Patent ID: 8314867

Claim:
A method of operating a camera system with a power-saving mode, said method comprising the steps of: using the camera system in a first mode, wherein pixel signals from an array of pixel columns are output via multiple pixel readout chains that are each coupled to said array of pixel columns through a respective readout channel of a sample and hold circuitry and through a shared switch circuitry; and using the camera system in a power-saving mode, wherein pixel signals from the array of pixel columns are output via only an enabled subset of said multiple pixel readout chains, said enabled subset of readout chains being less than a total of said multiple pixel readout chains, and wherein the shared switch circuitry directs pixel signals from a first readout channel and pixel signals from a second readout channel only to said enabled subset of readout chains, and wherein said shared switch circuitry alternates between directing the pixel signals from said first readout channel to said enabled subset of readout chains and directing the pixel signals from said second readout channel to said enabled subset of readout chains.