Imaging systems having improved analog-to-digital converter circuitry

A method of operating an image sensor and processing circuitry, the method comprising:

• generating charge in response to incident light using image pixels that are arranged in rows and columns in an array of image pixels;
• generating digital signal bits from the generated charge using delta-sigma modulators that are each coupled to a given one of the columns of image pixels in the array;
• accumulating the digital signal bits associated with a first column of the pixels;
• performing weighted addition using the accumulated digital signal bits associated with the first column of the pixels and pre-determined weights to produce a first digital signal;
• accumulating the digital signal bits associated with a second column of the pixels;
• and
• performing weighted addition using the accumulated digital signal bits associated with the second column of the pixels and pre-determined weight to produce a second digital signal.

An image sensor comprising:

• an array of pixels arranged in rows and columns;
• a plurality of delta-sigma modulators, wherein each column of pixels is coupled to a given one of the delta-sigma modulators;
• and
• shared accumulation circuitry coupled to at least two of the delta-sigma modulators.