公开(公告)号：US07884869B2

公开(公告)日：2011-02-08

申请号：US11742269

申请日：2007-04-30

申请人： Carl L. Shurboff ,  Fan He

发明人： Carl L. Shurboff ,  Fan He

IPC分类号： H04N3/14 ,  H04N5/335

CPC分类号： H04N5/2353 ,  H04N5/23293 ,  H04N5/35554 ,  H04N5/357

摘要： A method and digital imaging device, such as a digital camera module, is provided for digital imaging. The method includes the step of determining a signal-to-noise ratio associated with a first pixel location of a plurality of pixel locations and a signal-to-noise ratio associated with a second pixel location of the plurality of pixel locations, and the steps of assigning a first exposure time to the first pixel location in response to the signal-to-noise ratio associated with the first pixel location and assigning a second exposure time different from the first exposure time to the second pixel in response to the signal-to-noise ratio associated with the second pixel location. The method further includes the step of exposing the first pixel location for the first exposure time while exposing the second pixel location for the second exposure time to create a digital image.

摘要翻译： 提供了一种用于数字成像的方法和数字成像装置，例如数字照相机模块。 该方法包括确定与多个像素位置的第一像素位置相关联的信噪比和与多个像素位置中的第二像素位置相关联的信噪比的步骤，以及步骤 响应于与所述第一像素位置相关联的信噪比而将第一曝光时间分配给所述第一像素位置，并且响应于所述第一像素位置的所述信号到第二像素而将与所述第一曝光时间不同的第二曝光时间分配给所述第二像素 与第二像素位置相关联的 - 噪声比。 该方法还包括以下步骤：在第二曝光时间的第二像素位置暴露第一曝光时间的第一像素位置，以产生数字图像。

公开(公告)号：US08730342B2

公开(公告)日：2014-05-20

申请号：US13562806

申请日：2012-07-31

申请人： Carl L. Shurboff ,  Fan He ,  Joy Xiong

发明人： Carl L. Shurboff ,  Fan He ,  Joy Xiong

IPC分类号： H04N5/228

CPC分类号： H04N5/23229 ,  H04N1/00307 ,  H04N5/23232 ,  H04N5/2351 ,  H04N5/3572 ,  H04N19/132 ,  H04N19/14 ,  H04N19/176 ,  H04N19/18 ,  H04N19/48 ,  H04N19/60

摘要： A method is provided for taking a digital picture of an image. The method can include: recording a first plurality of pixel values representing the image; generating a first compressed image data file based on the first plurality of pixel values; recording a second plurality of pixel values representing the image; generating a second compressed image data file based on the first plurality of pixel values; and processing the first and second plurality of pixel values in a compressed domain to generate a third plurality of pixel values, wherein processing includes combining the first and second compressed image data files by replacing portions of the second compressed image data file with corresponding portions of the first compressed image data file.

摘要翻译： 提供了一种用于拍摄图像的数字图像的方法。 该方法可以包括：记录表示图像的第一多个像素值; 基于所述第一多个像素值生成第一压缩图像数据文件; 记录表示图像的第二多个像素值; 基于所述第一多个像素值生成第二压缩图像数据文件; 以及处理压缩域中的第一和第二多个像素值以产生第三多个像素值，其中处理包括通过用第二压缩图像数据文件的相应部分替换第二压缩图像数据文件的部分来组合第一和第二压缩图像数据文件 第一个压缩图像数据文件。

公开(公告)号：US08223217B2

公开(公告)日：2012-07-17

申请号：US12512408

申请日：2009-07-30

申请人： Carl L. Shurboff ,  Fan He

发明人： Carl L. Shurboff ,  Fan He

IPC分类号： H04N5/228

CPC分类号： G03B9/08 ,  H04N5/2351 ,  H04N5/2353 ,  H04N5/238

摘要： Disclosed are methods and devices for solid state electronically switched optical shutters of cameras and other devices. The disclosed non-mechanical camera shutter includes an electronically controlled material that provides optical density variation, to transition the shutter from being open to being closed. The layer of electronically controlled material is configured to change from substantially to transparent to substantially opaque, without scattering, by changing the state of the material. The transmittance period is the period of time that the layer changes transmittance from approximately 100% to approximately 0%. Electronic circuitry is in communication with a timing control module that is configured to provide a signal output to a transparent conductive layer proximal to the layer of electronically controlled material to initiate a change in its transmissivity. The described electronically switched optical component would add little or no additional bulk to a small camera.

摘要翻译： 公开了用于照相机和其他装置的固态电子开关光学快门的方法和装置。 所公开的非机械相机快门包括提供光学密度变化的电子控制材料，以将快门从打开转变为关闭。 电子控制材料层被配置为通过改变材料的状态从基本上变为透明到基本不透明，而不会发散。 透光率周期是层的透光率从大约100％变化到大约0％的时间段。 电子电路与定时控制模块通信，定时控制模块被配置为向靠近电子控制材料层的透明导电层提供信号输出，以启动其透射率的变化。 所描述的电子开关光学部件将增加很少或没有额外的体积到小的相机。

公开(公告)号：US07710481B2

公开(公告)日：2010-05-04

申请号：US11344456

申请日：2006-01-30

申请人： Fan He ,  Carl L. Shurboff

发明人： Fan He ,  Carl L. Shurboff

IPC分类号： H04N3/14 ,  H04N5/335

CPC分类号： H04N5/37452

摘要： A circuit for use in an image sensor as well as an image sensing system using the circuit are set forth. The circuit comprises a memory device having a non-volatile memory cell, a control gate, a drain and a source. The circuit also employs a photosensitive semiconductor device that is positioned for exposure to electromagnetic radiation from an image. A pixel control circuit is connected to these components to direct the memory device and the photosensitive semiconductor device to a plurality of controlled modes. The controlled modes may include an erase mode and an exposure mode. In the erase mode, at least a portion of an electric charge is removed from the non-volatile memory cell to place the memory device in an initialized state. In the exposure mode, the non-volatile memory cell is charged at least partially in response to a voltage at a terminal of the photosensitive semiconductor device. The voltage at the terminal of the photosensitive semiconductor device corresponds to exposure of the photosensitive semiconductor device to the electromagnetic radiation from the image. The pixel control circuit may also direct the memory device and the photosensitive semiconductor device to further modes including a read mode and a data retention mode. In the read mode, current flow between the source and drain of the memory device is detected as an indicator of the charge on the non-volatile memory cell. In the data retention mode, the charge on the non-volatile memory cell of the memory device that was acquired during the exposure mode is maintained notwithstanding further exposure of the photosensitive semiconductor device to the electromagnetic radiation from the image. The circuit, and one or more peripheral support circuits, may be implemented in a monolithic substrate using, for example, conventional CMOS manufacturing processes.

摘要翻译： 阐述了一种用于图像传感器的电路以及使用该电路的图像感测系统。 电路包括具有非易失性存储单元，控制栅极，漏极和源极的存储器件。 该电路还采用光敏半导体器件，其定位用于暴露于来自图像的电磁辐射。 像素控制电路连接到这些组件以将存储器件和光敏半导体器件引导到多个受控模式。 受控模式可以包括擦除模式和曝光模式。 在擦除模式中，将电荷的至少一部分从非易失性存储单元移除，以将存储器件置于初始化状态。 在曝光模式下，响应于光敏半导体器件的端子处的电压，至少部分地对非易失性存储单元进行充电。 光敏半导体器件的端子处的电压对应于光敏半导体器件对来自图像的电磁辐射的曝光。 像素控制电路还可以将存储器件和光敏半导体器件引导到包括读取模式和数据保持模式的进一步模式。 在读取模式下，存储器件的源极和漏极之间的电流流动被检测为非易失性存储单元上的电荷的指示。 在数据保持模式下，尽管感光半导体器件进一步暴露于来自图像的电磁辐射，仍然维持在曝光模式期间获取的存储器件的非易失性存储单元上的电荷。 电路和一个或多个外围支持电路可以使用例如常规CMOS制造工艺在单片基板中实现。

公开(公告)号：US08243155B2

公开(公告)日：2012-08-14

申请号：US11770061

申请日：2007-06-28

申请人： Carl L. Shurboff ,  Fan He ,  Joy Xiong

发明人： Carl L. Shurboff ,  Fan He ,  Joy Xiong

IPC分类号： H04N5/228

CPC分类号： H04N5/23229 ,  H04N1/00307 ,  H04N5/23232 ,  H04N5/2351 ,  H04N5/3572 ,  H04N19/132 ,  H04N19/14 ,  H04N19/176 ,  H04N19/18 ,  H04N19/48 ,  H04N19/60

摘要： A method and digital camera module is provided for taking a digital picture of an image. The digital camera module includes a plurality of light sensitive pixel elements, a first memory buffer, a second memory buffer and a controller. The controller is coupled to the plurality of light sensitive pixel elements and the first and second memory buffers and records a first plurality of pixel values representing an image by activating the plurality of light sensitive pixel elements in a first predetermined manner and stores the first plurality of pixel values in the first buffer. The controller then records a second plurality of pixel values representing the image by activating the plurality of light sensitive pixel elements in a second predetermined manner and stores the second plurality of pixel values in the second buffer. The controller further processes the first and second plurality of pixel values in a compressed domain to generate a third plurality of pixel values representative of the image.

摘要翻译： 提供一种用于拍摄图像的数字图像的方法和数字照相机模块。 数字照相机模块包括多个光敏像素元件，第一存储器缓冲器，第二存储器缓冲器和控制器。 控制器耦合到多个光敏像素元件和第一和第二存储器缓冲器，并通过以第一预定方式激活多个光敏像素元件来记录表示图像的第一多个像素值，并存储第一多个 第一个缓冲区中的像素值。 然后，控制器通过以第二预定方式激活多个光敏像素元件来记录表示图像的第二多个像素值，并将第二多个像素值存储在第二缓冲器中。 控制器进一步处理压缩域中的第一和第二多个像素值以产生表示图像的第三多个像素值。

公开(公告)号：US20130155281A1

公开(公告)日：2013-06-20

申请号：US13562806

申请日：2012-07-31

申请人： Carl L. Shurboff ,  Fan He ,  Joy Xiong

发明人： Carl L. Shurboff ,  Fan He ,  Joy Xiong

IPC分类号： H04N5/232

CPC分类号： H04N5/23229 ,  H04N1/00307 ,  H04N5/23232 ,  H04N5/2351 ,  H04N5/3572 ,  H04N19/132 ,  H04N19/14 ,  H04N19/176 ,  H04N19/18 ,  H04N19/48 ,  H04N19/60

摘要： A method is provided for taking a digital picture of an image. The method can include: recording a first plurality of pixel values representing the image; generating a first compressed image data file based on the first plurality of pixel values; recording a second plurality of pixel values representing the image; generating a second compressed image data file based on the first plurality of pixel values; and processing the first and second plurality of pixel values in a compressed domain to generate a third plurality of pixel values, wherein processing includes combining the first and second compressed image data files by replacing portions of the second compressed image data file with corresponding portions of the first compressed image data file.

摘要翻译： 提供了一种用于拍摄图像的数字图像的方法。 该方法可以包括：记录表示图像的第一多个像素值; 基于所述第一多个像素值生成第一压缩图像数据文件; 记录表示图像的第二多个像素值; 基于所述第一多个像素值生成第二压缩图像数据文件; 以及处理压缩域中的第一和第二多个像素值以产生第三多个像素值，其中处理包括通过用第二压缩图像数据文件的相应部分替换第二压缩图像数据文件的部分来组合第一和第二压缩图像数据文件 第一个压缩图像数据文件。

公开(公告)号：US20090002529A1

公开(公告)日：2009-01-01

申请号：US11770061

申请日：2007-06-28

申请人： Carl L. Shurboff ,  Fan He ,  Joy Xiong

发明人： Carl L. Shurboff ,  Fan He ,  Joy Xiong

IPC分类号： H04N9/64

CPC分类号： H04N5/23229 ,  H04N1/00307 ,  H04N5/23232 ,  H04N5/2351 ,  H04N5/3572 ,  H04N19/132 ,  H04N19/14 ,  H04N19/176 ,  H04N19/18 ,  H04N19/48 ,  H04N19/60

摘要： A method and digital camera module is provided for taking a digital picture of an image. The digital camera module includes a plurality of light sensitive pixel elements, a first memory buffer, a second memory buffer and a controller. The controller is coupled to the plurality of light sensitive pixel elements and the first and second memory buffers and records a first plurality of pixel values representing an image by activating the plurality of light sensitive pixel elements in a first predetermined manner and stores the first plurality of pixel values in the first buffer. The controller then records a second plurality of pixel values representing the image by activating the plurality of light sensitive pixel elements in a second predetermined manner and stores the second plurality of pixel values in the second buffer. The controller further processes the first and second plurality of pixel values in a compressed domain to generate a third plurality of pixel values representative of the image.

摘要翻译： 提供一种用于拍摄图像的数字图像的方法和数字照相机模块。 数字照相机模块包括多个光敏像素元件，第一存储器缓冲器，第二存储器缓冲器和控制器。 控制器耦合到多个光敏像素元件和第一和第二存储器缓冲器，并通过以第一预定方式激活多个光敏像素元件来记录表示图像的第一多个像素值，并存储第一多个 第一个缓冲区中的像素值。 然后，控制器通过以第二预定方式激活多个光敏像素元件来记录表示图像的第二多个像素值，并将第二多个像素值存储在第二缓冲器中。 控制器进一步处理压缩域中的第一和第二多个像素值以产生表示图像的第三多个像素值。

公开(公告)号：US20080266425A1

公开(公告)日：2008-10-30

申请号：US11742269

申请日：2007-04-30

申请人： Carl L. Shurboff ,  Fan He

发明人： Carl L. Shurboff ,  Fan He

IPC分类号： H04N5/217

CPC分类号： H04N5/2353 ,  H04N5/23293 ,  H04N5/35554 ,  H04N5/357

摘要： A method and digital imaging device, such as a digital camera module, is provided for digital imaging. The method includes the step of determining a signal-to-noise ratio associated with a first pixel location of a plurality of pixel locations and a signal-to-noise ratio associated with a second pixel location of the plurality of pixel locations, and the steps of assigning a first exposure time to the first pixel location in response to the signal-to-noise ratio associated with the first pixel location and assigning a second exposure time different from the first exposure time to the second pixel in response to the signal-to-noise ratio associated with the second pixel location. The method further includes the step of exposing the first pixel location for the first exposure time while exposing the second pixel location for the second exposure time to create a digital image.

摘要翻译： 提供了一种用于数字成像的方法和数字成像装置，例如数字照相机模块。 该方法包括确定与多个像素位置的第一像素位置相关联的信噪比和与多个像素位置中的第二像素位置相关联的信噪比的步骤，以及步骤 响应于与所述第一像素位置相关联的信噪比而将第一曝光时间分配给所述第一像素位置，并且响应于所述第一像素位置的所述信号到第二像素而将与所述第一曝光时间不同的第二曝光时间分配给所述第二像素 与第二像素位置相关联的 - 噪声比。 该方法还包括以下步骤：在第二曝光时间的第二像素位置暴露第一曝光时间的第一像素位置，以产生数字图像。

公开(公告)号：US20110025906A1

公开(公告)日：2011-02-03

申请号：US12512408

申请日：2009-07-30

申请人： Carl L. Shurboff ,  Fan He

发明人： Carl L. Shurboff ,  Fan He

IPC分类号： H04N5/238 ,  G02F1/01 ,  G02F1/153

CPC分类号： G03B9/08 ,  H04N5/2351 ,  H04N5/2353 ,  H04N5/238

摘要： Disclosed are methods and devices for solid state electronically switched optical shutters of cameras and other devices. The disclosed non-mechanical camera shutter includes an electronically controlled material that provides optical density variation, to transition the shutter from being open to being closed. The layer of electronically controlled material is configured to change from substantially to transparent to substantially opaque, without scattering, by changing the state of the material. The transmittance period is the period of time that the layer changes transmittance from approximately 100% to approximately 0%. Electronic circuitry is in communication with a timing control module that is configured to provide a signal output to a transparent conductive layer proximal to the layer of electronically controlled material to initiate a change in its transmissivity. The described electronically switched optical component would add little or no additional bulk to a small camera.

摘要翻译： 公开了用于照相机和其他装置的固态电子开关光学快门的方法和装置。 所公开的非机械相机快门包括提供光学密度变化的电子控制材料，以将快门从打开转变为关闭。 电子控制材料层被配置为通过改变材料的状态从基本上变为透明到基本不透明，而不会发散。 透光率周期是层的透光率从大约100％变化到大约0％的时间段。 电子电路与定时控制模块通信，定时控制模块被配置为向靠近电子控制材料层的透明导电层提供信号输出，以启动其透射率的变化。 所描述的电子开关光学部件将增加很少或没有额外的体积到小的相机。

公开(公告)号：US07508434B2

公开(公告)日：2009-03-24

申请号：US11168945

申请日：2005-06-28

申请人： Fan He ,  Carl L. Shurboff

发明人： Fan He ,  Carl L. Shurboff

IPC分类号： H04N3/14

CPC分类号： H04N5/37452 ,  G11C16/0408 ,  H01L27/14603 ,  H01L27/14609 ,  H01L27/14643 ,  H04N5/341

摘要： A circuit for use in an image sensor as well as an image sensing system using the circuit are set forth. The circuit comprises a floating gate semiconductor device having a floating gate, a control gate, a drain and a source. The circuit also employs a photosensitive semiconductor device that is positioned for exposure to electromagnetic radiation from an image. A pixel control circuit is connected to these components to direct the floating gate semiconductor device and the photosensitive semiconductor device to a plurality of controlled modes. The controlled modes may include an erase mode and an exposure mode. In the erase mode, at least a portion of an electric charge is removed from the floating gate to place the floating gate semiconductor device in an initialized state. In the exposure mode, the floating gate is charged at least partially in response to a voltage at a terminal of the photosensitive semiconductor device. The voltage at the terminal of the photosensitive semiconductor device corresponds to exposure of the photosensitive semiconductor device to the electromagnetic radiation from the image. The pixel control circuit may also direct the floating gate semiconductor device and the photosensitive semiconductor device to further modes including a read mode and a data retention mode. In the read mode, current flow between the source and drain of the floating gate semiconductor device is detected as an indicator of the charge on the floating gate. In the data retention mode, the charge on the floating gate of the floating gate semiconductor device that was acquired during the exposure mode is maintained notwithstanding further exposure of the photosensitive semiconductor device to the electromagnetic radiation from the image. The circuit, and one or more peripheral support circuits, may be implemented in a monolithic substrate using, for example, conventional CMOS manufacturing processes.

摘要翻译： 阐述了一种用于图像传感器的电路以及使用该电路的图像感测系统。 该电路包括具有浮置栅极，控制栅极，漏极和源极的浮置栅极半导体器件。 该电路还采用光敏半导体器件，其定位用于暴露于来自图像的电磁辐射。 像素控制电路连接到这些部件以将浮栅半导体器件和光敏半导体器件引导到多个受控模式。 受控模式可以包括擦除模式和曝光模式。 在擦除模式中，从浮置栅极去除电荷的至少一部分，以使浮置栅极半导体器件处于初始化状态。 在曝光模式下，响应于光敏半导体器件的端子处的电压，至少部分地对浮栅充电。 光敏半导体器件的端子处的电压对应于光敏半导体器件对来自图像的电磁辐射的曝光。 像素控制电路还可以将浮动栅极半导体器件和光敏半导体器件引导到包括读取模式和数据保持模式的其他模式。 在读取模式中，浮动栅极半导体器件的源极和漏极之间的电流流动被检测为浮动栅极上的电荷的指示。 在数据保持模式中，尽管感光半导体器件进一步暴露于来自图像的电磁辐射，仍保持在曝光模式期间获取的浮置栅极半导体器件的浮置栅极上的电荷。 电路和一个或多个外围支持电路可以使用例如常规CMOS制造工艺在单片基板中实现。