US 12,348,882 B2
Wide dynamic range image sensor and method performed by the same
Kyungmin Kim, Suwon-si (KR); Minsun Keel, Suwon-si (KR); and Mira Lee, Suwon-si (KR)
Assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., Suwon-si (KR)
Filed by SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., Suwon-si (KR)
Filed on Nov. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/991,074.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2021-0170238 (KR), filed on Dec. 1, 2021; and application No. 10-2022-0079992 (KR), filed on Jun. 29, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0171516 A1, Jun. 1, 2023
Int. Cl. H04N 25/53 (2023.01); H04N 23/10 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 25/53 (2023.01) [H04N 23/10 (2023.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image sensor comprising:
a pixel array comprising a plurality of pixels;
a controller configured to control a first pixel group of the plurality of pixels to have a first exposure integration time, a second pixel group of the plurality of pixels to have a second exposure integration time and a third pixel group of the plurality of pixels to have a third exposure integration time; and
a signal processor configured to generate image data based on digital signals corresponding to pixel signals generated by the pixel array, by performing operations on a first value of the digital signals corresponding to the first pixel group, a second value of the digital signals corresponding to the second pixel group and a third value of the digital signals corresponding to the third pixel group,
wherein the first pixel group has a fixed position and the first exposure integration time of the first pixel group is independent of illuminance of the image data, and
wherein the signal processor is further configured to identify the second pixel group and the third pixel group based on the illuminance.