Dual panel pixel readout in an imager
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorRoger Panicacci
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Abstract
An imager having two panels of pixels (i.e., the imager's rows of pixels are split into two panels) that are controllable by separate row decoders. The dual panel architecture allows pipelining of pixel readout and column readout operations to improve the imager's frame rate. The dual panel architecture may use a standard pixel configuration, a shared column and/or a shared row and column configuration.
Claims14
A method of operating an imaging device, the imaging device comprising an array of pixels comprising first and second panels, said method comprising:
- sampling signals corresponding to pixels of a row n of the first panel while simultaneously outputting sampled signals corresponding to row n of the second panel, and
- sampling signals corresponding to pixels of a row n+1 of the second panel while simultaneously outputting the sampled signals corresponding to the pixels of the row n of the first panel, wherein n is an integer.
A method of operating an imaging device having an array of pixels comprising first and second panels, said method comprising:
- reading out and storing signals from a current row of pixels from the second panel while simultaneously outputting stored signals from a previous row of pixels from the first panel;
- and
- reading out and storing signals from the current row of pixels from the first panel while simultaneously outputting the stored signals from the current row of pixels from the second panel.
A method of integrating an imaging device, said method comprising:
- fabricating an array of pixels in at least two panels;
- fabricating a row decoder for each panel of pixels;
- and
- fabricating sample and hold circuitry coupled to the panels, the sample and hold circuitry adapted to sample signals corresponding to pixels of a row n of a first panel while simultaneously outputting sampled signals corresponding to row n of a second panel, and sample signals corresponding to pixels of a row n+1 of the second panel while simultaneously outputting the sampled signals corresponding to the pixels of the row n of the first panel, wherein n is an integer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.