Imaging devices operable with multiple aspect ratios
AssigneeQuantum Semiconductor LLC
InventorCarlos J. R. P. Augusto
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Imaging devices including a novel imaging system wherein a 2-dimensional pixel array has a diagonal dimension larger than the diameter measurement of the image circle, thereby being capable of handling rectangular images with multiple aspect ratios. These new imaging devices can be used in various electronic imaging apparatus with or without a lens system.
Claims39
A device comprising:
- an image sensor having a 2-dimensional pixel array capable of providing images from at least two of several rectangles defined on the image sensor,
- the rectangles each having a first side that is perpendicular to a second side,
- the first side of each rectangle being parallel to the first side of the other rectangles,
- the second side of each rectangle being parallel to the second side of the other rectangles,
- a ratio of a length of the first side to a length of the second side being different for each of the rectangles,
- each of the rectangles having the first side longer than the second side;
- and
- a lens configured to generate an image circle on the image sensor such that a perimeter of the image circle concurrently contacts each vertex of each one of the rectangles.
A device comprising:
- an image sensor having a 2-dimensional pixel array capable of providing images from at least two of several rectangles defined on the image sensor, each rectangle having a length longer than a width and having a length to width ratio different from other rectangles of the several rectangles, the lengths of the rectangles being parallel;
- and
- a lens configured to generate an image circle on the image sensor such that a perimeter of the image circle contacts each vertex of each one of the rectangles.
The device of claim 19, further comprising digital control means arranged for pre-selecting image information data in a defined one of different image aspect ratios, determining which subset of pixels from the entire 2-dimensional pixel array are readout, and forwarding selected image information to an image formation means.
A method comprising:
- providing, from a 2-dimensional pixel array, images from at least two of several rectangles defined on the 2-dimensional pixel array, the rectangles each having a first side that is perpendicular to a second side,
- the first side of each rectangle being parallel to the first side of the other rectangles,
- the second side of each rectangle being parallel to the second side of the other rectangles,
- a ratio of a length of the first side to a length of the second side being different for each of the rectangles,
- each of the rectangles having the first side longer than the second side;
- and
- generating an image circle on the 2-dimensional pixel array such that a perimeter of the image circle concurrently contacts each vertex of each one of the rectangles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.