Image sensor systems and methods for multiple exposure imaging
    2.
    发明授权
    Image sensor systems and methods for multiple exposure imaging 有权
    用于多次曝光成像的图像传感器系统和方法

    公开(公告)号:US09225919B2

    公开(公告)日:2015-12-29

    申请号:US14189859

    申请日:2014-02-25

    摘要: An imaging device may capture a composite image from multiple individual exposures. In each imaging pixel in the imaging device, charge accumulated from each of the individual exposures may be accumulated onto a storage node. The accumulated charge from all of the individual exposures in a single composite image may be read out from the storage node. The individual exposures may be separated by delay periods. The lengths of the individual exposures and delay periods may be determined automatically or set by a user such that each individual exposure is substantially free of motion blur, while the composite image illustrates a moving subject in multiple positions.

    摘要翻译: 成像设备可以捕获来自多个单独曝光的合成图像。 在成像设备中的每个成像像素中,从每个单独曝光累积的电荷可以被累积到存储节点上。 可以从存储节点读出单个合成图像中来自所有单独曝光的累积电荷。 单个曝光可能会被延迟时间隔开。 单个曝光和延迟时段的长度可以由用户自动确定或由用户设定,使得每个单独的曝光基本上没有运动模糊,而合成图像示出了多个位置的移动的被摄体。

    Dynamic auto focus zones for auto focus pixel systems

    公开(公告)号:US09787889B2

    公开(公告)日:2017-10-10

    申请号:US14621025

    申请日:2015-02-12

    IPC分类号: H04N5/232 H04N5/369

    CPC分类号: H04N5/23212 H04N5/3696

    摘要: An image sensor may include an image pixel array with both image pixels to gather image data and phase detection pixels to gather phase information. The image sensor may dynamically group the phase detection pixels into focus zones. Based on the characteristics of the scene being imaged and the use settings of the image sensor, the image sensor may determine the size, shape, and number of focus zones to be grouped. One or more focus zones may then be used to gather phase information data. The focus zones may vary in size and shape across the pixel array. A scene with low illumination level may result in larger focus zones with more phase detection pixels to ensure reliable phase information data.

    Dual photodiode image pixels with preferential blooming path
    7.
    发明授权
    Dual photodiode image pixels with preferential blooming path 有权
    具有优先开花路径的双光电二极管图像像素

    公开(公告)号:US09515105B2

    公开(公告)日:2016-12-06

    申请号:US14624917

    申请日:2015-02-18

    IPC分类号: H01L27/146

    摘要: An image sensor with an array of image sensor pixels is provided. Each image sensor pixel may include a set of photodiodes formed in a semiconductor substrate, a color filter structure formed over the set of photodiodes, a microlens formed over the color filter structure, and associated pixel circuitry coupled to the set of photodiodes. The set of photodiodes may include at least two photodiodes linked together via a preferential blooming channel that provides a reduced potential barrier between the two photodiodes. This allows excess charge to spill over from one photodiode to another when more charge is concentrated in a particular photodiode. Configured in this way, the pixel can provide depth sensing capabilities without suffering from reduced pixel capacity.

    摘要翻译: 提供具有图像传感器像素阵列的图像传感器。 每个图像传感器像素可以包括形成在半导体衬底中的一组光电二极管,在所述一组光电二极管上形成的滤色器结构,形成在滤色器结构上的微透镜以及耦合到该组光电二极管的相关联的像素电路。 该组光电二极管可以包括经由优先花开通道连接在一起的至少两个光电二极管,其提供两个光电二极管之间的降低的势垒。 当多个电荷集中在特定的光电二极管时,这允许过量的电荷从一个光电二极管溢出到另一个。 以这种方式配置,像素可以提供深度感测能力,而不会降低像素容量。

    High dynamic range imaging systems having differential photodiode exposures
    8.
    发明授权
    High dynamic range imaging systems having differential photodiode exposures 有权
    具有差分光电二极管曝光的高动态范围成像系统

    公开(公告)号:US09467633B2

    公开(公告)日:2016-10-11

    申请号:US14633837

    申请日:2015-02-27

    IPC分类号: H04N5/355 H04N9/04 H04N5/378

    摘要: Image sensors may include an array of photodiodes arranged in groups of adjacent photodiodes that generate charge in response to same-colored light. The image sensor may generate high-dynamic-range (HDR) images. To establish an effective exposure ratio between sets of photodiodes on the array for generating HDR images, microlenses may be formed over some photodiodes in a checkerboard pattern and may have portions that extend over other photodiodes in the array. Control circuitry may control photodiodes in each group to perform pulsed integration in which charge transfer control signals are intermittently pulsed for those photodiodes. A substantially opaque element may be formed over photodiodes in each of the groups such that the corresponding photodiodes generate signals in response to crosstalk. In this way, different effective exposures may be established across the array, allowing for HDR images to be generated without motion artifacts and with super-pixel resolution.

    摘要翻译: 图像传感器可以包括被布置成响应于相同颜色的光产生电荷的相邻光电二极管的组的光电二极管阵列。 图像传感器可以产生高动态范围(HDR)图像。 为了在阵列上建立用于生成HDR图像的光电二极管组之间的有效曝光比,可以在棋盘图案中的一些光电二极管上形成微透镜,并且可以具有在阵列中的其它光电二极管上延伸的部分。 控制电路可以控制每组中的光电二极管来执行脉冲积分,其中对于那些光电二极管,电荷转移控制信号被间歇地脉冲。 可以在每个组中的光电二极管上形成基本上不透明的元件,使得相应的光电二极管响应于串扰而产生信号。 以这种方式,可以在阵列之间建立不同的有效曝光,从而可以生成HDR图像,而不会产生运动伪像和超像素分辨率。

    Imaging systems with phase detection pixels
    9.
    发明授权
    Imaging systems with phase detection pixels 有权
    具有相位检测像素的成像系统

    公开(公告)号:US09445018B2

    公开(公告)日:2016-09-13

    申请号:US14267695

    申请日:2014-05-01

    摘要: An image sensor may include phase detection pixels that receive and convert incident light into pixel signals. Processing circuitry may use pixel signals from the phase detection pixels to determine an amount by which image sensor optics should be adjusted during automatic focusing operations. Phase detection pixels may include photodiodes with asymmetric angular responses. For example, the center of a photodiode in a phase detection pixel may be offset from the optical center of the microlens that covers that photodiode. A group of two, three, four, or more than four phase detection pixels may be clustered together and covered by a single microlens. Groups of these clusters may be arranged consecutively in a line. Phase data may be gathered using all of the phase detection pixels in the array, and image processing circuitry may determine which phase data to use after the data has been gathered.

    摘要翻译: 图像传感器可以包括接收并将入射光转换成像素信号的相位检测像素。 处理电路可以使用来自相位检测像素的像素信号来确定在自动聚焦操作期间应该调整图像传感器光学元件的量。 相位检测像素可以包括具有不对称角响应的光电二极管。 例如,相位检测像素中的光电二极管的中心可以偏离覆盖该光电二极管的微透镜的光学中心。 两个,三个,四个或多于四个相位检测像素的组可以聚集在一起并由单个微透镜覆盖。 这些簇的组可以一行地连续排列。 可以使用阵列中的所有相位检测像素来收集相位数据,并且图像处理电路可以在数据被收集之后确定要使用的相位数据。

    Imagers with depth sensing capabilities
    10.
    发明授权
    Imagers with depth sensing capabilities 有权
    具有深度感测能力的成像仪

    公开(公告)号:US09247234B2

    公开(公告)日:2016-01-26

    申请号:US14287907

    申请日:2014-05-27

    摘要: An imager may include depth sensing pixels that provide an asymmetrical angular response to incident light. The depth sensing pixels may each include a substrate region formed from a photosensitive portion and a non-photosensitive portion. The depth sensing pixels may include mechanisms that prevent regions of the substrate from receiving incident light. Depth sensing pixel pairs may be formed from depth sensing pixels that have different asymmetrical angular responses. Each of the depth sensing pixel pairs may effectively divide the corresponding imaging lens into separate portions. Depth information for each depth sensing pixel pair may be determined based on the difference between output signals of the depth sensing pixels of that depth sensing pixel pair. The imager may be formed from various combinations of depth sensing pixel pairs and color sensing pixel pairs arranged in a Bayer pattern or other desired patterns.

    摘要翻译: 成像器可以包括提供对入射光的不对称角度响应的深度感测像素。 深度感测像素可以各自包括由感光部分和非感光部分形成的衬底区域。 深度感测像素可以包括防止衬底的区域接收入射光的机构。 深度感测像素对可以由具有不同不对称角响应的深度感测像素形成。 每个深度感测像素对可以有效地将相应的成像透镜分成分离的部分。 可以基于深度感测像素对的深度感测像素的输出信号之间的差来确定每个深度感测像素对的深度信息。 成像器可以由深度感测像素对和以拜耳图案或其他期望图案布置的颜色感测像素对的各种组合形成。