Patent ID: 8892163

Claim:
An image sensor, comprising: a pixel array including a plurality of pixels; a readout circuit coupled to the pixel array; and a controller circuit coupled to control the pixel array, the controller circuit further coupled to the readout circuit to receive pixel data from the pixel array, wherein the pixel data is representative of an image of an object that is captured by the pixel array, the controller circuit including a mode control logic unit providing logic which when executed causes operations to be performed, comprising: operating the image sensor in an idle mode of operation, wherein the image sensor consumes less power from a power source when operating in the idle mode of operation; sampling, in response to receiving an event signal, the pixel data received from the pixel array in a pulsed mode of operation in which the image sensor alternates between operating in a normal mode of operation and the idle mode of operation, wherein the pulsed mode of operation provides pulse controlled imaging instead of continuous imaging, wherein a time interval between operating in the normal mode of operation and the idle mode of operation in the pulsed mode of operation is a fixed time interval; recognizing a pattern in the pixel data samples over time; and selecting a mode of operation in response to the pattern in the pixel data samples over time, wherein the mode of operation is one of a plurality of modes of operation of the image sensor, wherein the plurality of modes of operation include the idle mode of operation, the normal mode of operation, the pulsed mode of operation, and an alternate pulsed mode of operation, wherein the time interval between operating the normal mode of operation and the idle mode of operation in the alternate pulsed mode of operation is a variable time interval.