US 9,157,988 B2 · Method and apparatus for array camera pixel readout

Abstract

Imaging systems may include camera modules that include an array of image sensors. An image sensor may include multiple image pixel arrays arranged in rows and columns, multiple control circuits for operating the image pixels of that image sensor, and shared readout circuitry for reading out the image pixels of the image pixel arrays of that image sensor. Each control circuit may be operable to select rows of image pixels that extend across a row of image pixel arrays. Shared readout circuitry may include one or more line buffers configured to temporarily store image data captured by image pixels in the selected rows of image pixels. Shared readout circuitry may include selection circuitry configured to readout image data from groups of associated pixels located in separate image pixel arrays. An imaging system may include processing circuitry for processing the image data from each group of pixels.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An image sensor integrated circuit, comprising:

a substrate,
a plurality of arrays of image pixels on the substrate;
first row control circuitry on the substrate that is configured to operate the image pixels of a first portion of the plurality of arrays of image pixels to capture image data;
second row control circuitry on the substrate that is configured to operate the image pixels of a second portion of the plurality of arrays of image pixels to capture additional image data;
a first line buffer for storing the image data from the image pixels of the first portion of the plurality of arrays of image pixels;
and
a second line buffer for storing the image data from the image pixels of the second portion of the plurality of arrays of image pixels, wherein the second line buffer is different from the first line buffer, and the first and second line buffers are respectively capable of storing the image data from the image pixels of the first and second portion of the plurality of arrays of image pixels simultaneously.

4 more elements

A method of operating an imaging system having at least first, second, third, and fourth image pixel arrays and shared readout circuitry coupled to the image pixels of the first, second, third, and fourth image pixel arrays, the method comprising:

with the image pixels in the at least first, second, third, and fourth image pixel arrays, capturing image data;
and
with the shared readout circuitry, reading out the captured image data from a first image pixel of the first image pixel array followed by a corresponding first image pixel of the second image pixel array followed by a corresponding first image pixel of the third image pixel array followed by a corresponding first image pixel of the fourth image pixel array followed by a second image pixel of the first image pixel array followed by a corresponding second image pixel of the second image pixel array.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for array camera pixel readout

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for array camera pixel readout

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18