Multimode interline CCD imaging methods
View Patent ↗In various embodiments, image-capture methods include a mode in which an image is acquired via charge accumulation in multiple regions of an imaging array and read out to one or more outputs, and/or a mode in which an image is acquired via charge accumulation in a first region of an imaging array, held in vertical CCDs of another region of the imaging array, and read out along with a second image acquired via charge accumulation in the first region of the imaging array.
1. A method of image capture utilizing an image sensor comprising an imaging array (i) comprising a plurality of columns of photo-sensitive regions (PSRs) each associated with a vertical CCD (VCCD) and (ii) having at least first and second different and independently controllable regions, the method comprising:
in a first image-capture mode:
acquiring an image via accumulation of charge in the PSRs of both first and second regions,
transferring accumulated charge in the PSRs of the first region to VCCDs of the first region,
transferring accumulated charge in the PSRs of the second region to VCCDs of the second region,
transferring charge in the VCCDs of the first and second regions to one or more horizontal CCDs (HCCDs) electrically connected to the VCCDs, and
reading out charge from the one or more HCCDs via one or more output circuits electrically coupled to each HCCD; and
in a second image-capture mode:
acquiring a first image via accumulation of charge in the PSRs of the first region,
transferring accumulated charge in the PSRs of the first region corresponding to the first image to VCCDs of the first region,
transferring charge corresponding to the first image from the VCCDs of the first region to VCCDs of the second region,
acquiring a second image via accumulation of charge in the PSRs of the first region,
transferring accumulated charge in the PSRs of the first region corresponding to the second image to VCCDs of the first region,
transferring (i) charge in the VCCDs of the first region corresponding to the second image and (ii) charge in the VCCDs of the second region corresponding to the first image to one or more HCCDs electrically connected to the VCCDs, and
reading out charge from the one or more HCCDs via one or more output circuits electrically coupled to each HCCD.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein, in the first image-capture mode, charge in the VCCDs of the first and second regions is transferred to a single HCCD.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein charge is read out from the single HCCD via one output circuit.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein charge is read out from the single HCCD via two different output circuits.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein, in the first image-capture mode, charge in the VCCDs of the first region is transferred to a first HCCD and charge in the VCCDs of the second region is transferred to a second HCCD different from the first HCCD.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein charge is read out of the first HCCD via one output circuit electrically coupled thereto and charge is read out of the second HCCD via one output circuit electrically coupled thereto.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein charge is read out of the first HCCDs via two different output circuits electrically coupled thereto and charge is read out of the second HCCD via two different output circuits electrically coupled thereto.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein, in the first image-capture mode, accumulated charge in the PSRs of the first region is transferred to VCCDs of the first region and accumulated charge in the PSRs of the second region is transferred to VCCDs of the second region simultaneously.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein, in the second image-capture mode, at least a portion of the charge corresponding to the second image is accumulated in the PSRs of the first region during transfer of charge corresponding to the first image from the VCCDs of the first region to VCCDs of the second region.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein, in the second image-capture mode, charge accumulates in the PSRs of the second region during at least one of (i) accumulation of charge in the PSRs of the first region during acquisition of the first image or (ii) accumulation of charge in the PSRs of the first region during acquisition of the second image.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein, in the second image-capture mode, charge in the VCCDs of the first and second regions is transferred to a single HCCD.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein charge is read out from the single HCCD via one output circuit.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein charge is read out from the single HCCD via two different output circuits.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein, in the second image-capture mode, charge in the VCCDs of the first region is transferred to a first HCCD and charge in the VCCDs of the second region is transferred to a second HCCD different from the first HCCD.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein charge is read out of the first HCCD via one output circuit electrically coupled thereto and charge is read out of the second HCCD via one output circuit electrically coupled thereto.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein charge is read out of the first HCCDs via two different output circuits electrically coupled thereto and charge is read out of the second HCCD via two different output circuits electrically coupled thereto.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second regions comprises a plurality of contiguous rows of PSRs.
18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, in the second image-capture mode:
acquiring a third image via accumulation of charge in the PSRs of the second region;
transferring accumulated charge in the PSRs of the second region corresponding to the third image to VCCDs of the second region;
transferring charge corresponding to the third image from the VCCDs of the second region to VCCDs of the first region;
acquiring a fourth image via accumulation of charge in the PSRs of the second region;
transferring accumulated charge in the PSRs of the second region corresponding to the fourth image to VCCDs of the second region;
transferring (i) charge in the VCCDs of the second region corresponding to the fourth image and (ii) charge in the VCCDs of the first region corresponding to the third image to one or more HCCDs electrically connected to the VCCDs; and
reading out charge from the one or more HCCDs via one or more output circuits electrically coupled to each HCCD.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein charge accumulates in the PSRs of the first region during at least one of (i) accumulation of charge in the PSRs of the second region during acquisition of the third image or (ii) accumulation of charge in the PSRs of the second region during acquisition of the fourth image.
20. An image sensor comprising:
an imaging array (i) comprising a plurality of columns of photo-sensitive regions (PSRs) each associated with a vertical CCD (VCCD) and (ii) having at least first and second different and independently controllable regions;
one or more horizontal CCDs (HCCDs) electrically connected to the VCCDs;
one or more output circuits electrically coupled to each HCCD; and
a control system configured to:
in a first image-capture mode:
acquire an image via accumulation of charge in the PSRs of both first and second regions,
transfer accumulated charge in the PSRs of the first region to VCCDs of the first region,
transfer accumulated charge in the PSRs of the second region to VCCDs of the second region,
transfer charge in the VCCDs of the first and second regions to at least one of the HCCDs, and
read out charge from each of the at least one of the HCCDs via one or more output circuits electrically coupled thereto, and
in a second image-capture mode:
acquire a first image via accumulation of charge in the PSRs of the first region,
transfer accumulated charge in the PSRs of the first region corresponding to the first image to VCCDs of the first region,
transfer charge corresponding to the first image from the VCCDs of the first region to VCCDs of the second region,
acquire a second image via accumulation of charge in the PSRs of the first region,
transfer accumulated charge in the PSRs of the first region corresponding to the second image to VCCDs of the first region,
transfer (i) charge in the VCCDs of the first region corresponding to the second image and (ii) charge in the VCCDs of the second region corresponding to the first image to at least one of the HCCDs, and
read out charge from each of the at least one of the HCCDs via one or more output circuits electrically coupled thereto.
21. A method of image capture utilizing an image sensor comprising an imaging array (i) comprising a plurality of columns of photo-sensitive regions (PSRs) each associated with a vertical CCD (VCCD) and (ii) having at least first and second different and independently controllable regions, the method comprising:
acquiring a first image via accumulation of charge in the PSRs of the first region, charge accumulating in the PSRs of the second region thereduring;
transferring accumulated charge in the PSRs of the first region corresponding to the first image to VCCDs of the first region;
transferring charge corresponding to the first image from the VCCDs of the first region to VCCDs of the second region;
acquiring a second image via accumulation of charge in the PSRs of the first region, charge accumulating in the PSRs of the second region thereduring;
transferring accumulated charge in the PSRs of the first region corresponding to the second image to VCCDs of the first region;
transferring (i) charge in the VCCDs of the first region corresponding to the second image and (ii) charge in the VCCDs of the second region corresponding to the first image to one or more HCCDs electrically connected to the VCCDs; and
reading out charge from the one or more HCCDs via one or more output circuits electrically coupled to each HCCD.
22. An image sensor comprising:
an imaging array (i) comprising a plurality of columns of photo-sensitive regions (PSRs) each associated with a vertical CCD (VCCD) and (ii) having at least first and second different and independently controllable regions;
one or more horizontal CCDs (HCCDs) electrically connected to the VCCDs;
one or more output circuits electrically coupled to each HCCD; and
a control system configured to:
acquire a first image via accumulation of charge in the PSRs of the first region, charge accumulating in the PSRs of the second region thereduring,
transfer accumulated charge in the PSRs of the first region corresponding to the first image to VCCDs of the first region,
transfer charge corresponding to the first image from the VCCDs of the first region to VCCDs of the second region,
acquire a second image via accumulation of charge in the PSRs of the first region, charge accumulating in the PSRs of the second region thereduring,
transfer accumulated charge in the PSRs of the first region corresponding to the second image to VCCDs of the first region,
transfer (i) charge in the VCCDs of the first region corresponding to the second image and (ii) charge in the VCCDs of the second region corresponding to the first image to at least one of the HCCDs, and
read out charge from each of the at least one of the HCCDs via one or more output circuits electrically coupled thereto.