Image data compression using stacked-chip image sensors

A method for operating a stacked-chip image sensor that is coupled to off-chip image processing circuitry, wherein the stacked-chip image sensor comprises a planar array of image sensor pixels, an array of conductive vias, and processing circuitry, the method comprising:

• with the image sensor pixels, capturing image data;
• with the image sensor pixels, transferring the captured image data to the processing circuitry through the array of conductive vias;
• with the processing circuitry, compressing the captured image data;
• and
• with the processing circuitry, outputting the compressed image data to the off-chip image processing circuitry.

A system, comprising:

• a central processing unit;
• memory;
• input-output circuitry;
• and
• an imaging device, wherein the imaging device comprises:
• a stacked-chip image sensor having a pixel array and storage and processing circuitry;
• image processing circuitry coupled to the stacked-chip image sensor;
• and
• a lens that focuses an image onto the pixel array, wherein the pixel array is partitioned into at least first and second pixel sub-arrays, wherein the first pixel sub-array is configured to capture a first set of image data at a capture frame rate, wherein the second pixel sub-array is configured to capture a second set of image data at the capture frame rate, wherein the storage and processing circuitry is configured to compress the first and second sets of image data, and wherein the storage and processing circuitry is configured to output the first and second compressed sets of image data to the image processing circuitry at an output frame rate that is less than the capture frame rate.