METHOD AND APPARATUS PROVIDING PIXEL ARRAY HAVING AUTOMATIC LIGHT CONTROL PIXELS AND IMAGE CAPTURE PIXELS

摘要

A pixel array uses two sets of pixels to provide accurate exposure control. One set of pixels provide continuous output signals for automatic light control (ALC) as the other set integrates and captures an image. ALC pixels allow monitoring of multiple pixels of an array to obtain sample data indicating the amount of light reaching the array, while allowing the other pixels to provide proper image data. A small percentage of the pixels in an array is replaced with ALC pixels and the array has two reset lines for each row; one line controls the reset for the image capture pixels while the other line controls the reset for the ALC pixels. In the columns, at least one extra control signal is used for the sampling of the reset level for the ALC pixels, which happens later than the sampling of the reset level for the image capture pixels.

主权项

1. A pixel array comprising:
at least one row of pixels comprising:
a plurality of imaging pixels, each comprising a photosensor, a charge storage region, a reset transistor for resetting signal from said charge storage region, and a transfer transistor for selectively transferring charge from said photosensor to said charge storage region after an integration period; andat least one pixel comprising a photosensor for providing charge to a charge storage region during charge integration, and a reset transistor for resetting said charge storage region; a first reset control line connected operate the reset transistor of said plurality of pixels; and a second control reset line connected to operate the reset transistor of said at least one pixel.