CMOS image sensor with increased dynamic range based on multiple exposure periods of varying lengths

An image sensor, comprising:

• a pixel array having a plurality of rows, each row having a plurality of pixels;
• a controller configured to cause each pixel of each row to integrate first pixel information over a long integration period and second pixel information over a short integration period, wherein the controller is further configured to cause at least a portion of the short integration period for a row to take place during a long integration period of a second row;
• a first ADC configured to convert the first integrated pixel information into digital form;
• a second ADC configured to convert the second integrated pixel information into digital form, the second ADC being configured such that the second pixel information is integrated in parallel with third pixel information corresponding to the long integration period of the second row;
• and
• an arrangement configured to determine wide dynamic range pixel information for each pixel based on the first pixel information and the second pixel information.

An image sensor, comprising:

• means for reading first pixel information corresponding to a long integration period from each pixel of a first row;
• means for reading second pixel information corresponding to a short integration period from each pixel of the first row;
• means for converting the first read pixel information into digital form;
• means for converting the second read pixel information into digital form;
• and
• means for merging the first pixel information and the second pixel information to thereby produce wide dynamic range pixel information for each pixel of the first row;
• wherein the step of reading first pixel information takes place during a first interval,
• wherein the step of reading second pixel information takes place during a second interval, and
• wherein at least a portion of the second interval takes place during a long integration period corresponding to a second row of the pixel array, and
• wherein the conversion of the second pixel information takes place in parallel with a conversion of third pixel information corresponding to the long integration period of the second row.