Patent ID: 6953923

Claim:
An image sensor comprising: a plurality of pixels arranged as a pixel array of rows and columns, each row having M pixels, said M pixels grouped into N blocks, each of said N blocks having M/N pixels said rows being read out one at a time; a first group of column readout circuits having M/N column readout circuits for reading out pixel signals from said pixels from a single row; a second group of column readout circuits having M/N column readout circuits for reading out pixel signals from said pixels from said single row; and a multiplexer bus system having selection switches for selectively switching pixel signals from one of said N blocks as input into said first group of column readout circuits and another of said N blocks as input into said second group of column readout circuits, wherein said first group of column readout circuits is reading and storing said pixel signals from said pixels while said second group of column readout circuits is transferring out processed signals.