# US 2016/0366356 A1 · Method and system to detect a light-emitting diode > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0366356 A1 - Document ID: US20160366356A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/738,744 - Filed: 2015-06-12 - Published: 2016-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-12 - Assignees: OmniVision Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Omnivision Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Jie Shen; Jizhang Shan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160366356A1 ## CPC - H04N 25/531: by controlling rolling shutters in CMOS SSIS - H04N 23/745: Detection of flicker frequency or suppression of flicker wherein the flicker is caused by illumination, e.g. due to fluorescent tube illumination or pulsed LED illumination - H04N 25/589: with different integration times, e.g. short and long exposures - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A method of detecting light-emitting diode (LED) light starts with a control circuitry generating a shutter signal that is transmitted to a pixel array to control image acquisition by the pixel array and to establish a set exposure time. The readout circuitry may then read out the image data from the pixel array that includes reading out the image data from a plurality of successive and overlapped frames having the set exposure time. The set exposure time may be the same for each of the frames. The successive and overlapped frames may be interlaced frames. Other embodiments are also described. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of detecting a light emitting diode (LED) by an imaging system comprising: generating a shutter signal by a control circuitry that is transmitted to a pixel array to control image acquisition by the pixel array and to establish a set exposure time; and reading out by the readout circuitry image data from the pixel array that includes reading out the image data from a plurality of successive and overlapped frames having the set exposure time, wherein the set exposure time is the same for each of the frames. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the shutter signal is a global shutter signal enabling all of the pixels in the pixel array simultaneously. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of successive and overlapped frames are interlaced frames. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein reading out by the readout circuitry image data from the frames comprises: reading out by the readout circuitry even rows of odd numbered frames; and reading out by the readout circuitry odd rows of even numbered frames. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein reading out by the readout circuitry image data from the frames comprises: reading out by the readout circuitry odd rows of odd numbered frames; and reading out by the readout circuitry even rows of even numbered frames. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the successive and overlapped frames overlap by a minimum overlap time, wherein the minimum overlap time is a sum of (i) a light emitting diode (LED) pulse width and (i) a frame transfer time. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the imaging system that is a hybrid stack chip having a higher frame transfer time. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining by a function logic whether the LED is captured based on the readout from the readout circuitry. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: calculating a frequency of the LED based on a number of times the LED is captured and an identification of frames in which the LED is captured; and synchronizing the image sensor with the frequency of the LED. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: identifying multiple automobiles based on the detected LED to perform LED communication for automobiles. ### Claim 11 A method of detecting a light emitting diode (LED) by an imaging system comprising: simultaneously enabling all pixels within a pixel array to simultaneously capture image data during a single acquisition window; and reading out image data from a pixel array that includes reading out the image data from a plurality of successive and interlaced frames having a same exposure time. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: generating a shutter signal by a control circuitry that is transmitted to the pixel array to control image acquisition by the pixel array, wherein the shutter signal is a global shutter signal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein reading out the image data from the successive and interlaced frames comprises: reading out by a readout circuitry even numbered rows of a first frame; and reading out by the readout circuitry odd numbered rows of a second frame, wherein the first and the second frames are successive and interlaced. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the successive and interlaced frames overlap by a minimum overlap time, wherein the minimum overlap time is a sum of (i) a light emitting diode (LED) pulse width and (i) a frame transfer time. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the imaging system that is a hybrid stack chip having a higher frame transfer time. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: determining by a function logic whether the LED is captured based on the readout from the readout circuitry. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising: calculating a frequency of the LED based on a number of times the LED is captured and an identification of frames in which the LED is captured; and synchronizing the imaging system with the frequency of the LED. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: identifying multiple automobiles based on the detected LED to perform LED communication for automobiles. ### Claim 19 An imaging system to detect a light emitting diode (LED) comprising: a pixel array for acquiring image data, the pixel array including a plurality of rows and columns; and a readout circuitry coupled to the color pixel array to readout image data from the pixel array that includes reading out the image data from a plurality of successive and interlaced frames having a same exposure time. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The imaging system of claim 19, further comprising: a control circuitry to generate and transmit a shutter signal to a pixel array to control image acquisition by the pixel array and to establish the exposure time, wherein the shutter signal is a global shutter signal. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The imaging system of claim 19, wherein reading out the image data from the successive and interlaced frames comprises: reading out even numbered rows of a first frame; and reading out odd numbered rows of a second frame, wherein the first and the second frames are successive and interlaced. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The imaging system of claim 21, wherein the successive and interlaced frames overlap by a minimum overlap time, wherein the minimum overlap time is a sum of (i) a light emitting diode (LED) pulse width and (i) a frame transfer time. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The imaging system of claim 19, further comprising: a function logic to receive the image data readout from the readout circuitry and to determine whether the LED is captured based on the readout of image data. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The imaging system of claim 23, wherein the function logic further to calculate a frequency of the LED based on a number of times the LED is captured and identification of frames in which the LED is captured, and synchronize the imaging system with the frequency of the LED. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The imaging system of claim 24, wherein the function logic further to identify multiple automobiles based on the detected LED to perform LED communication for automobiles. ### Claim 26 (depends on 19) The imaging system of claim 19, further comprising: a logic circuitry to control the readout circuitry and output image data from the readout circuitry to function logic, and wherein the readout circuitry comprises scanning circuitry to select rows of pixels from the pixel array to be readout, and analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) circuitry to convert each of the image data from analog to digital.