Method and apparatus for optimizing exposure time in image acquisitions
    1.
    发明授权
    Method and apparatus for optimizing exposure time in image acquisitions 有权
    用于优化图像采集中曝光时间的方法和装置

    公开(公告)号:US06765619B1

    公开(公告)日:2004-07-20

    申请号:US09542196

    申请日:2000-04-04

    IPC分类号: H04N5235

    CPC分类号: H04N5/2351 H04N5/2353

    摘要: A method of optimizing the exposure times of regions of pixels of an image sensor array during exposure is accomplished by utilizing time interval sampling of an image sensor array comprising of pixels configured to generate digital image signals. Luminance values are extracted from each digital image signal and analyzed to determine if a pixel has reached the optimal exposure. If a pixel has reached the optimal exposure, subsequent digital image signals from this pixel will not be recorded. This preserves the recording of the optimal digital image signal generated by the pixel at the time when the pixel reached its optimal exposure. This process of selectively terminating the recording of digital image signals based on optimal exposures of the pixels can be performed on individual pixels or can be performed on a region of pixels.

    摘要翻译: 通过利用包括被配置为产生数字图像信号的像素的图像传感器阵列的时间间隔采样来优化曝光期间图像传感器阵列的像素区域的曝光时间的方法。 从每个数字图像信号提取亮度值,并进行分析,以确定像素是否达到最佳曝光。 如果像素达到最佳曝光,则不会记录来自该像素的后续数字图像信号。 这保持了当像素达到其最佳曝光时由像素产生的最佳数字图像信号的记录。 可以基于像素的最佳曝光选择性地终止数字图像信号的记录的处理,或者可以在像素区域上执行。

    CMOS sensor array with a memory interface
    2.
    发明授权
    CMOS sensor array with a memory interface 有权
    CMOS传感器阵列具有存储器接口

    公开(公告)号:US06985181B2

    公开(公告)日:2006-01-10

    申请号:US09755910

    申请日:2001-01-03

    IPC分类号: H04N3/14

    摘要: An image sensor includes a sensor or a pixel array, a data memory, and a logic circuit, all fabricated on the same integrated chip. The sensor or pixel array outputs digital signals as pixel data representing an image of a scene. The data memory is coupled to the sensor or pixel array for storing the pixel data. The logic circuit is coupled to the data memory and provides a memory interface for exporting the pixel data. The memory interface can be one of a SRAM, a DRAM or a packet protocol synchronous DRAM interface. Including a memory interface in the image sensor allows the image sensor to be coupled directly to the memory interface port of an external image processing unit. The image processing unit can access the image sensor using conventional memory access protocols, thus improving the efficiency and reducing the operational complexity of the image processing unit.

    摘要翻译: 图像传感器包括传感器或像素阵列,数据存储器和逻辑电路,全部制造在同一集成芯片上。 传感器或像素阵列输出数字信号作为表示场景图像的像素数据。 数据存储器耦合到用于存储像素数据的传感器或像素阵列。 逻辑电路耦合到数据存储器并提供用于导出像素数据的存储器接口。 存储器接口可以是SRAM,DRAM或分组协议同步DRAM接口之一。 在图像传感器中包括存储器接口允许图像传感器直接耦合到外部图像处理单元的存储器接口端口。 图像处理单元可以使用传统的存储器访问协议访问图像传感器,从而提高图像处理单元的效率并降低操作复杂度。

    Circuit and method for pixel rearrangement in a digital pixel sensor readout
    3.
    发明授权
    Circuit and method for pixel rearrangement in a digital pixel sensor readout 有权
    数字像素传感器读数中像素重排的电路和方法

    公开(公告)号:US06831684B1

    公开(公告)日:2004-12-14

    申请号:US09638503

    申请日:2000-08-15

    IPC分类号: H04N5228

    摘要: An image sensor includes a sensor array, a data memory for storing pixel data and a pixel normalization circuit. The sensor array has a two-dimensional array of pixel elements and outputs digital signals as pixel data representing an image of a scene. The pixel data outputted by the sensor array are arranged in a sensor-bit arrangement and the pixel normalization circuit rearranges the pixel data into a pixel-bit order. In another embodiment, an image sensor includes a sensor array, a data memory, and a pixel normalization circuit, all fabricated on a single integrated circuit. The pixel normalization circuit includes one or more of a pixel rearrangement circuit, a Gray code to binary conversion circuit, a reset subtract circuit, and a multiple sampling normalization circuit. Finally, a Gray code to binary conversion circuit is provided for high speed conversion.

    摘要翻译: 图像传感器包括传感器阵列,用于存储像素数据的数据存储器和像素归一化电路。 传感器阵列具有像素元件的二维阵列,并输出数字信号作为表示场景图像的像素数据。 由传感器阵列输出的像素数据以传感器位排列方式排列,并且像素归一化电路将像素数据重排为像素位顺序。 在另一个实施例中,图像传感器包括传感器阵列,数据存储器和像素归一化电路,全部制造在单个集成电路上。 像素归一化电路包括像素重排电路,格雷码二进制转换电路,复位减法电路和多采样归一化电路中的一个或多个。 最后,提供了一个格雷码到二进制转换电路,用于高速转换。

    Circuit and method for gray code to binary conversion
    4.
    发明授权
    Circuit and method for gray code to binary conversion 有权
    用于灰度码到二进制转换的电路和方法

    公开(公告)号:US06809666B1

    公开(公告)日:2004-10-26

    申请号:US09639520

    申请日:2000-08-15

    IPC分类号: H03M704

    摘要: An image sensor includes a sensor array, a data memory for storing pixel data and a pixel normalization circuit. The sensor array has a two-dimensional array of pixel elements and outputs digital signals as pixel data representing an image of a scene. The pixel data outputted by the sensor array are arranged in a sensor-bit arrangement and the pixel normalization circuit rearranges the pixel data into a pixel-bit order. In another embodiment, an image sensor includes a sensor array, a data memory, and a pixel normalization circuit, all fabricated on a single integrated circuit. The pixel normalization circuit includes one or more of a pixel rearrangement circuit, a Gray code to binary conversion circuit, a reset subtract circuit, and a multiple sampling normalization circuit. Finally, a Gray code to binary conversion circuit is provided for high speed conversion.

    摘要翻译: 图像传感器包括传感器阵列,用于存储像素数据的数据存储器和像素归一化电路。 传感器阵列具有像素元件的二维阵列,并输出数字信号作为表示场景图像的像素数据。 由传感器阵列输出的像素数据以传感器位排列方式排列,并且像素归一化电路将像素数据重排为像素位顺序。 在另一个实施例中,图像传感器包括传感器阵列,数据存储器和像素归一化电路,全部制造在单个集成电路上。 像素归一化电路包括像素重排电路,格雷码二进制转换电路,复位减法电路和多采样归一化电路中的一个或多个。 最后,提供了一个格雷码到二进制转换电路,用于高速转换。

    Video imaging system including a digital image sensor and a digital signal processor
    5.
    发明授权
    Video imaging system including a digital image sensor and a digital signal processor 有权
    视频成像系统包括数字图像传感器和数字信号处理器

    公开(公告)号:US07483058B1

    公开(公告)日:2009-01-27

    申请号:US10634302

    申请日:2003-08-04

    IPC分类号: H04N5/228

    CPC分类号: H04N5/3355 H04N5/232

    摘要: A video imaging system includes a digital image sensor for performing image capture operations and a digital image processor for performing image processing operations. The digital image sensor includes a sensor array outputting digital pixel data, an image buffer for storing the pixel data, a first processor and a first interface circuit for transferring the pixel data onto a pixel bus. The digital image processor includes a second interface circuit coupled to receive the pixel data from the pixel bus, a frame buffer coupled to store the pixel data, an image processing pipeline for processing the pixel data stored in the frame buffer into video data, and a second processor. The digital image sensor and the digital image processor transfer control information over a control interface bus and the digital image sensor performs the image capture operations independent of the image processing operations performed by the digital image processor.

    摘要翻译: 视频成像系统包括用于执行图像捕获操作的数字图像传感器和用于执行图像处理操作的数字图像处理器。 数字图像传感器包括输出数字像素数据的传感器阵列,用于存储像素数据的图像缓冲器,用于将像素数据传送到像素总线的第一处理器和第一接口电路。 数字图像处理器包括耦合以从像素总线接收像素数据的第二接口电路,耦合以存储像素数据的帧缓冲器,用于将存储在帧缓冲器中的像素数据处理为视频数据的图像处理流水线,以及 第二处理器。 数字图像传感器和数字图像处理器通过控制接口总线和数字图像传感器传送控制信息执行与数字图像处理器执行的图像处理操作无关的图像捕获操作。

    Digital image sensor with on -chip programmable logic
    6.
    发明授权
    Digital image sensor with on -chip programmable logic 有权
    具有片上可编程逻辑的数字图像传感器

    公开(公告)号:US06778212B1

    公开(公告)日:2004-08-17

    申请号:US09665523

    申请日:2000-09-19

    IPC分类号: H04N5228

    摘要: An image sensor, including a substrate having formed thereon by a CMOS process a digital sensor array having a plurality of digital pixel sensors which output analog signals corresponding to a desired image. The digital sensor array further includes supporting circuitry for converting the analog signals produced by the digital pixel sensors to digital signals corresponding to the desired image. Filter circuitry, for converting the digital signals to digital values representative of the light intensity impinging upon the plurality of digital pixel sensors, is also formed on the substrate using CMOS fabrication processes. Memory devices, including a data memory, a threshold memory, and a time index memory are formed on the substrate using CMOS fabrication techniques. A clock circuit is also formed on the substrate using CMOS fabrication processes. Programmable logic structures are formed on the substrate using CMOS fabrication processes. The programmable logic structure can be configured into a variety of circuitry or routing so as to facilitate customization or specialization of the image sensor.

    摘要翻译: 一种图像传感器,包括通过CMOS工艺在其上形成的基板的数字传感器阵列,该数字传感器阵列具有输出对应于期望图像的模拟信号的多个数字像素传感器。 数字传感器阵列还包括用于将由数字像素传感器产生的模拟信号转换成对应于期望图像的数字信号的支持电路。 用于将数字信号转换成表示在多个数字像素传感器上照射的光强度的数字值的滤波器电路也使用CMOS制造工艺形成在衬底上。 使用CMOS制造技术在衬底上形成包括数据存储器,阈值存储器和时间索引存储器的存储器件。 使用CMOS制造工艺也在衬底上形成时钟电路。 使用CMOS制造工艺在衬底上形成可编程逻辑结构。 可编程逻辑结构可以配置成各种电路或路由,以便于图像传感器的定制或专业化。

    Digital CMOS image sensor incorporating a programmable multi-functional lookup table
    7.
    发明授权
    Digital CMOS image sensor incorporating a programmable multi-functional lookup table 有权
    包含可编程多功能查找表的数字CMOS图像传感器

    公开(公告)号:US07362355B1

    公开(公告)日:2008-04-22

    申请号:US10634339

    申请日:2003-08-04

    IPC分类号: H04N5/235

    摘要: A system-on-chip imaging system includes an image sensor of a two-dimensional array of pixel elements providing pixel data representing an image of a scene, a data memory for storing pixel codewords whereby at least some of the pixel codewords are indicative of the pixel data, a programmable lookup table for providing LUT codewords as output data, and a processing unit for receiving LUT codewords from the lookup table and generating output image data. In operation, a first pixel codeword stored in the data memory is used to index the lookup table for causing the lookup table to provide a respective LUT codeword to the processing unit. The processing unit operates to perform one or more image processing functions in response to the LUT codeword. The lookup table can be programmed to perform a variety of image processing functions, including defective pixel correction, CDS subtraction, privacy masking and dark signal subtraction.

    摘要翻译: 片上系统成像系统包括提供表示场景图像的像素数据的二维阵列阵列的图像传感器,用于存储像素码字的数据存储器,其中至少一些像素码字指示 像素数据,用于提供LUT码字作为输出数据的可编程查找表,以及用于从查找表接收LUT码字并产生输出图像数据的处理单元。 在操作中,存储在数据存储器中的第一像素码字用于索引查找表,以使查找表向处理单元提供相应的LUT码字。 处理单元操作以响应于LUT码字执行一个或多个图像处理功能。 可以对查找表进行编程,以执行各种图像处理功能,包括缺陷像素校正,CDS减法,隐私掩蔽和暗信号相减。