The present invention relates to an IR imaging device including: an image capturing unit which includes a pixel array having a spatially varying exposure (SVE) pixel pattern of a size of N x N in which pixels are classified into pixel groups so that pixels having an identical sensitivity belong to an identical group and pixels having multiple sensitivities are arranged so that pixels having an identical sensitivity are not adjacent to each other, wherein the multiple pixels having the multiple sensitivities concurrently detect light with the multiple sensitivities so as to capture an image; and an image restoring unit for acquiring multiple images having different sensitivities by generating an image having a low resolution for each pixel group by using only data of multiple pixels belonging to an identical pixel group among the data of the captured image and interpolating data of pixels belonging to different pixel groups in a demosaicing method to restore the resolution thereof.
H04N 25/585 - Control of the dynamic range involving two or more exposures acquired simultaneously with pixels having different sensitivities within the sensor, e.g. fast or slow pixels or pixels having different sizes
H04N 25/532 - Control of the integration time by controlling global shutters in CMOS SSIS
H04N 25/60 - Noise processing, e.g. detecting, correcting, reducing or removing noise
G06T 3/4015 - Image demosaicing, e.g. colour filter arrays [CFA] or Bayer patterns
The present invention relates to an imaging device for generating a high dynamic range image. One embodiment of such present invention may comprise: an image capture unit for capturing a plurality of images having different exposure values from each other, and generating a long exposure image, a short exposure image, a first extreme exposure image, and a second extreme exposure image; a first synthesis unit for generating an image for LED flicker mitigation by synthesizing the long exposure image, the short exposure image, and the first extreme exposure image; a second synthesis unit for generating a motion image by synthesizing the long exposure image, the short exposure image, and the second extreme exposure image; and a blending unit for generating a synthesized image by synthesizing the image for LED flicker mitigation and the motion image on the basis of a motion weight and a disparity value indicating the difference in exposure ratio of each location in an image.
H04N 25/62 - Detection or reduction of noise due to excess charges produced by the exposure, e.g. smear, blooming, ghost image, crosstalk or leakage between pixels
H04N 25/585 - Control of the dynamic range involving two or more exposures acquired simultaneously with pixels having different sensitivities within the sensor, e.g. fast or slow pixels or pixels having different sizes
H04N 25/535 - Control of the integration time by using differing integration times for different sensor regions by dynamic region selection
H04N 23/84 - Camera processing pipelinesComponents thereof for processing colour signals
H04N 23/951 - Computational photography systems, e.g. light-field imaging systems by using two or more images to influence resolution, frame rate or aspect ratio
3.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REPRODUCING COLOR OF IMAGE
An image color reproduction method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may comprise the steps of: converting a raw image signal collected through an image sensor into a raw image matrix; correcting a spectral response component of the raw image matrix; and correcting an illumination component of the raw image matrix, wherein the spectral response component is determined according to the image sensor, and the illumination component is determined according to illumination of an environment in which the raw image signal is collected.
H04N 23/88 - Camera processing pipelinesComponents thereof for processing colour signals for colour balance, e.g. white-balance circuits or colour temperature control
H04N 23/82 - Camera processing pipelinesComponents thereof for controlling camera response irrespective of the scene brightness, e.g. gamma correction
H04N 23/85 - Camera processing pipelinesComponents thereof for processing colour signals for matrixing
4.
IMAGE SENSING DEVICE INCLUDING MULTI-LAYERED SCATTERING PATTERN
An image sensing device according to an embodiment of the present technology may include a scattering pattern and a pixel separating structure, in which two or more materials having different indices of refraction are vertically laminated in a trench. The scattering pattern may increase a travel distance of incident light whereby a quantum efficiency of pixels may be increased, and the pixel separation structure may reduce optical crosstalk between adjacent pixels.
A method for removing RGBIR image noise according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises the steps of: acquiring an IR image and an RGB image including an IR component by demosaicing an RGBIR image; reconstructing a first RGB image from which the IR component is removed by removing the IR component from the RGB image including the IR component; and removing noise from the first RGB image on the basis of the first RGB image to which a predetermined RGB weight is applied and the IR image to which a predetermined IR weight is applied.
A method for image processing according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may comprise the steps of: acquiring an RGB-IR pattern image through a pixel array of an RGB-IR pattern; generating a first RGB image including an IR component on the basis of the RGB-IR pattern image; generating a second RGB image, with the IR component removed, on the basis of the RGB-IR pattern image and the first RGB image; generating a third RGB image on the basis of the brightness component of the first RGB image and the color component of the second RGB image; and converting the third RGB image into a Bayer pattern image.
H04N 25/131 - Arrangement of colour filter arrays [CFA]Filter mosaics characterised by the spectral characteristics of the filter elements including elements passing infrared wavelengths
H04N 23/11 - Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensorsControl thereof for generating image signals from different wavelengths for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
H04N 23/85 - Camera processing pipelinesComponents thereof for processing colour signals for matrixing
G06T 3/40 - Scaling of whole images or parts thereof, e.g. expanding or contracting
A device for image sensing according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure may comprise: an RGB-IR image sensor comprising a pixel array with an RGB-IR pattern; an IR LED configured to be turned on and off at a preset interval; and an RGB-IR image processing unit which is configured to generate an IR image on the basis of a first RBG-IR image captured via the RGB-IR image sensor while the IR LED is turned on, and generate an RGB image on the basis of a second RGB-IR image captured via the RGB-IR image sensor while the IR LED is turned off.
H04N 25/131 - Arrangement of colour filter arrays [CFA]Filter mosaics characterised by the spectral characteristics of the filter elements including elements passing infrared wavelengths
H04N 25/531 - Control of the integration time by controlling rolling shutters in CMOS SSIS
H04N 25/532 - Control of the integration time by controlling global shutters in CMOS SSIS
H04N 23/85 - Camera processing pipelinesComponents thereof for processing colour signals for matrixing
H04N 23/11 - Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensorsControl thereof for generating image signals from different wavelengths for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
G06T 3/40 - Scaling of whole images or parts thereof, e.g. expanding or contracting
An image processing apparatus includes a discrete wavelet transform (DWT) device that performs DWT and down sampling for a first source image to divide the first source into a low-frequency sub-image including a low-frequency component in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction and a plurality of high-frequency sub-images including a high-frequency component in at least one of the horizontal direction or the vertical direction, a frame memory storing a low-frequency sub-image of a second source image, a first noise reduction device that reduces noise in the low-frequency sub-image of the first source image using the low-frequency sub-image of the second source image, and an inverse discrete wavelet transform (IDWT) device that applies IDWT to the low-frequency sub-image of the first sub-image, which is reduced in noise through the first noise reduction device, and the high-frequency sub-images of the first image to restore the first source image.
The present invention relates to a CMOS image sensor, and the present invention comprises: a pixel unit in which a plurality of unit pixels are disposed in the form of a matrix, each unit pixel comprising a photoelectric transformation element, an electric charge retention unit for retaining electric charge transferred from the photoelectric transformation element, and a floating diffusion region for storing the electric charge transferred from the electric charge retention unit; and a pixel driving unit for consecutively performing light exposure control on the pixel unit with a predetermined time lag by rows. The pixel driving unit performs: an intermediate reset operation for resetting, of electric charge accumulated in the photoelectric transformation element during a first light exposure period, the electric charge exceeding a predetermined intermediate level accumulation quantity, following the elapse of the first light exposure period following the initialization of the unit pixels; a first transfer operation for transferring, to the electric charge retention unit, first signal electric charge, of the electric charge accumulated in the photoelectric transformation element, which exceeds the intermediate level accumulation quantity, following the elapse of a second light exposure period following the completion of the intermediate reset operation; and a second transfer operation for transferring, to the floating diffusion node, the first signal electric charge transferred by the first transfer operation and stored in the electric charge retention unit. Accordingly, the present invention can address the problem of reduction of sensitivity at low illuminance by allowing electric charge, generated by photoelectric transformation during a light exposure period, to be accumulated only in the photoelectric transformation element if incident light is at predetermined luminance or below, and can increase the dynamic range by allowing the electric charge, generated by photoelectric transformation during the light exposure period, to be accumulated in both the photoelectric transformation element and the electric charge retention unit if the incident light is at predetermined illuminance or above.
H04N 5/3745 - Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors having additional components embedded within a pixel or connected to a group of pixels within a sensor matrix, e.g. memories, A/D converters, pixel amplifiers, shared circuits or shared components
H04N 5/357 - Noise processing, e.g. detecting, correcting, reducing or removing noise
H04N 5/235 - Circuitry for compensating for variation in the brightness of the object
The present invention relates to a CMOS image sensor, and the present invention comprises: a pixel unit in which a plurality of unit pixels generating electric charge in accordance with the quantity of incident light are disposed in the form of a matrix; and a pixel driving unit which consecutively performs light exposure control on the pixel unit with a predetermined time lag by rows, and which divides a first light exposure period, which is part of the entire light exposure period for the unit pixels, into a plurality of divided light exposure periods. Accordingly, the present invention can mitigate image distortion by a flicker of a light source, such as an LED and a fluorescent light, by dividing part of the entire light exposure period into a plurality of divided light exposure periods by factoring in a flicker frequency of the light source.
H04N 5/3745 - Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors having additional components embedded within a pixel or connected to a group of pixels within a sensor matrix, e.g. memories, A/D converters, pixel amplifiers, shared circuits or shared components
The present invention relates to a CMOS image sensor, and the present invention comprises: a pixel unit in which a plurality of unit pixels are disposed in the form of a matrix, each unit pixel comprising a photoelectric transformation element, an electric charge retention unit for retaining electric charge transferred from the photoelectric transformation element, and a floating diffusion node for storing the electric charge transferred from the electric charge retention unit; and a pixel driving unit for consecutively performing light exposure control on the pixel unit with a predetermined time lag by rows. The pixel driving unit performs: a first transfer operation for transferring, to the electric charge retention unit, first signal electric charge accumulated in the photoelectric transformation element during a first light exposure period, following the elapse of the first light exposure period following the initialization of the unit pixels; a second transfer operation for transferring, to the floating diffusion node, the first signal electric charge transferred to the electric charge retention unit, following the elapse of a predetermined period after the first transfer operation; and a third transfer operation for transferring, to the electric charge retention unit and simultaneously to the floating diffusion node, second signal electric charge accumulated in the photoelectric transformation element during a second light exposure period, following the elapse of the second light exposure period after the point of completion of the second transfer operation after the first transfer operation. Accordingly, the present invention can reduce a decrease in full well capacity (FWC) due to the capacity limit of the photoelectric transformation element by way of driving control of the pixels whereby electric charge, generated from the photoelectric transformation element, is transferred to the electric charge retention unit in advance in the middle of the light exposure period of the pixels.
H04N 5/3745 - Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors having additional components embedded within a pixel or connected to a group of pixels within a sensor matrix, e.g. memories, A/D converters, pixel amplifiers, shared circuits or shared components
H04N 5/357 - Noise processing, e.g. detecting, correcting, reducing or removing noise
H04N 5/235 - Circuitry for compensating for variation in the brightness of the object
The present technology provides a new structure of a color filter array. A color filter array according to an embodiment of the present technology may comprise: a first unit pixel array in which a first color filter, a second color filter, and a third color filter are arranged in an array form; and a second unit pixel array in which a forth color filter, a fifth color filter, and an infrared light-pass filter are arranged in an array form.
The present technology provides a digital image processing apparatus capable of improving sensitivity using a panchromatic CMYP color filter array. The digital image processing apparatus of the present technology may allow light of the near infrared (NIR) region as well as light of a visible light region to enter an image sensor having a panchromatic CMYP color filter array, and simply and effectively separate and then remove an infrared ingredient from a color filtered image signal.
A camera, according to one embodiment of the present invention, may comprise: an image data generation unit for generating image data by processing a photographed image; a first encoder for converting the image data into an analog transmission signal; a second encoder for converting the image data into a digital transmission signal; and a combined transmission signal generation unit for generating a combined transmission signal comprising at least one of the analog transmission signal and the digital transmission signal.
The present invention relates to a low-voltage differential signalling transmitter, more particularly to the technology that enables the low-voltage differential transmitter to have output resistance characteristics that are insensitive to process variation. The present invention comprises: an input drive unit comprising a plurality of pre-drivers for outputting a plurality of drive signals having a pull-up voltage level by driving positive input signals and negative input signals, and a plurality of drive signals having a pull-down voltage level; a voltage generator for regulating a power supply voltage and generating a first drive voltage; and a main drive unit comprising a plurality of switching devices that are selectively turned on by the plurality of drive signals to selectively supply the first drive voltage to a differential output terminal, wherein the turn-on resistance of the plurality of switching devices is controlled by the pull-up voltage level and the pull-down voltage level.
A camera according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a data generation unit for processing a photographed image to generate image data; a compression unit for compressing the image data to generate compressed data; a combination unit for combining the image data and the compressed data to generate combined data; and a communication interface unit for transmitting the combined data to an external client.
The present invention relates to a method for transmitting a plurality of asynchronous signals, which includes: transmitting to a plurality of audio synchronizers a plurality of asynchronous audio signals which is detected by different audio input devices and is not synchronized with each other; synchronizing, by the plurality of audio synchronizers, the plurality of asynchronous audio signals, respectively; and multiplexing, by a multiple-channel time-division multiplexer, the plurality of synchronized audio signals to a multiple-channel time-division audio signal.
G06F 17/00 - Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions
H04N 21/43 - Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video streamElementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronizing decoder's clockClient middleware
H04N 21/236 - Assembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. transport stream, by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, e.g. inserting a URL [Uniform Resource Locator ] into a video stream, multiplexing software data into a video streamRemultiplexing of multiplex streamsInsertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, e.g. to obtain a constant bit-rateAssembling of a packetised elementary stream
G06F 17/30 - Information retrieval; Database structures therefor
18.
Video decoding system having compensation function
The present invention relates to a video decoding system having a compensation function, the video decoding system comprising: one AD converter; a synchronized signal level detector for detecting a synchronized signal level using a digital signal output from the AD converter; a color burst level detector for detecting a color burst level using the digital signal output from the AD converter; a compensation apparatus for compensating the video level and the high frequency components of an analog signal by using information detected by the synchronized signal level detector and the color burst level detector, and for compensating and transmitting a synchronized signal level to the AD converter; and a decoding apparatus for outputting a digital component image signal (YCrCb) using the digital signal output from the AD converter.
The present invention relates to an image quality adaptive video security system, a security camera generating an original video signal from a camera sensor, inserting an image quality discrimination signal including image quality information for video to the original video signal and generating a video signal. A DVR system determines whether a video signal from a security camera is transmitted in an analog transmission scheme or in a digital transmission scheme. In the case of the analog transmission scheme, the DVR system decodes the analog video signal to a first digital component video signal and detects image quality information. In a case of the digital transmission scheme, the DVR system converts the digital video signal to a digital second component video signal and detects image quality information. A video processing unit scales, compresses, stores or displays the first or the second component video signal with reference to the image quality information of the detected analog or digital video signal.
H04N 5/77 - Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus between a recording apparatus and a television camera
H04N 7/18 - Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
H04N 9/79 - Processing of colour television signals in connection with recording
H04N 9/82 - Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changingInverse transformation for playback the individual colour picture signal components being recorded simultaneously only
H04N 7/088 - Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band with signal insertion during the vertical blanking interval the inserted signal being digital
20.
IMAGE SENSOR AND PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME
The present invention relates to an image sensor and a photographing apparatus including same, the image sensor comprising: an analog-to-digital converter processing a signal of brightness information applied from an illuminance sensor; a control unit receiving a digital signal and an image signal applied from the analog-to-digital converter to process the signal; a motion detector detecting a motion from an output image of the control unit, to output a power-off signal and a light emission control signal; a digital-to-analog converter converting the output image of the control unit into an analog signal, and selectively outputting the analog signal, which is converted from the image output signal, according to whether the power-off signal is activated or not; and a light emission control unit selectively controlling a turning-on or turning-off operation of a light emission unit according to the light emission control signal.
The present invention relates to a system and a method for recognizing a face using IR lighting. More specifically, the invention concerns a face recognition system and method which adopts IR lighting to be robust to external environments. The face recognition system according to one embodiment of the invention comprises: an IR lighting unit which irradiates an infrared ray; an image acquisition unit which uses an IR filter to acquire an input image including a particular face through the irradiated ray; a feature information extraction unit which extracts the feature information on the particular face included in the input image; and a face recognition unit that recognizes the face included in the input image by comparing the extracted feature information with the feature information of a person's image stored in a database.
Techniques, systems and apparatus are described for adjusting auto white balance (AWB). An AWB adjusting device includes a map setting unit to perform map-setting on a number of light-source boxes that is at least M times greater than a number of registers by performing map-switching. M is an integer greater than or equal to 2. The AWB adjusting device includes a pixel counting unit for counting a number of white pixels of a standard image contained in each light-source box with map-setting. The AWB adjusting device includes a light-source selection unit to select a light source based on a maximum light-source box selected from the number of light-source boxes having a greatest number of the white pixels. The AWB adjusting device includes a balance gain applying unit to calculate a red gain and a blue gain based on a mapping value of the maximum light-source box to adjust AWB.
Techniques, apparatus and system for correcting moving image wavering are disclosed. An apparatus includes a selecting unit to select at least one reference macroblock from an input image of a first frame and to select at least one search area from an input image of a second frame. The selected at least one search area corresponds to the at least one reference macroblock. The apparatus includes an operating unit to communicate with the selecting unit and to perform a statistical operation by matching the at least one reference macroblock of the first frame to each of search blocks included in the at least one search area of the second frame. The apparatus comprises a vector calculating unit to communicate with the operating unit and to calculate a motion vector to correct an output image of the second frame based on a resultant value of the statistical operation.
H04N 7/12 - Systems in which the television signal is transmitted via one channel or a plurality of parallel channels, the bandwidth of each channel being less than the bandwidth of the television signal
H04N 11/02 - Colour television systems with bandwidth reduction
H04N 11/04 - Colour television systems using pulse code modulation
H04N 9/74 - Circuits for processing colour signals for obtaining special effects
24.
Reconfigurable array processor for floating-point operations
A processor for performing floating-point operations includes an array of processing elements arranged to enable a floating-point operation. Each processing element includes an arithmetic logic unit to receive two input values and perform integer arithmetic on the received input values. The processing elements in the array are connected together in groups of two or more processing elements to enable floating-point operation.
The present invention provides non-linear tone mapping apparatus and method and a computer readable medium stored thereon computer executable instructions for performing the method. The non-linear tone mapping apparatus according to the present invention comprises a luminance value computing unit for computing a luminance value of each pixel of an object image using an image information of each pixel; a computing unit for computing a light adaptive value of each pixel using the image information and luminance value of each pixel, the light adaptive value representing the degree of response to brightness of the image in the image information of each pixel; and a converting unit for converting the image information of each pixel of the object image using a ratio of the image information of each pixel to the light adaptive value.
An image processing apparatus is provided, including a brightness change level classifying unit, a dynamic weight calculating unit, and a brightness correcting unit. The brightness change level classifying unit compares a brightness change average value representing brightness changes from a pixel of interest to neighboring pixels around the pixel of interest with an upper threshold value and a lower threshold value and classifies the brightness change level of the pixel of interest into three types of levels according to the result of the comparison. An upper threshold value and a lower threshold value are predetermined based on the brightness of the pixel of interest. The dynamic weight calculating unit calculates different dynamic weights according to the brightness change level of the pixel of interest. The brightness correcting unit corrects the brightness of the pixel of interest, based on the dynamic weights. Accordingly, noise generated on a plane part of an image is minimized and a contour of the image is appropriately emphasized, consequently improving the definition of images.
Apparatus for digital image stabilization, method using the same and computer readable medium stored thereon computer executable instructions for performing the method
An apparatus for digital image stabilization according to the present invention comprises an image signal processing module for receiving image signals generated under first and second exposure value conditions (first exposure value condition>second exposure value condition) from an image sensor, and outputting digital image signals of a first size and a second size (first size
An image sensor comprises a pixel array including a plurality of unit pixels arranged in a matrix type, a row driver configured to select a row line of the pixel array, a plurality of read out circuits each driven at a different timing, shared by a plurality of column lines and configured to remove a fixed pattern noise of the unit pixel cell, and convert an analog image signal into a digital image signal, a plurality of line memories each configured to store image information of at least two or more row lines of the column line of the pixel array outputted from the read out circuit, and a column decoder configured to decode an address signal of a column direction and output image information stored in the line memory corresponding to the column line in response to the address signal.
H04N 5/365 - Noise processing, e.g. detecting, correcting, reducing or removing noise applied to fixed-pattern noise, e.g. non-uniformity of response
H04N 5/3745 - Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors having additional components embedded within a pixel or connected to a group of pixels within a sensor matrix, e.g. memories, A/D converters, pixel amplifiers, shared circuits or shared components
29.
IMAGE SENSOR PIXEL HAVING PHOTODIODE WITH COUPLING CAPACITOR AND METHOD FOR SENSING A SIGNAL
A photodiode with a floating layer and coupling capacitor, and an image sensor pixel using it. The photodiode comprises an epitaxial layer having a first conductive type; a first diffusion region having a second conductive type formed in the epitaxial layer; a second diffusion region having a first conductive type formed over the first diffusion region; and a coupling capacitor configured to transmit outside a voltage change of the first diffusion region. The active pixel comprises the photodiode described above, a reset switch, a multi-functional switch between a variable voltage source and an output terminal of the coupling capacitor, and a signal amplifier.
H01L 31/10 - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS - Details thereof in which radiation controls flow of current through the device, e.g. photoresistors characterised by at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier, e.g. phototransistors
30.
IMAGE SENSOR AND METHOD FOR SENSING SIGNAL THEREOF
A CMOS image sensor pixel which comprises a multi-functional charge sensing unit and a method for sensing a signal thereof. Wherein a voltage of a n-type diffusion region of a charge sensing node is highly boosted even in a low driving voltage and a signal voltage is coupled out with a coupling capacitor without forming ohmic contact in the n-type diffusion region of the charge sensing node.
A CMOS image sensor active pixel which comprises a multi-functional charge sensing unit and a method for sensing a signal thereof. Wherein a voltage of a n-type diffusion region of a charge sensing node is highly boosted even in a low driving voltage, and a signal voltage is coupled out with a coupling capacitor without forming ohmic contact in the n-type diffusion region of the charge sensing node.
A pinned photodiode with a coupling capacitor and an image sensor using it. The pinned photodiode with the coupling capacitor comprises a first diffusion region having a second conductive type formed in an epitaxial layer having a first conductive type; a second diffusion region having a first conductive type formed over the first diffusion region; a third diffusion region having a second conductive type formed in the epitaxial layer and connected to the first diffusion region; a fourth diffusion region having a first conductive type formed in the third diffusion region; and a coupling capacitor connected to the fourth diffusion region to couple the voltage change of the third diffusion region to the outside. The image sensor comprises the pinned photodiode described above, a reset switch, a multi-functional switch between a variable voltage source and an output terminal of the coupling capacitor, and a signal amplifier.
H01L 31/10 - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS - Details thereof in which radiation controls flow of current through the device, e.g. photoresistors characterised by at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier, e.g. phototransistors
H04N 5/335 - Transforming light or analogous information into electric information using solid-state image sensors [SSIS]
33.
ACTIVE PIXEL HAVING PINNED PHOTODIODE WITH COUPLING CAPACITOR AND METHOD FOR SENSING A SIGNAL THEREOF
A pinned photodiode with a coupling capacity and an active pixel using it. The pinned photodiode comprises a first diffusion region having a second conductive type formed in an epitaxial layer having a first conductive type; a second diffusion region having a first conductive type formed over the first diffusion region; a third diffusion region having a second conductive type formed in the epitaxial layer and electrically connected to the first diffusion region; and a coupling capacitor connected to the third diffusion region and configured to transmit outside a voltage change of the third diffusion region. The active pixel comprises the pinned photodiode described above, a reset switch, a multi-functional switch between a variable voltage source and an output terminal of the coupling capacitor, and a signal amplifier.
H01L 31/10 - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS - Details thereof in which radiation controls flow of current through the device, e.g. photoresistors characterised by at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier, e.g. phototransistors
H04N 5/335 - Transforming light or analogous information into electric information using solid-state image sensors [SSIS]
An image sensor having a broad operation range obtains images each having a different exposure degree through a pair of pixels each having a different exposure degree, and combines the images to generate an image having a broad luminance range. The image sensor comprises a pixel array where a plurality of unit pixel groups each including a plurality of pixels each having a different exposure time are arranged in a lattice type, a row driver configured to generate a driving signal required in the operation of the pixel array, and an output circuit configured to receive a sensing signal outputted from the pixel array so as to separate signals of an even number column from those of an odd number column in each unit pixel group.
A device for suppressing a dark-sun appearance when a subject is exposed in a very light state while a CMOS image sensor operates is provided. The device includes a pixel array; a column decoder or column shift register which has a circuit (CDS or DS) for removing reset noise generated in a unit pixel of the pixel array and outputs a signal for selecting the pixel array in a column direction; a signal processor which recognizes information on a current exposure state of a subject; and an automatic timing controller which controls a time from when a reset signal applied to the unit pixel of the pixel array is disabled to when an input switch is opened. Accordingly, a time W is automatically controlled by recognizing a current exposure state and accordingly a dark-sun appearance is suppressed, thereby obtaining a better image.
H04N 5/359 - Noise processing, e.g. detecting, correcting, reducing or removing noise applied to excess charges produced by the exposure, e.g. smear, blooming, ghost image, crosstalk or leakage between pixels
36.
METHOD OF CONTROLLING AUTOMATIC EXPOSURE OF IMAGE SENSOR
A method of controlling automatic exposure of an image sensor is provided. The method includes (a) calculating current average brightness by dividing a whole image into several zones and giving weights to the divided zones, respectively, (b) comparing and checking the current average brightness and target brightness, calculating modified target brightness by reflecting a weight based on a value of exposure control speed, (d) calculating the amount of exposure to be applied to the next frame using the modified target brightness, (e) calculating a charge integration time and a value of a gain to be applied to the next frame based on the amount of the exposure, and (f) calculating a converted gain using the value of the gain to be applied to the next frame for the application to a practical amplification circuit.
A flicker detecting device for detecting flicker noise in a CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-silicon) image sensor is provided. A flicker detecting pixel unit includes a 1 X 1 single pixel and reads and compares signals with respect to time change or in brightness of a fluorescent lamp from a fixed flicker detecting pixel by performing image sensing for a predetermined charge integration time. An analog-to-digital converter converts an analog output of the flicker detecting pixel unit into a digital value. A memory temporarily stores sampled odd digital data output from the analog-to-digital converter. An odd/even comparator compares sampled even digital data output from the analog-to-digital converter with the sampled odd digital data output of the memory and outputs comparison result. A shift register shifts a resultant value based on the comparison result of the odd/even comparator. A comparator determines whether there is a constant alternating current pattern or flicker is detected by comparing the resultant values of the shift register.
patents
