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US 2020/0029043 A1Published application
Seamless Readout Mode Transitions in Image Sensors
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorAndrew Kenneth John McMahon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An image sensor for an electronic device can adjust a scan rate of a reset pointer of a frame relative to a scan rate of a readout pointer of a previous frame. As a result, the image sensor can transition between various readout modes without interrupting image output from the image sensor.
Claims20
A method of operating an image sensor comprising an array of photosites, the method comprising:
- applying a readout signal to a first group of photosites defined by a readout pointer;
- applying a reset signal, in phase with the readout signal, to a second group of photosites defined by a reset pointer;
- incrementing the readout pointer at a first scan rate;
- and
- incrementing the reset pointer at a second scan rate;
- wherein
- the first scan rate is different from the second scan rate.
4 more elements
An image sensor comprising:
- a photosite array;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- apply a readout signal associated with a readout pointer to a first group of photosites of the photosite array;
- apply a reset signal associated with a reset pointer, in phase with the readout signal, to a second group of photosites of the photosite array;
- increment the readout pointer at a first scan rate;
- and
- increment the reset pointer at a second scan rate different from the first scan rate.
5 more elements
The image sensor of 11, wherein:
- the first group of photosites comprises a first row of photosites of the photosite array;
- and
- the second group of photosites comprises a second row of photosites of the photosite array.
A method of transitioning between readout modes of an image sensor comprising an array of photosites, the method comprising:
- defining a readout pointer and a first scan rate associated with a first readout mode;
- defining a reset pointer and a second scan rate associated with a second readout mode;
- applying, based on the readout pointer, a readout signal to a first group of photosites of the array of photosites;
- applying, based on the reset pointer, a reset signal to a second group of photosites of the array of photosites;
- incrementing the readout pointer at the first scan rate;
- and
- incrementing the reset pointer at the second scan rate;
- wherein
- the first scan rate is different from the second scan rate;
- and
- the reset signal is applied in phase with the readout signal.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.