# US 2021/0243345 A1 · Image sensor with image receiver and automatic image combining

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- Number: US 2021/0243345 A1
- Document ID: US20210243345A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/239,987
- Filed: 2021-04-26
- Published: 2021-08-05
- Earliest claimed: 2019-01-18
- Assignees: Cista System Corp.
- Applicants: Cista System Corp.
- Inventors: Zhaojian LI; Jiangtao PANG
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210243345A1

## CPC

- H04N 23/45: for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
- H04N 5/265: Mixing
- H04N 13/158: {Switching image signals}
- H04N 23/741: by increasing the dynamic range of the image compared to the dynamic range of the electronic image sensors
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

Provided are an image sensor with one or more image receivers for image combining, and an imaging system and method therefor. The image sensor includes an image sensor array to generate first image data for a first image; a receiver to receive, into the image sensor, second image data for a second image; an image combination circuit coupled to the image sensor array and the receiver to receive the first image data and the second image data and combine the first image data and the second image data into combined image data for a single combined image, according to one or more image combination criteria, and at least one of the first image data and the second image data; and a transmitter coupled to the image combination circuit to transmit the combined image data for the combined image from the image sensor.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An imaging system comprising:
an image sensor comprising
a first image sensor array to generate first image data for a first image,
a receiver to receive, into the image sensor, second image data for a second image,
an image combination circuit coupled to the first image sensor array and the receiver to receive the first image data and the second image data and combine the first image data and the second image data; and
a second image sensor array coupled to the image sensor to generate the second image data for the second image.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The imaging system of claim 1, further comprising:
an image signal processor to process the combined first image data and second image data into a processed image.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The imaging system of claim 2, further comprising:
a display to display the processed image.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The imaging system of claim 1, wherein:
the first image includes a scene;
the second image includes the scene; and
the combined image is a high dynamic range image.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The imaging system of claim 1, wherein:
the first image includes a subject;
the second image includes the subject; and
the combined first image data and second image data represents a three-dimensional (3D) image.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The imaging system of claim 1, wherein:
the first image and the second image are captured concurrently.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the image sensor, and an image sensor capturing the second image, possess different image capture characteristics, wherein the image capture characteristics include at least one of:
pixel size;
sensitivity;
read noise;
gain;
exposure time; and
spectrum.

### Claim 8

An image sensor comprising:
an image sensor array to generate first image data for a first image;
a receiver to receive, into the image sensor, second image data for a second image; and
an image combination circuit coupled to the image sensor array and the receiver to receive the first image data and the second image data and combine the first image data and the second image data.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The image sensor of claim 8, wherein:
the first image includes a scene;
the second image includes the scene; and
the combined first image data and second image data is a high dynamic range image.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The image sensor of claim 8, wherein:
the first image includes a subject;
the second image includes the subject; and
the combined first image data and second image data is a three-dimensional (3D) image.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The image sensor of claim 8, wherein:
the first image and the second image are captured concurrently.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The image sensor of claim 8, wherein the image sensor, and an image sensor capturing the second image, possess different image capture characteristics, wherein the image capture characteristics include at least one of:
pixel size;
sensitivity;
read noise;
gain;
exposure time; and
spectrum.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The image sensor of claim 8, wherein:
the receiver is a Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) receiver.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

A single integrated circuit comprising the image sensor of claim 8.

### Claim 15

A method comprising:
generating, in an image sensor array of an image sensor, first image data for a first image;
receiving, into the image sensor, second image data for a second image; and
combining the first image data and the second image data.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein:
the first image includes a scene;
the second image includes the scene; and
the combined first image data and second image data is a high dynamic range image.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein:
the first image includes a subject;
the second image includes the subject; and
the combined first image data and second image data is a three-dimensional (3D) image.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein:
the first image and the second image are captured concurrently.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the image sensor, and an image sensor capturing the second image, possess different image capture characteristics, wherein the image capture characteristics include at least one of:
pixel size;
sensitivity;
read noise;
gain;
exposure time; and
spectrum.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein:
the receiver is a Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) receiver.