Patent Document ID: 7782393
Application ID: 12570810
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A method of capturing an image with an electronic camera having a shutter for selectively allowing light to reach an image sensor and readout circuitry for selectively reading out pixel data from the image sensor, the image sensor comprising a plurality of imaging areas interleaved with a plurality of storage areas, each storage area having at least two imaging areas associated therewith, the method comprising: opening the shutter; allowing light to reach the image sensor for a first exposure period; preserving a first portion of pixel data captured during the first exposure period in the storage areas of the image sensor by transferring charge from a first one of the imaging areas associated with each storage area to the associated storage area; preserving one or more remaining portions of pixel data captured during the first exposure period by combining the charge from one or more remaining imaging areas associated with each storage area with the charge from the first one of the imaging areas in the associated storage area; allowing light to reach the image sensor for a second exposure period; reading out the combined first and remaining portions of pixel data captured during the first exposure period; and, reading out pixel data captured during the second exposure period.