System and method for capturing digital images using multiple short exposures

An electronic device for capturing a high dynamic range image, comprising:

• a CMOS visible image sensor comprising a plurality of pixels including a first subset of pixels and a second subset of pixels;
• and
• a processor coupled to the image sensor and configured to:
• capture, on the first subset of pixels of the image sensor, a first image with a first exposure length;
• capture, on the second subset of pixels of the image sensor, a second image with a second exposure length during the capturing of the first image;
• and
• combine the first image and the second image to form a high dynamic range image.

An apparatus for capturing a high dynamic range image, comprising:

• means for capturing, on a first subset of pixels on an image sensor, a first image with a first exposure length;
• means for capturing, on a second subset of pixels on the image sensor, a second image with a second exposure length during the capturing of the first image;
• and
• means for combining the first image and the second image to form a high dynamic range image.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause a processor of a device to:

• capture, on a first subset of pixels on an image sensor, a first image with a first exposure length;
• capture, on a second subset of pixels on the image sensor, a second image with a second exposure length during the capturing of the first image;
• and
• combine the first image and the second image to form a high dynamic range image.