High dynamic range image sensor having symmetric interleaved long and short exposure pixels

Abstract

To generate data for color pixels in an image, Bayer symmetric interleaved exposures can more evenly spread the long exposure pixels in the vertical direction and produce a higher dynamic range by having pixels with different exposure times interleaved within different rows. Long and short exposure pixels can be interleaved across two adjacent rows to form 4 pixel wide by 2 pixel tall blocks that are repeated across a Bayer pattern color array. In each block, the first row can be three long and one short exposure pixel; and the second row can be three short and one long exposure pixel. The long exposure pixels can form an 'L' shaped pattern rotated 90 degrees clockwise; and the short exposure pixels can form an 'L' shaped pattern rotated 90 degrees counter-clockwise. Subsequent rows of the blocks may be offset horizontally to form diagonal bands of long and short exposure pixels.