Semi-global shutter imager
This disclosure is directed to an image sensor. The image sensor includes a two-dimensional pixel array divided into a plurality of blocks, each of the plurality of blocks comprising pixels arranged in at least two different rows and two different columns, and a shutter mechanism that exposes the plurality of blocks sequentially, with all pixels in each block being exposed synchronously.
1. A device comprising:
a two-dimensional pixel array divided into a plurality of blocks, each of the plurality of blocks comprising pixels spanning at least two different rows and two different columns;
a shutter configured to expose each block of the plurality of blocks, wherein exposing a block of the plurality of blocks comprises synchronously exposing all pixels of the block; and
separate readout circuitry for each respective block of the plurality of blocks, the readout circuitry capable of receiving and processing signals from the pixels in the respective block,
wherein:
the plurality of blocks includes a first block and a second block, and
exposing the blocks of the plurality of blocks comprises exposing the plurality of blocks with a delay between an exposure of the second block and an exposure of the first block, the delay sufficient to allow for a readout of the first block before the exposure of the second block is completed.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the two-dimensional pixel array includes M rows of pixels, M no less than 100,
a height of each block of the plurality of blocks is at least one twentieth of a combined height of M rows but no more than one fifth of the combined height of M rows,
the two-dimensional pixel array includes N columns, N no less than 100, and
a width of each block of the plurality of blocks is at least one twentieth of a combined width of N columns of pixels but no more than one fifth of the combined width of N columns.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least two of the blocks of the plurality of blocks include a different number of pixels.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least two of the blocks of the plurality of blocks have different geometric shapes.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein each block of the plurality of blocks includes the same number of pixels.
6. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a timing control module configured to transmit a timing signal to each block of the plurality of blocks, the timing signal configured to initiate a sequence of exposures of the blocks.
7. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an amplifier configured to amplify the signals and an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the signals to digital data.
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the shutter is electronically controlled.
9. A method of capturing an image via an image sensor, the method comprising:
sequentially exposing the blocks of a plurality of blocks of a two-dimensional pixel array of the image sensor, each block of the plurality of blocks comprising pixels spanning at least two different rows and two different columns, wherein exposing a block of the plurality of blocks comprises synchronously exposing the pixels of the block;
reading out each block of the plurality of blocks with a separate readout circuitry associated with the respective block; and
sequentially reading out signals from at least a first block and a second block of the plurality of blocks,
wherein exposing the blocks of the plurality of blocks comprises exposing the plurality of blocks with a delay between an exposure of the second block and an exposure of the first block, the delay sufficient to allow for a readout of the first block before the exposure of the second block is completed.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein:
the two-dimensional pixel array includes M rows of pixels, M no less than 100,
a height of each block of the plurality of blocks is at least one twentieth of a combined height of M rows of pixels, but no more than one fifth of the combined height of M rows,
the two-dimensional pixel array includes N columns, N no less than 100, and
a width of each block of the plurality of blocks is at least one twentieth of a combined width of N columns of pixels but no more than one fifth of the combined width of N columns.
11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
transmitting a timing signal to each block of the plurality of blocks, the timing signal configured to initiate a sequence of exposures of the blocks.