High dynamic range image sensor having symmetric interleaved long and short exposure pixels

An image sensor array comprising:

• long exposure reset pointer circuitry to reset a first pattern of long exposure pixels at a first time, wherein the first pattern includes pixels on a first and second adjacent and abutting rows of the sensor array;
• short exposure reset pointer circuitry to reset a second pattern of short exposure pixels at a second time, wherein the second pattern includes pixels on the first and second adjacent and abutting rows of the sensor array, wherein the first and second patterns together form a four column by two row block of pixels, which includes (1) a first row of three long exposure pixels and one short exposure pixel, and (2) a second row of three short exposure pixels and one long exposure pixel;
• and
• read pointer circuitry to read the long exposure pixels and the short exposure pixels at a plurality of time, after the first and second time.

A method comprising:

• resetting a first pattern of long exposure pixels, wherein the first pattern includes pixels on a first and second adjacent and abutting rows of a sensor array;
• exposing the first pattern of long exposure pixels to an image;
• resetting a second pattern of short exposure pixels, wherein the second pattern includes pixels on the first and second adjacent and abutting rows of the sensor array, wherein the first and second patterns together form a four column by two row block of pixels which includes, (1) a first row of three long exposure pixels and one short exposure pixel, and (2) a second row of three short exposure pixels and one long exposure pixel;
• exposing the first and second pattern of long and short exposure pixels to the image;
• and
• reading the long exposure pixels and the short exposure pixels, wherein reading comprises exposing the first pattern of long exposure pixels for a long period of time, and exposing the second pattern of short exposure pixels for a short period of time which is shorter than the long period of time.