels for a second exposure period shorter than the first exposure period, wherein the third row of pixels is disposed between the first and second rows;
- and
- a readout module configured for successively outputting the first and second rows of pixels exposed for the first exposure period and thereafter outputting the third row of pixels exposed for the second exposure period.
A method for reducing blooming in an image sensor having a plurality of pixels arranged in rows, comprising:
- exposing first and second rows of pixels for a first exposure period;
- exposing a third row of pixels for a second exposure period different than the first exposure period, the third row of pixels being disposed between the first and second rows of pixels;
- reading out the first row of pixels exposed for the first exposure period;
- reading out the second row of pixels after reading out the first row of pixels;
- and
- thereafter, reading out the third row of pixels exposed for the second exposure period.
A CMOS image sensor, comprising:
- a plurality of pixels arranged in subsets;
- a timing and control circuit in electrical communication with the plurality of pixels, wherein the timing and control circuit includes a readout module configured for outputting a first subset of pixels exposed for a first exposure period;
- outputting a second subset of pixels exposed for the first exposure period after outputting the first subset of pixels;
- and
- thereafter, outputting a third subset of pixels exposed for a second exposure period less than the first exposure period, each pair of pixels of the third subset being separated by a pixel of the first subset or the second subset.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.