Selective Pixel Readout in Image Sensors for Higher Frame Rates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image sensors face limitations in reducing size while maintaining high resolution, leading to increased load on read-out circuits and interface speed, which can lower frame rates and prevent selective reading of regions of interest.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a pixel array with first and second selection/read-out circuits and a controller that allows for selective reading of pixel information in row or column directions, enabling radial extraction of pixel information from a region of interest and varying resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the resolution of the image sensor is increased to realize high image resolution, then the image resolution is improved, but the frame rate is lowered and the load on read-out circuit and interface speed increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pixel array is divided into multiple regions of interest (ROIs), allowing selective readout of specific regions rather than the entire array. This segmentation enables high-resolution imaging of only the necessary areas, reducing the total number of pixels read out and thereby improving frame rate while maintaining resolution where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and reads out only the pixel signals from regions of interest, discarding or ignoring signals from non-interest areas. This extraction approach reduces the data volume processed by read-out circuits and interface, improving frame rate and reducing load without compromising the resolution of the extracted regions.
2Measurement precision
If the resolution of the image sensor is increased to realize high image resolution, then the image resolution is improved, but the load on read-out circuit and interface speed increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and reads out only the pixel signals from regions of interest, discarding or ignoring signals from non-interest areas. This extraction approach reduces the data volume processed by read-out circuits and interface, improving frame rate and reducing load without compromising the resolution of the extracted regions.
3Loss of information
If the entire information of the image sensor is read out to extract region of interest information, then the region of interest information can be obtained, but the read-out time is increased and efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and reads out only the pixel signals from regions of interest, discarding or ignoring signals from non-interest areas. This extraction approach reduces the data volume processed by read-out circuits and interface, improving frame rate and reducing load without compromising the resolution of the extracted regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller pre-identifies and selects regions of interest before the readout process begins, configuring the read-out circuits to target only those areas. This preliminary action prevents unnecessary reading of non-interest regions, significantly reducing read-out time while ensuring complete capture of interest region information.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are an image sensor, an operating method thereof, and an electronic device including the image sensor. The image sensor includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixels, a first selection/read-out circuit, a second selection/read-out circuit, and a controller provided to select a pixel of the pixel array and control the first and second selection/read-out circuits to read out information of the selected pixel. The first selection/read-out circuit provides a signal for selecting a pixel of the pixel array in a first direction, reads out a plurality of pixel signals received from the pixel array in a direction corresponding to the first direction, and the second selection/read-out circuit provides a signal for selecting a pixel of the pixel array in a second direction, and reads out a plurality of pixel signals received from the pixel array in a direction corresponding to the second direction.