Patent Document ID: 8149303
Application ID: 12570062
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A method for capturing images in an image sensor that includes a plurality of pixels each having an photosensitive area, vertical charge coupled devices (CCDs) each comprising a plurality of charge storage elements positioned adjacent to respective columns of pixels, and transfer mechanisms for transferring charge packets from each photosensitive area to respective charge storage elements, the method comprising: beginning light integration for all of the pixels, wherein the photosensitive areas accumulate charge packets; transferring charge packets from a first portion of pixels to respective charge storage elements in the vertical CCDs at a first time, wherein the charge packets from the first portion of pixels have a first integration period; transferring charge packets from a second portion of pixels to respective charge storage elements in the vertical CCDs at a second time that is different from the first time, wherein the charge packets from the second portion of pixels have a second integration period that is different from the first integration period; transferring charge packets from a third portion of pixels to respective charge storage elements in the VCCDs at a third time that is different from the first and second times, wherein the charge packets from the third portion of pixels have a third integration period that is different from the first and second integration periods; ending light integration for the pixels; reading out the charge packets from the vertical CCDs; transferring charge packets from all pixels to respective charge storage elements in the vertical CCDs, wherein the charge packets from the first portion of pixels have a fourth integration period, the charge packets from the second portion of pixels have a fifth integration period that is different from the fourth integration period, and the charge packets from the third portion of pixels have a sixth integration period that is different from the fourth and fifth integration periods; and reading out the charge packets from the vertical CCDs.