Thomson Licensing

Deutsche Thomson-brandt Gmbh

Sabine Roth

Heinrich Schemmann

Petrus Gijsbertus Maria Centen

Steffen Lehr

Martin Rieger

Jeroen Rotte

Patrick Vogel

Ruud Van Ree

Friedrich Heizmann

Nicolaas Johannes Damstra

Juergen Kaaden

Volker Neiss

Mehmet Ipek

Boon Keng Teng

Jeoren Rotte

Karl-Heinz Schaaf

Neil Mallory

A CMOS image sensor allows for selectively outputting one of two vertical resolutions, e.g. 1080 to 720 lines. The scan conversion is implemented completely on the image sensor chip by using smaller sub-pixel cores, which can be electrically combined via switch transistors. A basic circuit of the CMOS image sensor has a number of pixel cells arranged in lines and columns. Each pixel cell has a photosensitive element that converts impinging light into electric charge and a first transfer element. The first transfer elements of m pixel cells arranged consecutively in the same column are arranged for transferring the charge generated in the respective m photosensitive elements during exposure to a single first charge storage element provided for the respective group of m pixel cells. In an exemplary embodiment the switching scheme allows for combining the signal information of either two or three vertically adjacent sub-pixel cores.

CMOS image sensor with selectable hard-wired binning

Image sensor, which comprises a plurality of pixels arranged as a pixel array with rows and columns and at least one read-out arrangement for reading out the pixels row by row. The columns are grouped into blocks with a certain number N of columns. Each read-out arrangement comprises N column read out circuits and an addressing circuit for with at least two groups of addressing lines for addressing the blocks. The blocks are selectively addressed by the groups of addressing lines in a way that a read-out sequence of blocks addressed by the groups is continuous across all blocks.

Image sensor and method for reading out pixels of the image sensor

A circuit for resetting and reading out a pixel cell of a CMOS image sensor is proposed. The circuit allows for reading out the pixel cell at least two times during a main integration interval, thereby generating at least two pixel signals. The circuit further comprises means for combining the at least two pixel signals to an output signal. The means for combining are operable to combine the at least two pixel signals weighted in dependence on a saturation level of the pixel cell. A method for controlling the circuit for reading out the image sensor is also proposed.

Circuit and method for reading out and resetting pixels of an image sensor

An image sensor circuit comprises a pixel cell array having a plurality of pixel cells arranged along a plurality of column lines, a plurality of readout circuits connected to said column lines, each of which comprises an analog-to-digital converter and a multiplexer for selectively applying an output signal of one of said column lines to said analog-to-digital converter. Between two of said column lines which are connected to a first one of said readout circuits located at a first side of said pixel cell array, there is a column line which is connected to a second one of said readout circuits located at a second side of said pixel cell array opposite to said first side.

Image sensor circuit

An image sensor circuit comprises at least one pixel cell for providing an output signal which is variable according to illumination of said pixel cell between a maximum and a minimum level, an analogue-to-digital converter for converting output signals from said pixel cell into digital data, and an offset signal source for providing an offset signal having a level between said maximum and minimum levels. The analogue-to-digital converter is fully differential and is connected to said pixel cell and to said offset signal source.

Image sensor circuit having differential signal path, differential analog-to-digital converter and differential signal offsetting means

A variable-gain RF amplifier arrangement whose input impedance is essentially independent of the selected gain is proposed, which has a large number of selectable elementary amplifiers, with an input signal being scaled and the input impedance being set to be the same by means of switchable current limiting elements upstream of the elementary amplifiers, which are associated with the elementary amplifiers. The circuit also has a low noise level, which is largely independent of the selected gain, and good linearity. A broadcast radio receiver as well as a receiver for receiving data signals using an amplifier according to the invention are also proposed.

Controllable RF broadband and amplifier with a constant input impedance

In the case of various recording systems based on the helical-scan method for magnetic tapes, a pilot-tone principle is used for tracking control, generally using two pilot tones which are recorded on the helical tracks respectively in series of four: pilot tone F1, no pilot tone, pilot tone F2, no pilot tone. Known methods for determining the pilot-tone amplitudes use narrow-banded band filters, a control signal being generated by forming the difference between the amplitudes. On account of the weak pilot tones, this requires very narrow-banded filters with good dynamic properties. According to the invention, a quadrature mixing has the effect of converting the two pilot tones into the baseband, whereby the filtering is performed in the low-pass range and a control signal can be derived from the difference between the pilot-tone amplitudes thus determined.

Detection circuit for pilot tones for tracking control in the case of

Amplifier stage with dB-linear output voltage

Optimal radio frequency receiver

A universal filter is provided with three inputs Vh, Vb and V1, with one output Vout, with two transconductance amplifiers Gm1, Gm2, with four capacitors mCO, (1-m)CO, CO and LCO and an amplifier K as well as a voltage follower VF. Depending on the connections of the three inputs, the universal filter takes the form of a high-pass or low-pass or band-pass filter or a trap filter or an all-pass or an otherwise active filter. Advantageously, by selection of parameters (e.g., trans-conductance, gain, scaling), the various filter characteristics like quality (Q), slope, median frequency, amplification, etc., may be adjusted. A further advantage is that the low component count of the filter provides improved reliability, reduced cost and facilitates efficient and economic fabrication in discrete or integrated circuit form.

Universal active filter

An FM detector for demodulating frequency modulated signals includes an FM detector having an oscillator composed of a capacitor and a Schmitt Trigger. The oscillator is controlled by the input signal to the FM detector. The FM detector also includes a phase detector for mixing the input signal with an oscillator signal from the oscillator to provide an output signal. The frequency of the oscillator is set to the frequency of the input signal using components internal to the FM detector. A first switch is used to charge and discharge the capacitor in accordance with the state of the Schmitt Trigger. A second switch is used to set the frequency of the oscillator to the frequency of the input signal.

Growing community of inventors

Moenchweiler, Germany

Sabine Roth