A method for controlling the discharge of a photosensitive receiving means (23) in a pixel (20), in particular for optical sensors, provides that, at a pixel (20) of the type provided for a transfer gate (26) interposed between the photosensitive receiving means (23) and a read-out node (28), coupled to an element useful for providing a reference and polarization voltage (30), as well as a further transfer gate (21) for the transfer of charge from the photosensitive receiving means (23), the aforesaid further transfer gate (21) is controlled with a variable signal and preferably programmed to obtain a high dynamic of the photosensitive receiving means (23). In a photodetector (10) comprising at least one pixel (20) as outlined above, the further transfer gate (21) is controlled by means of a discharge control circuit (50) to which a charge drainage component (60) is associated.
H04N 25/59 - Control of the dynamic range by controlling the amount of charge storable in the pixel, e.g. modification of the charge conversion ratio of the floating node capacitance
H04N 25/621 - Detection or reduction of noise due to excess charges produced by the exposure, e.g. smear, blooming, ghost image, crosstalk or leakage between pixels for the control of blooming
H04N 25/76 - Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors
H04N 25/766 - Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors comprising control or output lines used for a plurality of functions, e.g. for pixel output, driving, reset or power
H04N 25/771 - Pixel circuitry, e.g. memories, A/D converters, pixel amplifiers, shared circuits or shared components comprising storage means other than floating diffusion
An electro-optical image acquisition device (10) comprises a plurality of light-sensing sub-blocks (20), a detected signal reading block (60) for reading the output signal from said photosensitive elements (80), row and column selection elements, which enable access to different photosensitive elements (80) of the device and the reading thereof by means of said detected signal reading block (60), and pixel discharge control circuitry configured to combine a plurality of input voltage signals (40) to generate a defined number of reset curves and to dynamically select, for each photosensitive element (80), an appropriate reset curve from among those available. The device allows to obtain areas of the matrix of photosensitive elements with different light dynamics within the scene itself and to obtain so-called "multidynamic" images. This allows to both optimize the quality of the image by enabling an overall dynamic response which can even exceed the dynamics of the individual photosensitive elements and to enable schemes which allow to maximize the information content if the image is subsequently processed by a computer. In a specific and particularly advantageous embodiment, the reset curves are propagated line by line, thus allowing operation in any light condition.
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
A digital device for image acquisition (10) comprises at least one selection decoder circuit (60) and a plurality of sub-blocks (50) each comprising one or more pixels (20) and a corresponding charge control circuit (30) which provides a circuit suitable for realizing a logic port of the AND type (31) having a selector input terminal (34) which receives the selection signal from the selection decoder circuit (60) and a suitable enabling input terminal (35) to receive an enabling signal; and interruption organs (32) connected to the reset terminal (21) of the pixel (20) to transmit a reset signal constituted alternatively by a signal output from the aforesaid circuit suitable for realizing a logic port of the AND type (31) or from a global reset signal transmitted to a corresponding global reset terminal (38). The reset signal of a sub-block can be controlled directly by the selection decoder (60), while the global signal transmitted to the global reset terminal (38) may be a digital signal suitable for performing a global reset of all the pixels of the device; it can be an analog global signal of the type suitable to limit the blooming effect or to obtain high dynamics.
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
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
4.
PIXEL CHARGE CONTROL CIRCUIT IN DIGITAL DEVICES FOR IMAGES ACQUISITION
A digital device for image acquisition (10) comprises at least one selection decoder circuit (60) and a plurality of sub-blocks (50) each comprising one or more pixels (20) and a corresponding charge control circuit (30) which provides a circuit suitable for realizing a logic port of the AND type (31) having a selector input terminal (34) which receives the selection signal from the selection decoder circuit (60) and a suitable enabling input terminal (35) to receive an enabling signal; and interruption organs (32) connected to the reset terminal (21) of the pixel (20) to transmit a reset signal constituted alternatively by a signal output from the aforesaid circuit suitable for realizing a logic port of the AND type (31) or from a global reset signal transmitted to a corresponding global reset terminal (38). The reset signal of a sub-block can be controlled directly by the selection decoder (60), while the global signal transmitted to the global reset terminal (38) may be a digital signal suitable for performing a global reset of all the pixels of the device; it can be an analog global signal of the type suitable to limit the blooming effect or to obtain high dynamics.
A61K 8/97 - Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations characterised by the composition containing materials, or derivatives thereof, of undetermined constitution from algae, fungi, lichens or plantsCosmetics or similar toiletry preparations characterised by the composition containing materials, or derivatives thereof, of undetermined constitution from derivatives thereof
A61K 31/192 - Carboxylic acids, e.g. valproic acid having aromatic groups, e.g. sulindac, 2-aryl-propionic acids, ethacrynic acid
A61K 31/375 - Ascorbic acid, i.e. vitamin CSalts thereof
A61K 31/7048 - Compounds having saccharide radicals and heterocyclic rings having oxygen as a ring hetero atom, e.g. leucoglucosan, hesperidin, erythromycin, nystatin
Photo-detector device for electro-optical sensors, comprising at least a detection and conversion circuit, or pixel (20), having at least a photo-sensitive reception mean (26) and a reset control terminal (11), which is able to drive an element to control the charge dissipation (23) of the photo-sensitive reception mean (26). The pixel (20) is able to convert the current generated by the photo-sensitive reception mean (26) into a voltage signal on a read-out terminal (28). The photo-detector device also comprises a circuit for controlling the reset voltage (40), able to generate a suitable input signal to the reset control terminal (11) by connecting it alternatively to a reset terminal (42) or to an external reference terminal (47), the input signal to said external reference terminal (47) is the type that can be programmed from outside. Furthermore, the circuit for controlling the reset voltage (40) can be shared between a subset of detection and control circuits (20).
Photo-detector device for electro-optical sensors, comprising at least a detection and conversion circuit, or pixel (20), having at least a photo-sensitive reception mean (26) and a reset control terminal (1 1), which is able to drive an element to control the charge dissipation (23) of the photo-sensitive reception mean (26). The pixel (20) is able to convert the current generated by the photo-sensitive reception mean (26) into a voltage signal on a read-out terminal (28). The photo- detector device also comprises a circuit for controlling the reset voltage (40), able to generate a suitable input signal to the reset control terminal (11) by connecting it alternatively to a reset terminal (42) or to an external reference terminal (47), the input signal to said external reference terminal (47) is the type that can be programmed from outside. Furthermore, the circuit for controlling the reset voltage (40) can be shared between a subset of detection and control circuits (20).
patents
