Methods for triggering for multi-camera system

摘要

A system may include one or more camera modules each containing one or more image sensors. The system may be configured to capture images from light spectra outside the visible band. Therefore, the pixel integration times, and frame rates of the one or more image sensors may be unique and distinct. An image sensor may respond to a trigger control signal by beginning integration of a subset of pixels some duration after an appropriate trigger control signal transitions from low to high. The image sensor may output the frame captured by the pixels a predetermined duration after the trigger control signal transitions, to ensure a deterministic response. Pixels used to generate the image of a subsequent frame may begin integrating during the readout of the current frame. The pixels may be integrated for exactly their programmed integration time, even when the frame rate is varied.

主权项

1. A method of operating an image sensor having pixels, comprising:
detecting a first trigger control signal transition; resetting and integrating the pixels after a first duration of time from the first trigger control signal transition; in response to detecting the first trigger control signal transition, commencing read out from the pixels after a second duration of time from the first trigger control signal transition that is greater than zero; and detecting and responding to a second trigger control signal transition that is subsequent to the first trigger control signal transition while reading out from the pixels, wherein the image sensor finishes reading out from at least some of the pixels before detecting the second trigger control signal transition, and wherein there are no additional trigger control signal transitions in between the detected first and second trigger control signal transitions.