CMOS image sensor with optimal video sampling scheme

Time-varying illumination on the focal plane is a three-dimensional signal. Multidimensional sampling theory proves that the temporal resolution can be optimally improved by a factor of √(2) while the spatial resolution is reserved by changing the sampling scheme. Based on the theory, a prototype multi-field CMOS image sensor (CIS) is designed for a 0.35-μm 2P4M CMOS process. Corresponding pixels in 4×4-pixel clusters are assembled into 16 fields over the whole array. Control pins (resets and shutters) of pixels are separated which provides the ability of sampling the illumination with the optimal sampling scheme.