Method and apparatus for controlling power consumption in an active pixel sensor array

The invention is directed to a method and apparatus of controlling power consumption in a CMOS active pixel sensor (APS) transducer array, which has a number of APS's arranged in columns and rows and connected to a power supply, for providing output signals representing an image and wherein the outputs of selected APS's are decimated to reduce the output bandwidth of the transducer. The method comprises the steps of determining the selected APS's having outputs that are decimated and disconnecting the selected APS's from the power supply. The decimated APS's may include some or all of the APS's located in predetermined columns, rows or columns and rows. The apparatus includes transistor switches and couplers for connecting the selected APS's to the power supply. Transistor switches may be used to connect some or all of the APS's in predetermined columns, rows or columns and rows to the power terminal or to the ground terminal of the power supply.