公开(公告)号：US07256828B2

公开(公告)日：2007-08-14

申请号：US10347984

申请日：2003-01-21

申请人： Andreas Nilsson ,  Pierre Nordblom

发明人： Andreas Nilsson ,  Pierre Nordblom

IPC分类号： H04N3/14 ,  H04N5/335 ,  H04N9/83 ,  H04N9/68 ,  H04N1/47 ,  G06K9/00

CPC分类号： G06T3/4015 ,  G06T3/4007 ,  H04N9/045

摘要： The apparatus and method invented are operating upon a digital image signal obtained from an image sensor. The sensor is covered with different colored filters and is only able to record the color transmitted through each specific filter into the photosite or pixel. This type of sensor is known as a color filter array or CFA sensor. The different colored filters are arranged in a predefined pattern across the sensor. To obtain a full color image the missing color information is estimated by a set of weighed values obtained by an inverted gradient function. The set of weighted values is found from the neighboring pixels in the four compass directions, north, east, west and south or is found horizontally and vertically. The surrounding pixels are corrected by the chrominance channel to better fit the center pixel in the luminance channel, prior to using the gradient functions. The chrominance channel is interpolated in a similar manner and is also corrected to better fit the center pixel before the inverted gradient functions are applied.

公开(公告)号：US07133073B1

公开(公告)日：2006-11-07

申请号：US09496607

申请日：2000-02-02

申请人： Sarit Neter

发明人： Sarit Neter

IPC分类号： H04N3/14 ,  H04N5/228

CPC分类号： H04N9/045 ,  H04N5/3454 ,  H04N5/3456 ,  H04N5/347 ,  H04N5/365 ,  H04N2209/046

摘要： An imaging method and system that flexibly accesses light sensor elements and processes imaging signals. The imaging system comprises an array of pixel sensor cells, an array controller and a readout control circuit. The imaging system provides color interpolation.

摘要翻译： 一种灵活访问光传感器元件并处理成像信号的成像方法和系统。 成像系统包括像素传感器单元阵列，阵列控制器和读出控制电路。 成像系统提供彩色插值。

公开(公告)号：US20080106602A1

公开(公告)日：2008-05-08

申请号：US11594292

申请日：2006-11-08

申请人： Mark Nussbacher

发明人： Mark Nussbacher

IPC分类号： H04N17/00

CPC分类号： H04N5/3535 ,  H04N17/002

摘要： An improved on chip test method for determining the photon transfer curve (PTC) and dark current in an image sensor is described. Cost and time savings is achieved by reducing the number of frames necessary for the measurements to three including two exposure frames and one frame for dark current testing. A conventional test involving “n” different exposure times each with two frames is replaced by implementing a snap shot mode where a first plurality of pixel rows are exposed for a time t1, a second plurality of pixel rows are exposed for a time t2, and so forth up to an nth plurality of pixel rows exposed for a time tn where the total number of pixel rows equals a frame and tn>t2>t1. The resulting image has “n” regions each with a different brightness that become progressively brighter from top to bottom of the image.

摘要翻译： 描述了用于确定图像传感器中的光子转移曲线（PTC）和暗电流的改进的片上测试方法。 通过将测量所需的帧数减少到三个，包括两个曝光帧，一个帧用于暗电流测试，可以节省成本和时间。 通过实施快照模式来代替涉及“n”个具有两个帧的不同曝光时间的常规测试，其中第一多个像素行暴露一段时间t 1，第二多个像素行 被曝光一段时间t 2 2，等等，直到第n个多个像素行暴露在时间t N n N，其中像素行的总数等于一个帧，并且 2 t <1> 。 所得到的图像具有各自具有不同亮度的“n”个区域，其从图像的顶部到底部逐渐变亮。

公开(公告)号：US07176544B2

公开(公告)日：2007-02-13

申请号：US10813864

申请日：2004-03-31

申请人： Taner Dosluoglu ,  Michael Henry Brill

发明人： Taner Dosluoglu ,  Michael Henry Brill

IPC分类号： H01L31/00

CPC分类号： H01L31/035281 ,  H01L27/14601 ,  H01L27/14647 ,  Y02E10/50

摘要： A pixel for detecting red and green light is a single pixel is described. The pixel comprises a deep N well formed in a P type epitaxial substrate. The pixel comprises a deep N well formed in a P type epitaxial substrate. A number of P wells, which are used as the sensor nodes, are formed in the deep N well. The use of these P wells as the sensor nodes improves the modulation transfer function. The depth of the deep N well is about equal to the depth of hole electron pairs generated by red light in silicon. The depth of the P wells is about equal to the depth of hole electron pairs generated by green light in silicon. A red/green signal is determined at each P well by determining the potentials between each of the P wells and the deep N well after a charge integration cycle with the P wells and the deep N well isolated. A green signal is determined at each P well by determining the potentials between each of the P wells and the deep N well after a charge integration cycle with the P wells isolated and the deep N well held at a fixed positive voltage. A red signal at each P well is determined by subtracting the green signal at that P well from the red/green signal at that P well. The invention can take advantage of the fact that the human perception of a green signal is green, the human perception of a red signal is red, and the human perception of a red/green signal is red. The invention also works if P regions are substituted for N regions and N regions substituted for P regions.

摘要翻译： 用于检测红色和绿色光的像素是单个像素。 像素包括在P型外延衬底中形成的深N阱。 像素包括在P型外延衬底中形成的深N阱。 用作传感器节点的多个P阱形成在深N阱中。 使用这些P孔作为传感器节点改善了调制传递函数。 深N阱的深度大约等于由硅中的红光产生的空穴电子对的深度。 P阱的深度大约等于由硅中的绿光产生的空穴电子对的深度。 通过在与P阱和深N阱分离的电荷积分循环之后，通过确定每个P阱和深N阱之间的电位，在每个P阱处确定红色/绿色信号。 通过在分离P阱并且将N阱保持在固定的正电压的电荷积分周期之后，通过确定每个P阱和深N阱之间的电位，在每个P阱处确定绿色信号。 通过从该P阱处的红色/绿色信号中减去该P阱处的绿色信号来确定每个P阱处的红色信号。 本发明可以利用人类对绿色信号的感知是绿色的，红色信号的人感知是红色的，并且人类对红/绿信号的感知是红色的。 如果P区域代替N个区域并取代P区域的N个区域，本发明也起作用。

公开(公告)号：US07155119B2

公开(公告)日：2006-12-26

申请号：US10929652

申请日：2004-08-30

申请人： Horst Knoedgen ,  Dirk Huettmann

发明人： Horst Knoedgen ,  Dirk Huettmann

IPC分类号： G03B43/00 ,  H04N17/00

CPC分类号： H04N17/002

摘要： A multi-processing unit reduces the time to compute parameters of a digital image to by the number of computers operating in the parallel. An image of a digital picture taken during a test of a digital camera module is portioned into N independent portions and each portion is stored into one of N memories. N processors compute test parameters of the image, where each processor works independently on a portion of the image and in parallel with the other processors. The serial computational content of the image is zero allowing a speed-up of the multiprocessing unit to be N with respect to the running the entire computation on a single processor.

公开(公告)号：US20070210342A1

公开(公告)日：2007-09-13

申请号：US11789394

申请日：2007-04-24

申请人： Taner Dosluoglu

发明人： Taner Dosluoglu

IPC分类号： H01L29/768

CPC分类号： H01L27/14609 ,  H01L27/14603 ,  H01L31/035281

摘要： An active pixel sensor and method of operating an active pixel sensor comprising an N well of n type silicon formed in a p type silicon substrate and a P well of p type silicon is formed in the N well. A deep N well is formed of n type silicon underneath the P well. The edges of the deep N well contact the bottom of the N well forming an overlap region which can either be not depleted of charge carriers thereby electrically connecting the N well to the deep N well or depleted of charge carriers thereby electrically isolating the N well from the deep N well. N regions formed in the P well and P regions formed in the N well are used to reset the pixel and to read the pixel after a charge integration period. An array of P wells formed within N wells can be used to form an array of active pixel sensors. In this array an overlap region is formed between each N well and the deep N well. In an array of active pixel sensors the N regions can be binned together by using the overlap regions to connect each N well to the deep N well thereby achieving noise suppression during the reset cycle.

摘要翻译： 在N阱中形成有源像素传感器和操作有源像素传感器的方法，该有源像素传感器包括在p型硅衬底中形成的n型硅的N阱和p型硅的P阱。 深井N井由P井下面的n型硅形成。 深N阱的边缘接触N阱的底部，形成重叠区域，其可以不耗尽电荷载流子，从而将N阱电连接到深N阱或耗尽电荷载流子，从而将N阱与 深N井。 使用形成在P阱中的N个区域和形成在N阱中的P区域来复位像素并在电荷积分周期之后读取像素。 可以使用在N个阱内形成的P阱的阵列来形成有源像素传感器的阵列。 在该阵列中，在每个N阱和深N阱之间形成重叠区域。 在有源像素传感器的阵列中，通过使用重叠区域将N个区域分组在一起，以将每个N阱连接到深N阱，从而在复位周期期间实现噪声抑制。

公开(公告)号：US07253461B2

公开(公告)日：2007-08-07

申请号：US11139743

申请日：2005-05-27

申请人： Guang Yang ,  Taner Dosluoglu

发明人： Guang Yang ,  Taner Dosluoglu

IPC分类号： H01L31/062

CPC分类号： H01L27/1463 ,  H01L27/14609 ,  H01L27/14623 ,  H01L27/14654 ,  H01L27/14689

摘要： A pixel image sensor has an isolation barrier and diffusion well connected to a biasing voltage to prevent substrate charge leakage caused by photoelectrons generated in the substrate beneath a photon sensing area of the pixel image sensor from drifting to a storage node. An opaque metallic silicide layer is deposited on and a metal shield is fabricated above the storage node and storage node control transistor switches to prevent light from impinging on the storage node and storage node control transistor switches and thus preventing generation of photoelectrons at the storage node and storage node control transistor switches. A guard ring surrounds the photo sensing area, the storage node, and the storage node control transistor switches and is in contact with the biasing voltage and reduces cross-talk from photoelectrons drifting from adjacent image sensors.

摘要翻译： 像素图像传感器具有隔离屏障和扩散阱，其良好地连接到偏置电压，以防止由在像素图像传感器的光子感测区域下方的基板中产生的光电子漂移到存储节点造成的基板电荷泄漏。 不透明的金属硅化物层沉积在存储节点和存储节点控制晶体管开关之上并且在存储节点和存储节点控制晶体管开关上制造金属屏蔽，以防止光照射到存储节点和存储节点控制晶体管开关上，从而防止在存储节点处产生光电子， 存储节点控制晶体管开关。 保护环围绕光感测区域，存储节点和存储节点控制晶体管开关，并且与偏置电压接触并且减少从相邻图像传感器漂移的光电子的串扰。

公开(公告)号：US07224833B2

公开(公告)日：2007-05-29

申请号：US10271300

申请日：2002-10-15

申请人： Anders Johannesson ,  Ingemar Larsson

发明人： Anders Johannesson ,  Ingemar Larsson

IPC分类号： G06K9/00

CPC分类号： H04N1/6027 ,  H04N1/6011

摘要： A method for a fast color saturation control of digital color images using one color saturation factor has been achieved. Said method can be performed in any color space having three primaries as e.g. the R-G-B or in the CMY color space without the requirement to convert all the pixels of said color image into another color space as e.g. HSI to perform the color saturation control. Thus a significant computational effort for the conversion of the pixels from one color space into another and back can be avoided. Saving computational effort saves time and reduces the electrical power consumption. Right after the color saturation control process the corrected images can be viewed, if the colors are not satisfactory the process can be easily repeated using a modified color saturation factor. Said method can be used for new pictures taken by a digital camera as well as for downloaded pictures from any source. Additionally said method of color saturation control can be combined with a color correction process.

摘要翻译： 已经实现了使用一种颜色饱和因子对数字彩色图像进行快速色彩饱和度控制的方法。 所述方法可以在具有三个基色的任何颜色空间中进行，例如。 R-G-B或CMY颜色空间，而不需要将所述彩色图像的所有像素转换成另一色彩空间。 HSI执行色饱和度控制。 因此，可以避免将像素从一个颜色空间转换到另一个和后面的重要的计算工作。 节省计算时间节省时间并降低电力消耗。 在颜色饱和度控制处理之后，可以查看校正的图像，如果颜色不令人满意，则可以使用修改的色彩饱和因子容易地重复该处理。 所述方法可用于由数码相机拍摄的新照片以及从任何来源下载的图片。 此外，色彩饱和度控制的所述方法可以与颜色校正处理相结合。

公开(公告)号：US07158170B2

公开(公告)日：2007-01-02

申请号：US10434743

申请日：2003-05-08

申请人： Lars Gustavsson ,  Anders Johannesson ,  Henrik Telander

发明人： Lars Gustavsson ,  Anders Johannesson ,  Henrik Telander

IPC分类号： H04N17/02

CPC分类号： H04N17/002 ,  H04N5/2257

摘要： A test system and a related method to perform optical and electrical tests, to adjust the focus and to seal the lens of digital fixed-focus cameras have been achieved. Said test system is especially suited for miniature camera module to be built into consumer electronic devices as mobile phones, PDAs, etc. Said test system comprises three parts, a control system, an auto-focus head, and a XYZ robot. Said auto-focus head executes the adjustment of the focus, identifies hot pixels and black level, tests the saturation level, identifies cold pixels, tests dust particles and white, blue, red, and infrared color levels. As last step the auto-focus applies glue to fix the focused lens of the camera module. Said XYZ robot performs is moving the camera modules to be tested in XY direction and is approaching the lens system of the auto-focus head in Z direction. Said control system has interfaces to both, XYZ robot and auto-focus hand and is comprising interfaces and a frame grabber.

摘要翻译： 已经实现了测试系统和相关方法进行光学和电气测试，调整聚焦和密封数字固定焦距相机的镜头。 所述测试系统特别适用于作为移动电话，PDA等内置于消费电子设备中的微型相机模块。所述测试系统包括控制系统，自动对焦头和XYZ机器人三部分。 所述自动对焦头执行焦点调整，识别热像素和黑色电平，测试饱和度，识别冷像素，测试灰尘颗粒和白色，蓝色，红色和红外色彩级别。 最后一步，自动对焦应用胶水来固定相机模块的聚焦镜头。 所述XYZ机器人执行是在XY方向移动要测试的相机模块，并且正在Z方向上接近自动对焦头的透镜系统。 所述控制系统具有与XYZ机器人和自动对焦手的接口，并且包括接口和帧抓取器。

公开(公告)号：US20080243419A1

公开(公告)日：2008-10-02

申请号：US11784075

申请日：2007-04-05

申请人： Mark Nussbacher ,  Guiseppe D'Onofrio

发明人： Mark Nussbacher ,  Guiseppe D'Onofrio

IPC分类号： G01R31/00

CPC分类号： H04N17/002 ,  H04N5/374

摘要： An improved method for photon transfer curve (PTC) testing in an image sensor is described. A cost and time savings is achieved by reducing the number of frames necessary for measurements to two that are generated by illuminating a first plurality of pixel rows at a first intensity level m1, a second plurality of pixel rows at a second intensity level t2, and so forth up to an nth plurality of pixel rows illuminated at an nth intensity level mn where mn>m2>m1. The resulting image has “n” regions each with a different brightness. The highest intensity level essentially saturates the pixels in the nth region. In one example, a four row exposure and five intensity levels are employed in the illuminator sequence. An intelligent light source is pre-programmable with illumination intensity settings and is synchronized to the image sensor using HSYNC and VSYNC signals, for example.

摘要翻译： 描述了一种用于图像传感器中的光子转移曲线（PTC）测试的改进方法。 通过将测量所需的帧数量减少为通过以第一强度水平m 1 1，第二多个像素行照亮第一多个像素行而产生的帧数量来实现成本和时间节省 在第二强度水平t 2 2 N等等，直到第n个强度水平m N n 照亮的第n个多个像素行，其中m N n >> m 2 m 1 。 所得到的图像具有各自具有不同亮度的“n”个区域。 最高强度水平基本上饱和第n个区域中的像素。 在一个示例中，在照明器序列中采用四行曝光和五个亮度级别。 智能光源可以用照明强度设置进行预编程，例如使用HSYNC和VSYNC信号与图像传感器同步。