Patent Document ID: 8194166
Application ID: 12569974
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A method for producing multiple images with an image sensor that includes a plurality of pixels each including a photosensitive area, a plurality of vertical charge coupled devices (VCCDs) each comprising a plurality of charge storage elements and positioned adjacent to respective columns of pixels, and transfer mechanisms for transferring charge packets from the photosensitive areas to respective charge storage elements, the method comprising: beginning light integration for all of the pixels, wherein the photosensitive areas accumulate charge packets; transferring first charge packets from all of the pixels to respective charge storage elements in the VCCDs at a first time, wherein the first charge packets from the pixels have a first integration period; binning the first charge packets in the VCCDs by shifting a portion of the first charge packets one or more charge storage elements in each VCCD to generate binned charge packets occupying a first group of charge storage elements; ending light integration for all of the pixels; transferring second charge packets from a first portion of pixels to a second group of charge storage elements in the VCCDs at a second time, wherein the second time is subsequent to the first time and the second charge packets from the first portion of pixels have a second integration period that is different from the first integration period; reading out the binned charge packets and the second charge packets from the VCCDs together; transferring third charge packets from remaining pixels to respective charge storage elements in the VCCDs; and reading out the third charge packets from the VCCDs.