Patent ID: 9001250
Filing Date: 2015-04-07
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method of reading image data from an image sensor, comprising: accumulating image charges in photosensitive elements of an array of pixel cells arranged into a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns; transferring the image charges accumulated in each one of the photosensitive elements to a corresponding one of a plurality of transistors included in a corresponding one of a plurality of multi-phase transfer channels, wherein each one of the plurality of multi-phase transfer channels is coupled to a corresponding column of the array of pixel cells; generating a plurality of sets of multi-phase transfer signals, wherein each set of the multi-phase transfer signals includes a plurality of control signals that are out-of-phase with one another, wherein each one of the sets of multi-phase transfer signals is coupled to control the plurality of transistors of a respective one of the plurality of multi-phase transfer channels; selecting a first one of the plurality of columns; outputting the accumulated image charges from a first variable number of pixel cells of the selected first one of the plurality of columns in response to a first set of multi-phase transfer signals, wherein outputting the accumulated image charges from the first variable number of pixel cells of the selected first one of the plurality of columns comprises transferring the accumulated image charges transistor-to-transistor along a first one of the plurality of multi-phase transfer channels coupled to the selected first one of the plurality of columns in response to the first set of multi-phase transfer signals; selecting a second one of the plurality of columns; and outputting the accumulated image charges from a second variable number of pixel cells of the selected second one of the plurality of columns in response to a second set of multi-phase transfer signals.