Omnivision Technologies, Inc.

Chengming Liu

Jizhang Shan

Tiejun Dai

Zhiqiang Lin

Changmeng Liu

Duli Mao

Donghui Wu

Sarvesh Swami

Richard Mann

Takeo Azuma

Chen-Wei Lu

Bill Phan

Seong Yeol Mun

Guansong Liu

Xiaodong Yang

Alireza Bonakdar

Yuanliang Liu

Weihua Xiong

Cunyu Yang

Yubo Duan

Cheng Zhao

Ping-Hsu Chen

Lingtao Jiang

Masao Sambongi

Fanbo Deng

Chen Zhang

In an embodiment, an image sensor comprises a pixel array having a minimal repeating unit, where the minimal repeating unit consists of 4×4 pixels including 12 green pixels, 2 blue pixels, and 2 red pixels, where a minimal repeating unit is immediately next to another minimal repeating unit in row and column directions. In another embodiment, an image sensor comprises a pixel array having a minimal repeating unit, where the minimal repeating unit consists of 8×8 pixels including 48 green pixels, 8 blue pixels, and 8 red pixels.

Image sensor pixel array having minimal repeating unit

CMOS image sensor with multiple sensitivities for high dynamic range imaging and LED flicker mitigation. In one embodiment, an image sensor includes a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns of a pixel array that is disposed in a semiconductor substrate. Each pixel includes a plurality of cells. A plurality of color filters is disposed over corresponding plurality of cells. The plurality of color filters corresponding to the plurality of cells of an individual pixel have more than one filtering strength for each color of the plurality of color filters.

CMOS image sensor with multiple sensitivities for high dynamic range imaging and led flicker mitigation

CMOS image sensor with LED flickering reduction and low color cross-talk are disclosed. In one embodiment, an image sensor includes a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns of a pixel array that is disposed in a semiconductor substrate. Each pixel includes a plurality of large subpixels (LPDs) and at least one small subpixel (SPD). A plurality of color filters are disposed over individual subpixels. Each individual SPD is laterally adjacent to at least one other SPD.

CMOS image sensor with LED flickering reduction and low color cross-talk

An image sensor has a plurality of pixels arranged in a row direction and in a column direction. Each pixel comprises a color filter that has a portion with a low transmissivity and a portion with a high transmissivity, and a photoelectric conversion element that includes a first photoelectric conversion cell which receives light transmitting through the portion with the low transmissivity of the color filter, and a second photoelectric conversion cell which receives light transmitting through the portion with the high transmissivity of the color filter. The plurality of pixels are arranged such that positions of the portions with the low transmissivity for pixels of one color are identical among the plurality of pixels, and the portions with the low transmissivity are positioned adjacent to each other between adjacent pixels of different colors in the row direction only.

High dynamic range image sensor having reduced crosstalk and jaggy

A method for capturing a high-dynamic-range image includes: (i) storing a plurality of pixel values representing a first image captured by an image sensor that includes a pixel array, each pixel value having been generated by a respective pixel of a pixel subarray of the pixel array, each pixel being set to one of Nfirst exposure values, N&#x2265;1; (ii) determining an exposure-count Nbased on the plurality of pixel values; (iii) setting each pixel to one of a second plurality of exposure values, Nin number, such that, for each of the second plurality of exposure values, at least one pixel is set to that exposure value, one of the second plurality of exposure values differing from each of the Nfirst exposure values by more than a threshold value; and after setting (iv), capturing a second image with the image sensor.

High-dynamic range image sensor and image-capture method

An image sensor includes a pixel array, and a first, second, and an intermediate memory-element. The memory-elements store, respectively, a first, second, and an intermediate exposure value. The pixel array includes pixel-subarrays each including a rescue pixel and a first, second, and third plurality of contiguous pixels. Each of the first plurality of pixels is connected to the first memory-element and spans diagonally-opposite corners of the pixel-subarray. Each of the second plurality of pixels is connected to the second memory-element and located on a first side of the first plurality of pixels. Each of the third plurality of pixels is connected to the second memory-element and located on a second side of the first plurality of pixels. The rescue-pixel is connected to the intermediate memory-element and is (i) located on one of the first side and the second side and/or (ii) adjacent to one of the first plurality of pixels.

Light control for improved near infrared sensitivity and channel separation for an image sensor. In one embodiment, an image sensor includes: a plurality of photodiodes arranged in rows and columns of a pixel array; and a light filter layer having a plurality of light filters configured over the plurality of photodiodes. The light filter layer has a first side facing the plurality of photodiodes and a second side facing away from the first side. The image sensor also includes a color filter layer having a plurality of color filters configured over the plurality of photodiodes. The color filter layer has a first surface facing the second side of the light filter layer and a second surface facing away from the first layer. Individual micro-lenses are configured to direct incoming light through corresponding light filter and color filter onto the respective photodiode.

Light control for improved near infrared sensitivity and channel separation

A high dynamic range imaging sensor includes a pixel array of pixel cells, a readout circuitry, a function logic and a control circuitry. Each pixel cell comprises one of a normal pixel and a base pixel, and each M rows by N columns pixels defines a pixel subarray. Each pixel subarray includes at least three normal pixels and at least one base pixel. The readout circuitry is coupled to read image data out from a plurality of pixels of the pixel array. The readout circuitry includes an Analog-to-Digital Converter associated to respective readout column. The function logic is coupled to receive the digital image data from the readout circuitry. The control circuitry is coupled to receive exposure levels from the function logic and to output each applied exposure level assigned to respective pixel subarray of the pixel array to control an exposure time of each pixel.

Local exposure sensor and method for operating the same

A method for demosaicing a raw image includes: (1) horizontally-interpolating a green channel formed of primary pixel-values B(x,y)to yield a horizontally-interpolated green channel that includes both B(x,y)and non-primary pixel-values I(x,y); (2) modifying each I(x,y), by horizontally-neighboring pixel-values, to yield a refined horizontally-interpolated green channel; (3) vertically-interpolating the green channel to yield a vertically-interpolated green channel that includes pixel-values I(x,y); (4) modifying each I(x,y)by vertically-neighboring pixel-values, to yield a refined vertically-interpolated green channel; (5) generating a full-resolution green channel from the refined interpolated green channels and gradients thereof; (6) generating a full-resolution red channel by determining red pixel-values from a local-red mean value of neighboring pixel-values and the full-resolution green channel; (7) generating a full-resolution blue channel by determining pixel-values from a local-blue mean value of neighboring pixel-values and the full-resolution green channel; and (8) combining the full-resolution channels to yield a demosaiced raw image.

Image demosaicer and method

A method for determining exposure levels of an image-sensor pixel array includes (a) storing a first plurality of pixel values representing a first captured image, captured with the image sensor in an applied exposure configuration, each distinct region of the pixel array having a respective first exposure level, (b) determining pixel-value global statistics, (c) estimating, from the global statistics, a global pixel value of the first captured image, (d) determining, for each distinct region, a respective local statistics of the first pixel values, (e) assigning, to each distinct region, a respective scale factor based on the local statistics of the distinct region, (f) determining a refined exposure configuration including, for each distinct region, a second exposure level proportional to a product of its respective first exposure level and its respective scale factor, and (g) capturing second pixel values with the image sensor configured in the refined exposure configuration.

Exposure level control for high-dynamic-range imaging, system and method

An imaging system includes a primary imager and plurality of 3A-control sensors. The primary imager has a first field of view and includes a primary image sensor and a primary imaging lens with a first optical axis. The primary image sensor has a primary pixel array and control circuitry communicatively coupled thereto. The plurality of 3A-control sensors includes at least one of a peripheral imager and a 3A-control sensor. The peripheral imager, if included, has a second field of view including (i) at least part of the first field of view and (ii) a phase-difference auto-focus (PDAF) sensor and a peripheral imaging lens, the PDAF sensor being separate from the primary image sensor. The 3A-control sensor, if included, is separate from the primary pixel array and communicatively connected to the control circuitry to provide one of auto-white balance and exposure control for the primary pixel array.

Image sensor with peripheral 3A-control sensors and associated imaging system

A method of generating a high resolution color image includes focusing a first image onto a monochrome image sensor having a P resolution and focusing a second image onto a color image sensor having a Q resolution, where Q&#x3c;P, and where the first image is a same image as the second image. P resolution pixel data representative of the first image from the monochrome image sensor is generated. Q resolution pixel data representative of the second image from the color image sensor is generated. The P resolution pixel data representative of the first image from the monochrome image sensor and the Q resolution pixel data representative of the second image from the color image sensor are combined to generate an R resolution color image, where P&#x3c;R&#x2266;(P+Q).

High resolution array camera

A brightness-sensitive automatic white balance method includes (a) determining the brightness of a scene captured in an electronic color image, (b) selecting a color-weighting map based upon the brightness of the scene, (c) extracting auto white balance parameters from the color-weighting map, and (d) white balancing the electronic color image according to the auto white balance parameters. An adaptive automatic white balance method includes (a) refining, based upon a first electronic color image of a scene illuminated by an illuminant of a first spectral type, a color-weighting probability distribution for the illuminant of the first spectral type, wherein the color-weighting probability distribution may be brightness-specific, (b) extracting auto white balance parameters from the refined color-weighting probability distribution, and (c) white balancing, according to the auto white balance parameters, an electronic color image of a scene illuminated by the illuminant of the first spectral type.

Automatic white balance methods and systems for electronic cameras

A system for brightness-sensitive automatic white balancing of an electronic color image includes a processor and a memory with (a) brightness-specific color-weighting maps each specifying illuminant-specific auto white balance parameters, (b) brightness range definitions respectively indicating applicability range of the brightness-specific color-weighting maps, and (c) instructions for white balancing the electronic color image according to scene brightness and based upon the brightness-specific color-weighting maps. A system for adaptive automatic white balancing of an electronic color image includes a processor and a memory having (a) a color-weighting map specifying a probability distribution of color ratios defining auto white balance parameters, the probability distribution composed of a plurality of illuminant-specific probability distributions respectively associated with a plurality of different spectral types of illuminant, and (b) instructions for processing one or more electronic color images to refine at least one of the plurality of illuminant-specific probability distributions.

An example method of multi-target automatic exposure and gain control based on pixel intensity distribution includes capturing a series of digital images with an image sensor. As the series of digital images are captured, exposure time and/or gain are adjusted to adjust a mean intensity value of the digital images until a target mean intensity value is reached. The method includes dynamically selecting the target mean intensity value from a plurality of target mean intensity values based on a relative number of pixels, in each captured digital image, that have an intensity value that falls outside a range of intensity values.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Chengming Liu