Patent ID: 7995124

Claim:
An image sensor apparatus, comprising: an image sensor for generating a first and a second set of digital image samples at a first bit depth, each set of digital image samples generated by a different column readout circuit path; the image sensor including: (a) an array of pixels arranged in a plurality of row lines and column lines, (b) a plurality of first and second column readout circuits connected in parallel to the plurality of column lines, each first column readout circuit in a first column readout circuit path and each second column readout circuit in a second column readout circuit path; wherein each column line is connected in parallel to both a first column readout circuit and a second column readout circuit, and (c) a first output stage connected to the first column readout circuit and a second output stage connected to the second column readout circuit, wherein the first and second output stages are independent of one another and comprise a differential amplifier and an analog-to-digital converter having the first bit depth; and a processor for combining the first and the second set of digital image samples to generate a digital image at a second bit depth, the second bit depth higher than the first bit depth.