Vlsi Vision Limited

Apple Inc.

Stmicroelectronics Gmbh

The University of Edinburgh

Vsli Vision Limited

The Quantum Fund Limited

Peter B Denyer

Jonathan Ephriam David Hurwitz

Stewart Gresty Smith

Jonathan Ephriam Hurwitz

Jeffrey M Raynor

Eoin P O'Regan

Pat T O'Donnell

Paul A Coburn

Robert P Nash

David Renshaw

Mingying Lu

Graham Charles Townsend

Donald James Baxter

An image plane includes a plurality of pixels. Each pixel comprises a photodiode and two transistors, and each pixel is connected by a signal bus to a respective storage node located off the image plane. Each storage node comprises two capacitors and associated switches. One of the transistors applies a reset pulse to the pixel, and the other transistor connects the pixel to a given conductor of the signal bus, which is then connected to the storage node. The pixel transistors can be operated simultaneously, and the sensed values can subsequently be transferred from the storage nodes sequentially.

Solid state imaging device with dedicated single pixel readout channels and associated methods

A method of operating a solid state image sensor () for the acquisition of an image generated by an asynchronous stimulus (S) is described in which the sensor is operated in conjunction with at least one detector () which detects the said asynchronous stimulus. The sensor is regularly reset so as to commence integration from a reset state of the sensor each time a period Tr has elapsed. The output of the detector(s) prior to each reset (R) is used to determine whether that reset is inhibited or not, whereby the likelihood of the stimulus being corrupted is prevented, or at least substantially reduced. A method is also proposed in which a portion of the sensor array is itself used as the detector () for detecting the asynchronous stimulus. A solid state image sensor incorporating a reset inhibition control function for carrying out the described method is also claimed.

Image capture control

A signal processing method for estimating luminance is provided, for use with matrix patterned image sensors where elected sensor pixels (G), preferably green pixels, from which luminance-representative signals are taken, only occupy alternate horizontal and vertical positions in the matrix pattern. The method is designed for detecting luminance contour edges and/or stripes in an image so as to enable images obtained form the sensor to be enhanced. Each pixel site (Hc) which is at the centre of both a row and a column of five pixels, and which is not the site of an elected (green) pixel, is identified and, for each such identified site (Hc), the signals output from the immediately adjacent four pixels (Gn,Ge,Gs,Gw) in said row and column are processed to establish both signal amplitude and pixel position. A luminance value for the pixel at the identified site (Hc) is evaluated from the amplitude values (G ,G ) of the median pair of said signal amplitudes in accordance with an algorithm where decision taking is based upon the location of the pixels from which the two signals (G ,G ) of highest amplitude emanate. When the two signals (G , G ) of highest amplitude emanate from pixels in the same row or column, a further signal processing step is undertaken to identify, in said row and column, the signal outputs from the two respective next adjacent pixels (H ,H ) to the pixels having the highest and lowest signal amplitudes (G ,G ), and the signal output from the pixel at the identified site (Hc), to enable an amplitude comparison to be made according to the result of which one of said median pair (G ,G ) is selected. Signal processing methods for use with colour, monochrome and mixed colour/monochrome image sensors are claimed, as well as a single-chip camera, and also a video camera system, in which the claimed signal processing methods are implemented. the two signals (G ,G ) of highest amplitude emanate from pixels in the same row or column, a

Image restoration method and associated apparatus

An integrated circuit suitable for use as a multi-spectral image array sensor ( ) comprises an array of pixels ( ) for sensing radiation of different wavelengths e.g. different colours. The array has at least one row of cells containing a plurality of series (R,G) of pixels which series are interspersed with each other. Each series consists essentially of pixels ( ) for sensing radiation of substantially the same wavelength e.g. the same colour. At least two horizontal shift registers ( ) are provided, each register being coupled to pixels ( ) of a respective one of the plurality of series (R,G) of pixels so as to enable the outputs from the pixels of each series to be read out consecutively at an array output ( ). In a preferred embodiment the pixels ( ) are preferably arranged in a Bayer matrix of Red, Green and Blue pixels and two interleaved shift registers ( ) are provided for reading out the pixel outputs for each colour consecutively, in each row. In an alternative embodiment, an address decode system ( ) is used to read out the pixel outputs instead of horizontal shift registers. The integrated circuit may be provided in a camera head ( ) and/or in a solid state camera system ( ) incorporating a signal processor ( ) for demultiplexing the pixel outputs into a plurality of channels e.g. different colour channels (R, G, B).

Optoelectronic sensor with shuffled readout

An integrated circuit active pixel image sensor comprises an array of active pixels having associated therewith one capacitor in each pixel column for storing a combined pixel output signal comprising an image signal and a fixed offset signal and another capacitor in each column for capturing another signal produced when the pixel is reset. The array may be read row-by-row. Each column includes a comparator and a data latch via which a digitized fixed offset corrected pixel output signal is obtained using a ramp voltage source and a digital count broadcaster provided in the sensor.

Offset noise cancellation in array image sensors

A low noise operation method for a camera system having an image sensing active pixel array, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing an optical shutter in front of an image sensing pixel array of a camera system, said image sensing pixel array having an image sensing face defined by a series of active pixels arranged in rows and columns; (b) while said shutter is closed, resetting each said pixel and then reading a first output from each said pixel; (c) opening said optical shutter for a predetermined exposure period so as to allow light to be incident upon said image sensing face of said pixel array; (d) closing said optical shutter and then reading a second output from each said pixel, without resetting said pixels; and (e) subtracting one of said first and second outputs from the other of said first and second outputs for each said pixel, so as to obtain a first difference signal for each said pixel, which first difference signal is substantially free of reset and fixed offset noise components. The first and second pixel outputs are preferably subtracted on-the-fly. The method may also include additional steps for estimating dark current fixed pattern noise and producing a modified pixel output signal which is substantially free of reset noise, fixed offset noise and dark current fixed pattern noise.

Camera system and associated method for removing reset noise and fixed

A method of controlling the colour balance of a video signal which comprises green, red and blue channel singals. Pixels are identified which have a green intensity within a peak intensity band. For these pixels, the red and blue intensities are examined to identify pixel subsets which are within respective red and blue peak bands. If the red and or blue peak bands are greater than the green peak band the gain of the red and/or blue channel(s) is increased. If the red and/or blue peak bands are lower than the green peak band, red and/or blue peak bands are determined for the entire video frame and are compared with the green peak band. If the red and/or blue peak bands for the entire frame are lower than that for the green channel, the gain of the red and/or blue channel(s) is increased.

Method and apparatus for controlling color balance of a video signal

A method and apparatus for aligning an optical lens to the imaging array of an imaging system is disclosed. An integrated circuit die implements an imaging circuit and at least one z-height bump. An optical lens formed by injection molding has a lens portion for focusing an image onto the imaging circuit and an alignment portion for engaging the z-height bumps. A tape automated bonding tape carries the integrated circuit die and is aligned to the optical lens.

Method and apparatus for coupling an optical lens to an imaging

A matrix array image sensor integrated circuit chip is provided including horizontal and vertical scanning means with the sensor cells within columns of the array being associated with an analogue charge sense amplifier. The analogue charge sense amplifier includes a first amplifier in the form of an inverting charge integrator which provides a preliminary detection of the charge accumulated in the sensing cell by integrating the charge to produce a voltage which is capacitively stored in a voltage storage means. The sensing cell may then be reset by control logic while it is isolated from the stored voltage which is in turn selectively sampled using a switch to read out through a second amplifier stage to be provided as an output from the integrated circuit chip. A method for operation of the device in processing an image read cycle is also provided.

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Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Peter B Denyer