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 comprising a first block and a second block, each of the first block and the second block comprising a respective plurality of pixels, wherein the first block does not overlap the second block in the two-dimensional pixel array;
a shutter configured to:
synchronously expose, in a first time window beginning at a first time, the plurality of pixels of the first block;
synchronously expose, in a second time window beginning at a second time later than the first time, the plurality of pixels of the second block; and
one or more processors configured to perform a method comprising:
at a third time between the first time and the second time, receiving a first signal corresponding to the first block;
at a fourth time later than the second time, receiving a second signal corresponding to the second block; and
during the second time window, performing an image analysis based on the first signal.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein:
each of the first block and the second block has a respective height that is at least one twentieth of the height of the two-dimensional pixel array and no more than one fifth of the height of the two-dimensional pixel array; and
each of the first block and the second block has a respective width that is at least one twentieth of the width of the two-dimensional pixel array and no more than one fifth of the width of the two-dimensional pixel array.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pixels of the first block comprises a first number of pixels, and the plurality of pixels of the second block comprises a second number of pixels, equal to the first number.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pixels of the first block comprises a first number of pixels, and the plurality of pixels of the second block comprises a second number of pixels, different from the first number.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pixels of the first block comprises a first geometric shape, and the plurality of pixels of the second block comprises a second geometric shape, different from the first geometric shape.
6. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a timing module, wherein:
synchronously exposing the plurality of pixels of the first block comprises synchronously exposing the plurality of pixels of the first block in response to receiving a first signal from the timing module; and
synchronously exposing the plurality of pixels of the second block comprises synchronously exposing the plurality of pixels of the second block in response to receiving a second signal from the timing module.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the device is configured to generate, based on the image analysis and based further on the second signal, an image signal.
8. The device of claim 7 , wherein device is further configured to present the image signal as input to a SLAM algorithm.
9. A method comprising:
synchronously exposing, in a first time window beginning at a first time, a respective plurality of pixels of a first block of a two-dimensional pixel array;
synchronously exposing, in a second time window beginning at a second time later than the first time, a respective plurality of pixels of a second block of the two-dimensional pixel array, wherein the first block does not overlap the second block in the two-dimensional pixel array;
receiving, at a third time between the first time and the second time, a first signal corresponding to the first block;
receiving, at a fourth time later than the second time, a second signal corresponding to the second block; and
during the second time window, performing an image analysis based on the first signal.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein:
each of the first block and the second block has a respective height that is at least one twentieth of the height of the two-dimensional pixel array and no more than one fifth of the height of the two-dimensional pixel array; and
each of the first block and the second block has a respective width that is at least one twentieth of the width of the two-dimensional pixel array and no more than one fifth of the width of the two-dimensional pixel array.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of pixels of the first block comprises a first number of pixels, and the plurality of pixels of the second block comprises a second number of pixels, equal to the first number.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of pixels of the first block comprises a first number of pixels, and the plurality of pixels of the second block comprises a second number of pixels, different from the first number.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of pixels of the first block comprises a first geometric shape, and the plurality of pixels of the second block comprises a second geometric shape, different from the first geometric shape.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein:
synchronously exposing the plurality of pixels of the first block comprises synchronously exposing the plurality of pixels of the first block in response to receiving a first signal from a timing module; and
synchronously exposing the plurality of pixels of the second block comprises synchronously exposing the plurality of pixels of the second block in response to receiving a second signal from the timing module.
15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising generating, based on the image analysis and based further on the second signal, an image signal.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising presenting the image signal as input to a SLAM algorithm.