CMOS SENSOR ARRAY WITH MEMORY INTERFACE

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a convenient and efficient pixel data interface with an image processor. SOLUTION: An image sensor 100 includes a sensor or a pixel array (102), a data memory (110) and a logic circuit (114) and they are all fabricated on the same integrated chip. The sensor pixel array outputs digital signals as pixel data representing an image of a scene. The data memory is coupled to the sensor or pixel array for storing the pixel data. The logic circuit is coupled to the data memory and provides a memory interface for outputting the pixel data. The memory interface can be one of a SRAM, a DRAM or a packet protocol synchronous DRAM interface. By including the memory interface in the image sensor, the image sensor can be coupled directly to the memory interface port of an external image processing unit.