Patent Document ID: 20110075008
Application ID: 12570014
Patent Status: 0

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 charge packets from all of the pixels to respective charge storage elements in the VCCDs at a first time, wherein the charge packets from the pixels have a first integration period; binning charge packets in the VCCDs by shifting a portion of the charge packets one or more charge storage elements in each VCCD; ending light integration for all of the pixels; transferring charge packets from all of the pixels to respective charge storage elements in the VCCDs at a second time, wherein the charge packets from the pixels have a second integration period; and reading out the charge packets from the VCCDs.