Integrated sensor with frame memory and programmable resolution for light adaptive imaging
AssigneeCalifornia Institute of Technology
InventorsZhimim Zhou, Eric R. Fossum, Bedabrata Pain
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Abstract
An image sensor operable to vary the output spatial resolution according to a received light level while maintaining a desired signal-to-noise ratio. Signals from neighboring pixels in a pixe patch with an adjustable size are added to increase both the image brightness and signal-to-noise ratio. One embodiment comprises a sensor array for receiving input signals, a frame memory array for temporarily storing a full frame, and an array of self-calibration column integrators for uniform column-parallel signal summation. The column integrators are capable of substantially canceling fixed pattern noise.
Claims6
A method of obtaining a light adaptively compensated image, comprising:
- obtaining a plurality of pixel values;
- using said plurality of pixel values to determine a lighting condition of a scene;
- determining, from said lighting condition, if a desired signal-to-noise ratio would be obtained by reducing a resolution of the output image;
- and
- reducing said resolution of the output image if so.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.