US 12,439,164 B2
Asynchronous integration in rolling shutter image sensors
Jeffrey M. Raynor, Edinburgh (GB)
Assigned to STMicroelectronics International N.V., Geneva (CH)
Filed by STMicroelectronics International N.V., Geneva (CH)
Filed on Oct. 25, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/494,502.
Prior Publication US 2025/0142225 A1, May 1, 2025
Int. Cl. H04N 23/71 (2023.01); H04N 23/73 (2023.01); H04N 23/745 (2023.01); H04N 23/76 (2023.01); H04N 23/81 (2023.01); H04N 25/53 (2023.01); H04N 25/531 (2023.01); H04N 25/533 (2023.01); H04N 25/57 (2023.01); H04N 25/78 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 23/71 (2023.01) [H04N 23/73 (2023.01); H04N 23/745 (2023.01); H04N 23/76 (2023.01); H04N 23/81 (2023.01); H04N 25/53 (2023.01); H04N 25/531 (2023.01); H04N 25/533 (2023.01); H04N 25/57 (2023.01); H04N 25/78 (2023.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for capturing an image frame using a pixel array of an image sensor, the method comprising:
sequentially resetting each pixel row of the pixel array from a first pixel row to a last pixel row;
sequentially reading out each pixel row of a first subset of pixel rows during a readout phase, such that an integration time for each pixel of the first subset of pixel rows is equal to a fixed integration time; and
globally resetting pixels of the pixel array in response to detecting that an ambient light level exceeds a threshold level, the globally resetting of the pixels occurring before a reading out of a second subset of pixel rows, each pixel row in the second subset of pixel rows having a variable integration time less than the fixed integration time and starting from the globally resetting of the pixels.