Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080211947 | IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD - An image sensing apparatus that controls exposure includes a signal processing unit for processing the output signal of a image sensing element, an aperture control unit for controlling aperture, and an external sensor for measuring the brightness of an object. In this case, exposure is controlled using the luminance information of both the image data and the external sensor, with the sampling period of the external sensor being set to be shorter than the accumulation period of the solid-state image sensing element. At least one of the aperture and the accumulation period is then controlled, based on the luminance information measured by the external sensor during the accumulation period. | 09-04-2008 |
20080218619 | SOLID-STATE IMAGE SENSING DEVICE - There is provided a solid-state image sensing device including a pixel section in which cells are arrayed, each cell including a photoelectric conversion unit, a reading circuit reading out, to a detection unit, signal charges obtained by the photoelectric conversion unit, an amplifying circuit amplifying and outputting a voltage corresponding to the signal charges, and a reset circuit resetting the signal charges, an exposure time control circuit controlling an exposure time and controlling the exposure time to be equal for all cells, an A/D conversion circuit A/D-converting a signal output from the pixel section by changing a resolution of a signal level, line memories storing an A/D-converted signal, and a signal processing circuit processing output signals from the line memories to have a linear gradient with respect to an optical input signal amount by controlling an amplification factor in accordance with a resolution of a pixel output signal after A/D-conversion. | 09-11-2008 |
20080284884 | IMAGE SENSOR, ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, AND DRIVING METHOD OF ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - An image sensor that has a pixel array section in which pixels are arrayed in a two-dimensional manner in vertical and horizontal directions and that controls an exposure time of each pixel in a rolling shutter method is disclosed. The sensor includes control means for determining an electronic shutter occurrence number within one horizontal scanning period, which is the number of rows where electronic shutters are simultaneously performed in one horizontal scanning period, by an operation based on an address addition amount (P | 11-20-2008 |
20080291306 | IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF ACQUIRING TRAVELING CHARACTERISTICS OF LIGHT-SHIELDING MEMBER - A method of acquiring traveling characteristics of rear blades in a camera having an image sensing element including a plurality of pixels. The method comprising acquiring the traveling characteristics of the rear blades based on an image signal output from a preset partial area of the image sensing element, and storing the acquired traveling characteristics (S | 11-27-2008 |
20080297637 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING APPARATUS AND IMAGING SYSTEM USING THE SAME - A solid-state imaging apparatus including: a pixel section having pixels arranged into a matrix, each pixel containing an electric charge retaining section with a first accumulation capacitance for retaining a signal electric charge, a photoelectric conversion device with a second accumulation capacitance greater than the first accumulation capacitance where a light signal is converted into signal electric charges and then accumulated, a transfer means for controlling a transfer of the signal electric charges from the photoelectric conversion device to the electric charge retaining section, a signal amplification means for amplifying the signal electric charges retained at the electric charge retaining section and outputting them as a pixel signal, and a reset means for controlling a connection between the photoelectric conversion device and a pixel power supply; a horizontal and vertical scanning means for outputting the pixel signal; and a control section for, after transfer of the signal electric charges by the transfer means, executing the connection between the photoelectric conversion device and the pixel power supply by the reset means before a start of an exposure. | 12-04-2008 |
20080316347 | ADAPTIVE PIXEL FOR HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE AND DISTURBANCE DETECTION AND CORRECTION - A new adaptive pixel architecture, folded-multiple-capture (FMC), integrates synchronous self-reset and multiple capture schemes and advantageously eliminates the requirement of a high-frame-rate sensor array, which is essential for conventional image sensors with high dynamic range. The FMC comprises a per-pixel analog-front-end (AFE), a fine analog-digital convertor (ADC) stage, and a digital-signal-processor/controller (DSPC) stage. The AFE performs programmable gain control, synchronous self-reset, sample-and-hold, and enables disturbance detection. In the AFE, a comparator compares an integrator output with a threshold voltage and produces a binary sequence accordingly. The ADC utilizes the binary sequence and the folded multiple capture signals to estimate photocurrent. An image sensor embodying the present invention adapts integration time to signal level, has minimal per-pixel hardware requirement, provides a very high dynamic range, about 120 dB or more, at high speed, about 1,000 frames/s or more, detects and corrects subframe disturbances, and consumes significantly less power. | 12-25-2008 |
20090059045 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DRIVING SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE - A solid-state imaging device 5 includes photoelectric conversion elements | 03-05-2009 |
20090059046 | Field Sequential Color Camera System - The invention provides a field sequential color camera system wherein a light-emitting strobe or diode with invisible light such as infrared or ultraviolet light added to red, green and blue visible light is combined with an illumination unit capable of emitting light in a field sequential mode so that high-definition images are finished and obtained at two frames. | 03-05-2009 |
20090096902 | PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - There is disclosed a photographic device that uses an image sensor and an electronic viewfinder. When a release button is pressed halfway, an aperture value, an electronic shutter speed and a photosensitivity are decided based on the present subject brightness to provide a proper exposure value for photographing a still image. So long as the release button is kept being pressed halfway, a timing generator drives the image sensor to shoot video images at a frame rate of 20 Hz, and the aperture value decided for still image photography is fixed, whereas the electronic shutter speed and the photosensitivity are adjusted according to the subject brightness by use of an aperture-priority type video program. When the release button is pressed to the full, an exposure for a still image is done with the fixed aperture value. | 04-16-2009 |
20090109309 | Imager Module With Electronic Shutter - A method and apparatus are provided for operating a camera. The method includes the steps of providing an array of image sensing pixels, disposing an electronic shutter in an optical path between the array of pixels and an image where the electronic shutter has a reflective state and a transmissive state and applying a predetermined sequence of electrical signals to the electronic shutter to expose the image sensing pixels to the image. | 04-30-2009 |
20090153710 | DIGITAL IMAGER WITH DUAL ROLLING SHUTTERS - A method of forming an image of a moving object is provided. The method includes capturing a first digital image of a moving object using a first rolling shutter scanning in a first direction. Likewise, a second digital image of the moving object is captured using a second rolling shutter scanning in a second direction different from the first direction. The first and second digital images are processed to form a composite digital image of the moving image. | 06-18-2009 |
20090167911 | IMAGING DEVICE AND ITS SHUTTER DRIVE MODE SELECTION METHOD - An imaging device includes a MOS image sensor that shoots an image of a subject, and a control unit that selects one of plural shutter drive modes and drives the MOS image sensor in the selected shutter drive mode. The control unit analyzes a through image of a subject that is obtained by the MOS image sensor before main shooting (step S | 07-02-2009 |
20090190013 | Method and apparatus for capturing an image - A method for capturing an image using an image capturing module with multiple pixels configured in a 2-dimensional matrix and a focal plane electronic shutter function which sequentially slides the exposure timing by constant interval by pixel group which is a unit of predetermined number of the pixels while scanning; the method includes an image data input process for detecting shutter operation, obtaining a reference image while skipping one or more of the pixel groups by sequentially sliding the exposure timing by the constant interval, and obtaining a target image while not skipping pixel groups to be captured, a motion data detection process for calculating the motion data of the target image based on the reference image, and a distortion compensation process for compensating for distortion in the target image according to the motion data. | 07-30-2009 |
20090201400 | Backside illuminated image sensor with global shutter and storage capacitor - A backside illuminated imaging sensor pixel includes a photodiode region, a pixel circuitry region, and a storage capacitor. The photodiode region is disposed within a semiconductor die for accumulating an image charge. The pixel circuitry region is disposed on the semiconductor die between a frontside of the semiconductor die and the photodiode region. The pixel circuitry region overlaps at least a portion of the photodiode region. The storage capacitor is included within the pixel circuitry region overlapping the photodiode region and is selectively coupled to the photodiode region to temporarily store image charges accumulated thereon. | 08-13-2009 |
20090201401 | IMAGE PROCESSING CIRCUIT, MOBILE TERMINAL AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SENSOR - An image processing circuit capable of shooting a desired subject is provided in which increasing the size of the digital camera has been avoided. Sensor control unit | 08-13-2009 |
20090219421 | IMAGE SENSOR WITH A CAPACITIVE STORAGE NODE LINKED TO TRANSFER GATE - A CMOS imaging system with increased charge storage capacitance of pixels yet decreased physical size, kTC noise and active area. A capacitor is linked to the transfer gate and provides a storage node for a pixel, allowing for kTC noise reduction prior to readout. The pixel may be operated with the shutter gate on during the integration period to increase the amount of time for charge storage by a pixel. | 09-03-2009 |
20090268068 | DRIVING METHOD FOR SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE AND SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE - A driving method used for a solid-state imaging device according to the present invention includes: imaging an object for a first storage time when a shutter is open, in a first state that is a state where either at least a part of the peripheral circuitry is suspended or a consumption current of the peripheral circuitry is limited; imaging, in the first state, a dark output signal image including only a dark output for a second storage time when the shutter is closed; converting the dark output signal image to correspond to the image obtained for the first storage time and subtracting, from the signal image of the object, the converted dark output signal image or converting the dark output signal image to correspond to the image obtained for the second storage time and subtracting, from the signal image of the object, the converted dark output signal image. | 10-29-2009 |
20090303362 | SOLID STATE IMAGE CAPTURE DEVICE AND CAMERA SYSTEM - A solid-state image capture device includes: a pixel section in which pixels are arranged in a matrix; control lines; a pixel drive section that performs control, through the control lines, an operation of the pixels so as to perform a shutter operation of the pixel section and so as to perform reading; a reading circuit that reads signals from the pixels; and a shutter-mode switching section that controls an operation of the pixel drive section in accordance with a rolling shutter system in which exposure is performed for each row or a global shutter system in which exposure is simultaneously performed on all the pixels. The pixel drive section includes a shutter-mode corresponding section that causes an impedance value from the control lines to a power supply in a global shutter operation to be greater than an impedance value in a rolling shutter operation. | 12-10-2009 |
20100013971 | IMAGING DEVICE - Disclosed herein is an imaging device including: a lens mount section with a removable lens section; an imaging element adapted to generate a video signal by converting image light of the subject entering through the lens section attached to the lens mount section into an electric signal; a disk-shaped shutter having a light shielding section and a transmission section, the light shielding section adapted to shield the imaging element from incident light, and the transmission section adapted to transmit incident light onto the imaging element; a shutter drive motor adapted to drive the disk-shaped shutter; a detection section adapted to detect whether the lens section is attached or detached; and a shutter control section adapted to supply a control signal to the shutter drive motor to stop the shutter if the detection section has detected that the lens section is detached. | 01-21-2010 |
20100039542 | ROLLING SHUTTER FOR PREVENTION OF BLOOMING - A rolling shutter technique for a pixel array is described in which multiple rows of the array are hard reset as the shutter moves down the array. As the rolling shutter progresses down the array, each row is hard reset multiple times before its integration period begins, thereby ensuring that the row is in a true hard reset condition at the beginning of its integration period. Also, multiple rows are hard reset in advance of the beginning of the integration period for a given row, thereby making it less likely that overexposed pixels several rows away will be able to distort the integrating row by blooming. | 02-18-2010 |
20100066878 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, METHOD FOR DRIVING THE SAME, AND IMAGING DEVICE - In a CMOS image sensor ( | 03-18-2010 |
20100085455 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF DRIVING SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE - In an imaging apparatus having plural pixel units each including a photoelectric conversion portion, each pixel unit has a writing transistor WT and a reading transistor RT each including a floating gate FG disposed on a semiconductor substrate so as to accumulate electric charges generated in the photoelectric conversion portion, and the imaging apparatus includes a control unit independently performing a first charge discharging drive operation of discharging the electric charges generated in the photoelectric conversion portion of each pixel unit in a group to a writing drain WD or a reading drain RD in the pixel unit by groups including plural pixel units and controlling an exposure period start time of each group. | 04-08-2010 |
20100097506 | IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE, SPATIAL INFORMATION DETECTING APPARATUS USING THE SAME DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TAKING OUT RECEIVED -LIGHT OUTPUT FROM THE SAME DEVICE - A compact image pickup device with high sensitivity is provided, which is suitable for a spatial information detecting apparatus. The image pickup device has a plurality of image pickup units (U | 04-22-2010 |
20100141817 | Imaging Array with Built-in Exposure Control - An imaging array and method for using the same to capture an image are disclosed. The imaging array includes an array of pixel sensors and a controller. Each pixel sensor includes a dual-ported photodiode characterized by ports having first and second gates, and a charge conversion circuit. The charge conversion circuit generates a signal that is a function of a charge on the dual-ported photodiode when the first gate in the dual-ported photodiode is activated to transfer a charge on the dual-ported photodiode to the charge conversion circuit. The controller applies a potential to the second gates and measures a current flowing out of the second gates, each second port passing charge stored in the photodiode connected to the second port when a potential in the photodiode exceeds the applied potential. The controller determines an average light intensity incident on the array of pixel sensors. | 06-10-2010 |
20100165160 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMAGING - A data reader preferably includes an imaging device that operates on a rolling reset basis to capture images of a moving target. Images of moving targets are preferably analyzed to determine the ambient light intensity, and a processor in the data reader preferably adjusts operation of the imager and of a light source based on the intensity of the ambient light. Other data readers may use an imager with a mechanical shutter that is designed for rapid, frequent operation. | 07-01-2010 |
20100171856 | DIGITAL CAMERA AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A digital camera including a lens, first and second sensors, a shutoff member, a display, a detector, an exposure amount determiner, and a still image generator. The first sensor receives light through the lens and the second sensor also receives light through the lens, but is different from the first sensor. The shutoff member performs a first shutoff of the light received by the first sensor through the lens and also ends the first shutoff. The display displays a moving image based on the light received by the first sensor, and while the moving image is displayed, the detector detects a shutter operation. The exposure amount determiner determines, in response to the detected shutter operation, an exposure amount based on the light received by the second sensor when the first sensor does not receive light through the lens. The still image generator generates a still image based on the light received by the first sensor and the exposure amount determined by the exposure amount determiner. | 07-08-2010 |
20100201856 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING APPARATUS, IMAGING SYSTEM, AND DRIVING METHOD OF IMAGING APPARATUS - The present invention reduces differences in the influence of electric charge leakage from a non-read out region into multiple read out regions adjacent to a non-read out region. Reset scanning of that row in the non-read out region which adjoins the first or second read out region is started before read out scanning of the first and second read out regions. | 08-12-2010 |
20100201857 | IMAGING DEVICE - An imaging device of the present invention includes a solid-state image sensing device; a vertical transfer drive circuit for feeding a subpulse to the solid-state image sensing device; and a control circuit, and repeats a series of photographing operations in a cycle same as or longer than a period during which the series of photographing operations are performed, the series of photographing operations including an exposure operation for exposing an imaging area after the subpulse is fed to the solid-state image sensing device to sweep out electric charges accumulated in pixels. The control circuit stops the subpulse from being fed from the vertical transfer drive circuit to the solid-state image sensing device during a period during which the exposure operation included in the series of photographing operations is not performed. | 08-12-2010 |
20100259659 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, CAMERA SYSTEM, AND SIGNAL READING METHOD - A solid-state imaging device comprises a pixel unit, an exposure control unit, a first read-out path, and a second read-out path. In the pixel unit, a plurality of photoelectric conversion devices, in which the amount of accumulated electric charges changes in accordance with incident light, are disposed two-dimensionally. The exposure control unit controls the pixel unit such that the start and end of accumulation of electric charges are performed at the same time in the photoelectric conversion devices which belong to a plurality of rows included in the pixel unit. The first read-out path reads out captured image signals of the photoelectric conversion devices in units of one row during a unit read-out period. The second read-out path reads out reset signals of the photoelectric conversion devices which belong to the same row as the row in which the captured image signals are read out during the unit read-out period. | 10-14-2010 |
20100283879 | Solid-State Image Pickup Apparatus Including A Global Shutter Function and Control Method Therefor - A solid-state image pickup apparatus includes a pixel unit consisting of a plurality of pixels; a pixel control unit for controlling the plurality of pixels; a readout unit for reading a signal of each pixel output from the pixel unit; a shutter unit for establishing a state of a light incident to the pixel unit and that of shielding the pixel unit from the light; and a control unit. The control unit includes an exposure mode changeover unit for changing over an exposure mode to either a first exposure mode performing a simultaneous exposure for all pixels or a second exposure mode performing an exposure for each of a predetermined unit of pixels. The control unit controls the pixel control unit, readout unit and shutter unit according to an exposure mode changed over by the exposure mode changeover unit. | 11-11-2010 |
20100302420 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING THE VISUAL DISCOMFORT OF THE ILLUMINATION GENERATED BY IMAGING SCANNERS - A method and apparatus for reducing the visual discomfort of the illumination generated by imaging scanners. The method includes (1) turning on a driving current for a illumination source during each of a series of exposure periods to provide illumination directed toward a target object; (2) capturing an image from the target object with photosensitive circuitry during at least one of the exposure periods; and (3) generating a pulse-width-modulation driving current that has a duty cycle changing with time between two consecutive exposure periods for making perceived gradual illumination changes between the two consecutive exposure periods. The duty cycle decreases from the value of 100% to a minimal value after each of the exposure periods and increases from the minimal value to the value of 100% before each of the exposure periods. | 12-02-2010 |
20100302421 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE - According to one embodiment, a solid-state imaging sensor includes an imaging area, a vertical selector circuit, a pulse selector circuit and a timing generator circuit. The vertical selector circuit is provided with one row address comparator circuit corresponding to each of pixel rows. The row address comparator circuit is supplied with a row address in time division within one horizontal scanning interval with respect to the imaging area. Based on the comparison result of the row address comparator circuit, the vertical selector circuit outputs an electronic shutter row select signal and a read row select signal for setting an electronic shutter state and a read state of the corresponding pixel row. | 12-02-2010 |
20100328507 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE AND IMAGING APPARATUS - A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel area section in which plural pixels having photoelectric conversion sections, in which signal charges are accumulated, are arranged along a horizontal direction and a vertical direction; a vertical scanning unit that selects the pixels of the pixel area section in row units and reads out the signal charges from the pixels in row units; and an electronic shutter unit that supplies a reset signal set in a valid state and a transfer signal set in a valid state to the pixels in row units to reset all the pixels and, then, supplies the transfer signal set in an invalid state to the pixels in row units to release the reset of the pixels and starts accumulation of the signal charges in the pixels. | 12-30-2010 |
20110001859 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND IMAGING CONTROL METHOD - According to the present invention, the imaging apparatus of the rolling shutter system first exposes/reads odd lines of an imaging sensor and then exposes/reads even lines. An image of one line is formed by sorting information of the lines, which is obtained by reading the information of the odd lines first and reading the information of the even lines later, in order of line positions. As a result, exposure start timing of adjacent odd/even lines is significantly shifted, and the exposure unevenness has a periodic stripe pattern when the exposure unevenness caused by flash emission of another person, etc. occurs on an image of one frame. Therefore, accurate detection of exposure unevenness caused by flash emission of another person in an imaging apparatus of a rolling shutter system can be achieved. | 01-06-2011 |
20110007197 | AMPLIFYING SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR DRIVING THE SAME - By providing dummy pixels separately from effective pixels, the total number of pixel rows is equalized with the number of horizontal sync signals included in one frame interval (which is called an “HD number”). A period during which a reset signal for an electronic shuttering operation is being supplied to an arbitrary pixel row overlaps with a period during which another pixel row is selected to perform a readout operation thereon. Thus, it is possible to suppress a variation in reset potential among effective pixels. | 01-13-2011 |
20110013064 | CMOS Image Sensor With Wide (Intra-Scene) Dynamic Range - A CMOS image sensor uses a special exposure control circuit to independently adjust the photodiode exposure (integration) time for each pixel in a pixel array to obtain non-saturated photodiode charges for each pixel. Exposure time adjustment involves extrapolating a pixel's final photodiode charge using an intermediate photodiode charge measured after a predetermined portion of an exposure frame period. If the intermediate photodiode charge is, e.g., over 50% of the photodiode's full-well capacity after half of the exposure frame period, then saturation is likely and the photodiode is reset to integrate only during the remaining time. If not, then the photodiode integrates over the allotted exposure frame period. Data indicating the length of the exposure portion is stored as analog data on the memory node of each pixel, and readout of the final photodiode charge is performed using Correlated Double Sampling (CDS) techniques. | 01-20-2011 |
20110019045 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUS ELECTRONIC SHUTTER ACTION FRAME STORAGE AND CORRELATED DOUBLE SAMPLING IN IMAGE SENSOR - An electronic image sensor with a pixel array of a plurality of active pixels is provided. Each of the active pixels includes: a photo detector, providing a sensing node for producing a signal based on an amount of light incident thereon; a storing node for storing a plurality of photo-generated charges according to the signal; a first controllable potential barrier between the sensing node and the storing node; an outputting node; and a second controllable potential barrier between the storing node and the outputting node, wherein each of the sensing node, the storing node and the sampling node is not overlapped. | 01-27-2011 |
20110032403 | SOLID-STATE IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE AND DRIVING METHOD THEREOF, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - A solid-state image pickup device includes a plurality of pixels and a scanning unit. Each pixel includes a photoelectric conversion element and a charge accumulation region. The scanning unit is configured to read a first signal from a charge accumulation region. The scanning unit is configured to read a second signal from the charge accumulation region. The first signal corresponds to an accumulation of signal charges during a first period, while the second signal corresponds to another accumulation of signal charges during a second period. | 02-10-2011 |
20110043674 | PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS AND METHOD - A photographing apparatus includes an imaging unit having a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns and that captures an image of a subject; a detector that detects a photographing condition of the subject; a mechanical shutter that moves to shield the imaging unit; an operation controller that controls movement of the mechanical shutter; and a scan controller that controls an exposure start scan of the imaging unit by applying reset signals to the pixels at a time controlled based on the photographing condition of the subject before the mechanical shutter moves to shield the imaging unit. | 02-24-2011 |
20110050969 | IMAGING DEVICE AND CAMERA SYSTEM - An imaging device includes: a pixel array section having an array of pixels each of which has a photoelectric converting device and outputs an electric signal according to an input photon; a sense circuit section having a plurality of sensor circuits each of which makes binary decision on whether there is a photon input to a pixel in a predetermined period upon reception of the electric signal therefrom; and a decision result IC section which integrates decision results from the sense circuits, pixel by pixel or for each group of pixels, multiple times to generate imaged data with a gradation, the decision result IC section including a count circuit which performs a count process to integrate the decision results from the sense circuits, and a memory for storing a counting result for each pixel from the count circuit, the plurality of sense circuits sharing the count circuit for integrating the decision results. | 03-03-2011 |
20110058080 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE - According to one embodiment, a solid-state imaging device includes an imaging area, a vertical line drive circuit, and a control circuit. The imaging area is provided with a plurality of unit pixels arrayed like a two-dimensional matrix. Each unit pixel includes a photoelectric conversion element, a read transistor, an amplifier transistor, and a reset transistor. The vertical line drive circuit is configured to select and drive the unit pixels at a unit of row, and to set a signal storage time of the photoelectric conversion element of each driven unit pixel. The control circuit connected to the vertical line drive circuit, is configured to execute a variable control of the signal storage time at a unit of row of the unit pixel. | 03-10-2011 |
20110096216 | IMAGING PICKUP DEVICE AND IMAGE PICKUP METHOD - An image pickup device includes an image sensing device and a driving unit. The image sensing device includes a first pixel group and a second pixel group. The first pixel group includes a plurality of pixels arranged as a two-dimensional array in a semiconductor substrate surface portion that receives incidence light from a subject. The second pixel group includes a plurality of pixels arranged as a two-dimensional array in the semiconductor substrate surface portion in an area overlapping the first pixel group while the pixels in the first pixel group do not disposed in the same positions as the pixels in the second pixel group. The driving unit outputs a picked-up image signal of one frame from the first pixel group exposed over one vertical synchronizing time period for each vertical synchronizing signal. | 04-28-2011 |
20110128424 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING APPARATUS - A solid-state imaging apparatus which performs a global exposure operation, in a determined imaging region, for performing exposure as matching respective start times and respective end times of all rows, comprises: plural unit pixels arranged in two-dimensional matrix and each comprising a photoelectric converting unit for generating a pixel signal by photoelectric conversion, a holding unit for holding the generated pixel signal, and a first gate for transferring the generated pixel signal to the holding unit; a first controlling line connected commonly to the first gates in the unit pixels on the same row; a vertical controlling circuit for resetting the unit pixel; and a first driving line connected to the first controlling line, and not connected to and thus independent of the vertical controlling circuit, thereby enabling to reduce a current flowing in a power supply of the vertical controlling circuit when driving electrodes of the holding units. | 06-02-2011 |
20110149129 | MULTI-STEP EXPOSED IMAGE ACQUISITION METHOD BY ELECTRONIC SHUTTER AND PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A multi-step exposed image acquisition method by an electronic shutter and a photography apparatus using the same are provided. The photography apparatus includes a controller configured to divide an image sensor into a plurality of areas and separately control an exposure time with respect to the plurality of areas of the image sensor and a display configured to display an image on which the exposure times for the areas has been controlled. Accordingly, a multi-step exposed image can be acquired from an image having varying brightness. | 06-23-2011 |
20110149130 | Photographing Apparatus and Photographing Method - An image having good image quality is obtained by discharging charges accumulated in an image pickup device. A photographing apparatus, which includes an image pickup device having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix form and photographs a subject by light-exposing the image pickup device, includes: a detector for detecting a photographing state of the subject; an operation controller for controlling an operation of a curtain body traveling to block light to the image pickup device; and a scan controller for controlling a light-exposure start scan of the image pickup device by discharging charges accumulated in the image pickup device before the traveling of the curtain body, wherein the scan controller discharges the charges accumulated in the image pickup device a plurality of times according to the photographing state of the subject. | 06-23-2011 |
20110149131 | Photographing Apparatus and Photographing Method - Photographing having a wide dynamic range is performed by adjusting a discharging time for discharging charges accumulated in an image pickup device. A photographing apparatus comprises an image pickup device having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix form and photographs a subject by exposing the image pickup device to light, and also includes: a detector that detects a photographing state of the subject; an operation controller that controls an operation of a curtain body traveling to block light to the image pickup device; and a scan controller that controls an exposure start scanning of the image pickup device by discharging charges accumulated in the image pickup device before the traveling of the curtain body, wherein the scan controller adjusts a discharging time for discharging the charges accumulated in the image pickup device according to the photographing state of the subject. | 06-23-2011 |
20110176043 | Reducing Motion-Related Artifacts in Rolling Shutter Video Information - A system is described for reducing artifacts produced by a rolling shutter capture technique in the presence of high-frequency motion, e.g., produced by large accelerations or jitter. The system operates by computing low-frequency information based on the motion of points from one frame to the next. The system then uses the low-frequency information to infer the high-frequency motion, e.g., by treating the low-frequency information as known integrals of the unknown underlying high-frequency information. The system then uses the high-frequency information to reduce the presence of artifacts. In effect, the correction aims to re-render video information as though all the pixels in each frame were imaged at the same time using a global shutter technique. An auto-calibration module can estimate the value of a capture parameter, which relates to a time interval between the capture of two subsequent rows of video information. | 07-21-2011 |
20110205415 | IMAGE SENSOR, ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, AND DRIVING METHOD OF ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - An image sensor that has a pixel array section in which pixels are arrayed in a two-dimensional manner in vertical and horizontal directions and that controls an exposure time of each pixel in a rolling shutter method is disclosed. The sensor includes control means for determining an electronic shutter occurrence number within one horizontal scanning period, which is the number of rows where electronic shutters are simultaneously performed in one horizontal scanning period, by an operation based on an address addition amount (P | 08-25-2011 |
20110242378 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, DRIVING METHOD OF SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - A solid-state imaging device with unit pixels which have a photoelectric conversion element, an electric charge transferring/accumulating unit with multiple levels able to transfer electric charge generated in the photoelectric conversion element and accumulate the electric charge, and an electric charge detection unit that holds the electric charge transferred from the photoelectric conversion element, where, after resetting the photoelectric conversion element, all unit pixels simultaneously transfer signal electric charges, which are generated in the photoelectric conversion element during continuous exposure times of which each has a different duration, to the electric charge transferring/accumulating units and accumulate the signal electric charges in the different respective electric charge transferring/accumulating units, and in units of one or more pixels, the signal electric charges is transferred to the electric charge detecting unit and a plurality of signals which respectively corresponds to the plurality of signal electric charges is read out. | 10-06-2011 |
20110267514 | Method to compensate the effect of the rolling shutter effect - A method to create a video sequence of a plurality of resultant images is disclosed. The video sequence is produced from images originating from a rolling shutter acquisition sensor. | 11-03-2011 |
20110267515 | ELECTRONIC SHUTTER CONTROL IN IMAGE SENSORS - An image sensor includes an electronic shutter layer that is used to drain charge during an electronic shutter operation. A timing generator is electrically connected to a selector component. The selector component is electrically connected to an electronic shutter pulse driver component. The electronic shutter pulse driver component is electrically connected to a current sensing component. The current sensing component is electrically connected to the electronic shutter layer through a contact. The current sensing component senses a current level in the electronic shutter layer and changes a state of an alert signal when the current level equals or exceeds a threshold current level. Depending on the state of an alert signal, the selector component either transmits, or does not transmit, the drive pulse signal to the electronic shutter pulse driver component. An electronic shutter operation is performed when the electronic shutter pulse driver component receives the drive pulse signal. | 11-03-2011 |
20110267516 | ELECTRONIC SHUTTER CONTROL IN IMAGE SENSORS - An image sensor includes an electronic shutter layer that is used to drain charge away from the photosensitive regions during an electronic shutter operation. A current sensing component and a selector component are electrically connected to a contact to the electronic shutter layer in the image sensor. The current sensing component senses a current level in the electronic shutter layer and changes a state of an alert signal when the current level equals or exceeds a threshold current level. The selector component receives the alert signal from the current sensing component and a shutter signal from an electronic shutter pulse driver component. Depending on the state of the alert signal, the selector component either transmits, or does not transmit, the shutter signal to the electronic shutter layer. An electronic shutter operation is performed when the electronic shutter layer receives the shutter signal. | 11-03-2011 |
20110267517 | ELECTRONIC SHUTTER CONTROL IN IMAGE SENSORS - An image sensor includes an electronic shutter layer that is used to drain charge away from the photosensitive regions during an electronic shutter operation. A current reference component is electrically connected to a contact to the electronic shutter layer. The current reference component produces a signal having a level that is constant as a load current varies from zero to a threshold current level. A scaler component is electrically connected between the current reference component and an electronic shutter pulse driver component. The scaler component transmits the signal to the electronic shutter pulse driver component when the load current does not exceed the threshold current level. When the load current exceeds the threshold current level, the scaler component scales the level of the signal to a different level and transmits the scaled signal to the electronic shutter pulse driver component. | 11-03-2011 |
20110267518 | CONTROLLING ELECTRONIC SHUTTER IN IMAGE SENSORS - An image sensor includes an electronic shutter layer that drains charge away from the photosensitive regions during an electronic shutter operation. A signal is applied to the electronic shutter layer through a contact. Prior to performing an electronic shutter operation, a determination is made as to whether or not a current level in the electronic shutter layer substantially equals or exceeds a threshold current level. If the current level in the electronic shutter layer substantially equals or exceeds the threshold current level, the electronic shutter operation is not performed. The electronic shutter operation is performed if the current level in the electronic shutter layer does not substantially equal or exceed the threshold current level. | 11-03-2011 |
20110267519 | HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE APPROACH FOR A CMOS IMAGER USING A ROLLING SHUTTER AND A GATED PHOTOCATHODE - An imaging system includes a photocathode, configured to be gated ON/OFF at a selected gating frequency, for converting photons from an object into electrons and selectively transmitting the electrons toward an imaging sensor. The imaging sensor is configured to receive the electrons and provide a rolling shutter read out of rows of pixels. The imaging sensor includes a variable well selectively set to charge the rows of pixels to a first intensity level during a first integration period and charge to a second intensity level during a second integration period. The second integration period is longer than an OFF time of the photocathode gating frequency. The first and second integration periods are equal to a frame duration of the imaging sensor, defining a number of frames per second, and the selected gating frequency of the photocathode is higher than the number of frames per second. | 11-03-2011 |
20110267520 | SYSTEM FOR CAPTURING IMAGES AND RELATED USE FOR IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF THE IMAGES ACQUIRED - A system for capturing images includes a sensor with a plurality of photosensitive elements, an optical system for focusing the light towards the sensor, and an electronic rolling shutter arranged so as to expose the photosensitive elements to light at moments that depend on the relative positions thereof inside the sensor. The system for capturing images also includes a means for adapting, at each of at least two distinct given moments while capturing an image, the light focus towards the sensor and/or the light exposure for at least part of the photosensitive elements exposed to the light at said moment. | 11-03-2011 |
20110292262 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE AND IMAGE CAPTURE APPARATUS - A solid-state imaging device having a pixel array section in which pixels including photoelectric conversion elements are arranged in a matrix form, and sweeping out unnecessary charges by setting a predetermined number, two or more, of adjacent rows or a predetermined number, two or more, of adjacent columns, in the pixel array section, to a single group, and by applying a shutter pulse in units of groups before storing signal charges, and sequentially reading the signal charges in the units of groups. In the solid-state imaging device, a pre-shutter pulse is applied to pixels belonging to at least a single row or a single column within a succeeding group and adjacent to a preceding group, prior to the shutter pulse, before a reading timing for the preceding group, to sweep out unnecessary charges stored in the pixels. | 12-01-2011 |
20110298954 | Solid-state image pickup element, method of driving the same, and camera system - Disclosed herein is a solid-state image pickup element, including a pixel portion in which plural pixels each including a photoelectric conversion element for converting an optical signal into an electrical signal and accumulating therein the resulting electrical signal in accordance with an exposure period of time are disposed in a matrix; and a pixel driving portion adapted to control operations of the pixels in rows so as to carry out an electronic shutter operation and a reading operation of the pixel portion. | 12-08-2011 |
20120008027 | Solid-state imaging device and camera system - A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel section wherein pixels including photoelectric conversion devices are arranged in a matrix; and a pixel driving section including a row selection circuit which controls the pixels to perform an electronic shutter operation and readout of the pixel section. The row selection circuit has a function of selecting a readout row from which a signal is read out and a shutter row on which reset is performed by discharging charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion devices, in accordance with address and control signals. The row selection circuit can set, in accordance with the address and control signals, in the pixels of the selected row, at least a readout state, a discharge state where a smaller amount of the charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion devices than the reset is discharged, an electronic shutter state, and a charge state where the charge is accumulated in the photoelectric conversion devices. | 01-12-2012 |
20120033118 | CMOS IMAGE SENSOR HAVING WIDE DYNAMIC RANGE AND SENSING METHOD THEREOF - Disclosed are a CMOS image sensor having a wide dynamic range and a sensing method thereof. Each unit pixel of the CMOS image sensor of the present invention includes multiple processing units, so that one shuttering section for the image generation of one image frame can be divided into multiple sections to separately shutter and sample the divided sections by each processing unit. Thus, the image sensor of the present invention enables many shuttering actions to be performed in the multiple processing units, respectively, and the multiple processing units to separately sample each floating diffusion voltage caused by the shuttering actions, thereby realizing a wide dynamic range. | 02-09-2012 |
20120044396 | DUAL PINNED DIODE PIXEL WITH SHUTTER - A pixel having an electronic shutter suitable for use in a pixel array of an imaging device includes a pinned diode and a shutter transistor. The pinned diode is utilized as a storage device while the shutter transistor controls charge transfer from the electronic shutter. The use of a pinned diode as a charge storage device for the electronic shutter permits greater charge transfer efficiency, has lower leakage (or “dark” current), and permits the resulting pixel to have a greater fill factor than pixels utilizing conventional electronic shutter circuits. | 02-23-2012 |
20120057058 | ELECTRONIC CAMERA FOR SYNTHESIZING TWO IMAGES HAVING A WHITE BALANCE CORRECTION - An electronic camera for generating an image having a wide dynamic range by synthesizing two image pickup signals of different exposure amount generated by using an electronic shutter function and unit for shutting off light, shading of image pickup signals resulting from difference in charge accumulating time among the pixels of image pickup device due to operation from opened state to closed state of the unit for shutting off light being corrected by a shading correction unit to form a synthesized image without an occurrence of false color due to shading. | 03-08-2012 |
20120120291 | IMAGE-CAPTURING DEVICE, IMAGE-CAPTURING METHOD, AND IMAGE-CAPTURING PROGRAM - An electronic shutter control part is configured to control an electronic shutter. A mechanical shutter has a light-shielding part. The mechanical shutter is configured to end exposing the first and second photoelectric conversion elements by moving the light-shielding part. The assessing part is configured to assess whether the length of a exposure time is longer or less than a threshold value. The electronic shutter control part is configured to control the electronic shutter to start exposing the first photoelectric conversion element at a first exposure-start timing and control the electronic shutter to start exposing the second photoelectric conversion element at a second exposure-start timing in order to make the first exposure time to be closer to the second exposure time when the exposure time is less than a threshold value, than when the exposure time is longer than a threshold value | 05-17-2012 |
20120147234 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND SHUTTER OPERATION SELECTING METHOD - An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging device that includes a plurality of pixels; a first curtain that travels to block incidence of light on the imaging device; a second curtain that permits the incidence of light on the imaging device earlier than the traveling of the first curtain; a reset unit that sequentially reset-scans lines of the pixels earlier than the traveling of the first curtain; and an operation selecting unit that selects one of a mechanical shutter operation performed by the traveling of the first curtain and the second curtain and an electronic shutter operation performed by the first curtain and the reset unit depending on a slit width formed by the first curtain and the second curtain or a slit width formed by the first curtain and the reset-scanning of the reset unit. | 06-14-2012 |
20120176522 | IMAGING METHOD AND IMAGING APPARATUS - An imaging method includes a step of setting, when a digital zoom operation mode for enlarging an image imaged by a imaging part of an X-Y address type is selected, a zoom magnification and enlarging the image at the zoom magnification set. The imaging method includes the steps of: setting an imaging range in a vertical direction of the imaging part according to the zoom magnification set in the digital zoom step; outputting a driving signal for scanning the shutter signal and the readout signal to perform exposure in the imaging range set in the imaging range setting step and driving the imaging part; and discarding, when the zoom magnification is changed in the digital zoom step, images imaged by the imaging part before and after the change of the zoom magnification to prevent the images from being used. | 07-12-2012 |
20120218450 | Autofocus-Zoom Camera Module Integrating Liquid Crystal Device as High Speed Shutter - A camera module having a liquid crystal shutter that controls the time period during which the image sensor is exposed to light directed into the camera module. The shutter is located within the camera module housing, which may include EMI shielding and may include a lens actuator for moving a movable lens group. The shutter may be located before or after the movable lens group and before or after a fixed lens group that may also be included. The camera module may also include an IR filter for reducing the amount of IR light that reaches the image sensor. | 08-30-2012 |
20120236188 | PHYSICAL QUANTITY DETECTING DEVICE, SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, AND IMAGING APPARATUS - A physical quantity detecting device includes a pixel array and a vertical driving circuit. In the pixel array, pixels each for converting a physical quantity supplied from the outside into an electric signal and storing the electric signal are two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix. The vertical driving circuit scans a plurality of sets of read rows so that a storage time for each of the electric signals differs from one another and performs a shutter operation on a shutter row in synchronization with a readout operation performed on the corresponding set of read rows out of the plurality of sets of read rows during 1H period that is a unit of time of scanning. | 09-20-2012 |
20120236189 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - In an apparatus, operation is switchable between first and second modes. In the first mode, a photoelectric conversion part and a charge storage part are released from a reset state for all pixels included in an image acquisition area to start a period, and, when a predetermined time has elapsed, the photoelectric conversion part and an overflow drain region of each pixel are turned onto end the period, and finally the charge stored in the charge storage part is transferred to the amplifier part. In the second mode, after a mechanical shutter is opened to start a period, the mechanical shutter is closed to end the period, and stored charge is transferred to the amplifier part. | 09-20-2012 |
20120249848 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, AND CONTROL METHOD AND PROGRAM THEREOF - An image pickup apparatus is arranged to perform live view to display enlarged image by deciding a Tv value, an Av value, and an ISO value based on a program diagram for deciding an exposure amount from brightness of an object, when a change instruction of an AF adjustment value used for a live view is provided, while when an operation to start the live view is provided and the change instruction of the AF adjustment value used for the live view is not provided, the apparatus performs live view by deciding the Tv value, Av value, and ISO value based on the program diagram if a photographing mode is not a manual mode, but performs the live view by using the Tv value, Av value, and ISO value set by the user, if the photographing mode is the manual mode. | 10-04-2012 |
20120249849 | IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE - An image pickup device includes: an image pickup element; a control portion sequentially resetting charge stored in the image pickup element for every pixel line in a predetermined direction such that an electronic leading shutter moves in a simulated manner; a focal plane shutter including: a board including an opening; a mechanical type of a trailing shutter capable of opening and closing the opening; an actuator driving the trailing shutter; and a detection portion detecting that the trailing shutter passes through a given position of a movement trace of the trailing shutter; and a drive control portion controlling driving of the actuator based on a detection result of the detection portion. | 10-04-2012 |
20120293699 | PAUSING DIGITAL READOUT OF AN OPTICAL SENSOR ARRAY - Providing for pausing data readout from an optical sensor array is described herein. By way of example, an interruption period can be introduced into a readout cycle of the optical sensor array to suspend readout of data. During the interruption period, other operations related to the optical sensor array can be performed, including operations that are typically detrimental to image quality. Moreover, these operations can be performed while mitigating or avoiding negative impact on the image quality. Thus, greater flexibility is provided for global shutter operations, for instance, potentially improving frame rates and fine control of image exposure, while preserving image quality. | 11-22-2012 |
20130044247 | SOLID-STATE IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE, METHOD OF READING PIXEL SIGNAL, AND PIXEL - In a pixel | 02-21-2013 |
20130155300 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, IMAGE PICKUP METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM - An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup element to obtain an image of a subject using a plurality of pixels which are classified into a plurality of pixel groups and are arranged in a matrix pattern, a controller to apply a reset signal to start exposure of a pixel on a pixel group basis in sequence, to read out pixel values of the plurality of pixel groups on the pixel group basis in sequence according to the reset signal applying order, and to control the image pickup element such that each of the pixel groups has a same exposure time, and a storage unit to store the pixel values read out on the pixel group basis in sequence. | 06-20-2013 |
20130155301 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, IMAGE PICKUP METHOD, AND MACHINE-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - An image pickup apparatus and method are provided. The method includes performing a first and second reset operations with respect to a charge accumulated in first and second pixel lines, respectively, of an image pickup device, each of the first and second pixel lines having a plurality of pixels; traveling a light shielding member on the first and second pixel lines, respectively when first and second respective exposure times elapse from the first and second reset operations, respectively; outputting the charge accumulated in the first and second pixel lines, respectively, as first and second pixel data, respectively, after the light shielding member travels on the first and second pixel lines, respectively; and computing a first calibration value for the first pixel line and a second calibration value for the second pixel line based on the first and second pixel data and the first and second exposure times. | 06-20-2013 |
20130182160 | IMAGE SENSOR AND METHOD OF SENSING - An image sensor has a plurality of pixels arranged in an array, a selection means for selecting individual pixels in the array, and a shutter means for transmitting a shutter signal to the pixels. The pixels are constructed and arranged to sense incident light only when both selected and in receipt of a shutter signal. The pixels in said array can thus be triggered individually to capture light at different times. | 07-18-2013 |
20130208156 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING APPARATUS - A solid-state imaging apparatus which performs a global exposure operation, in a determined imaging region, for performing exposure as matching respective start times and respective end times of all rows, comprises: plural unit pixels arranged in two-dimensional matrix and each comprising a photoelectric converting unit for generating a pixel signal by photoelectric conversion, a holding unit for holding the generated pixel signal, and a first gate for transferring the generated pixel signal to the holding unit; a first controlling line connected commonly to the first gates in the unit pixels on the same row; a vertical controlling circuit for resetting the unit pixel; and a first driving line connected to the first controlling line, and not connected to and thus independent of the vertical controlling circuit, thereby enabling to reduce a current flowing in a power supply of the vertical controlling circuit when driving electrodes of the holding units. | 08-15-2013 |
20130229553 | IMAGING DEVICE EMPLOYING ROLLING SHUTTER SYSTEM - An imaging device includes an imaging unit having a pixel group two-dimensionally arranged vertically and horizontally, and configured to read pixel signals associated with generation of a frame image in units of lines by a rolling shutter system, and a drive unit configured to periodically switch, when a plurality of frame images are consecutively read from the imaging unit with a predetermined frame period in video recording, positions of a plurality of lines each of which is made a read object in each of the frame images in units of frames. | 09-05-2013 |
20130258150 | SOLID-STATE IMAGE CAPTURING DEVICE, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SOLID-STATE IMAGE CAPTURING DEVICE, METHOD OF DRIVING SOLID-STATE IMAGE CAPTURING DEVICE, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - A solid-state image capturing device including: a substrate; a substrate voltage source which applies a first potential to the substrate during a light reception period and applies a second potential to the substrate during a non-light reception period; and a plurality of pixels which each includes a light receiver which is formed on a front surface of the substrate and generates signal charges in accordance with received light, a storage capacitor which is formed adjacent to the light receiver and accumulates and stores signal charges generated by the light receiver, dark-current suppressors which are formed in the light receiver and the storage capacitor, an electronic shutter adjusting layer which is formed in an area facing the light receiver in the substrate and distant from the storage capacitor and which adjusts potential distribution, and a floating diffusion portion to which the signal charges accumulated in the storage capacitor are transmitted. | 10-03-2013 |
20130271631 | LIGHT RECEIVER, LIGHT RECEPTION METHOD AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM - According to one embodiment, a light receiver includes a light reception module, a multi-exposure area selector, a multi-exposure controller, and a readout module. The light reception module includes N lines, each of the N lines having a plurality of light receiving elements. The multi-exposure area selector is configured to select one or a plurality of single-exposure lines and one or a plurality of multi-exposure lines. The multi-exposure controller is configured to, per the unit time, perform an exposure on the single-exposure lines one time for a first exposure time; and a first exposure and a second exposure on the multi-exposure lines. The readout module is configured to read exposure amounts of the lines line by line. The multi-exposure controller is configured to start the second exposure on the multi-exposure lines before reading of the exposure amounts of all the single-exposure lines is completed. | 10-17-2013 |
20130278802 | EXPOSURE TIMING MANIPULATION IN A MULTI-LENS CAMERA - The exposure of pixel lines in one or more image sensor regions is substantially synchronized. Each image sensor region is associated with a different lens in a multi-lens camera system. For a first pixel line in a first image sensor region and a second pixel line in a second image sensor region corresponding to the same portion of a field of view, the first pixel line and the second pixel line are sequentially or substantially simultaneously exposed. After exposing the first pixel line and the second pixel line, image information associated with the exposures is combined and output on the same readout line. | 10-24-2013 |
20130335606 | IMAGING DEVICE AND FOCUS CONTROL METHOD - Provides an imaging device including, imaging element in which plural first lines arrayed with first phase difference detection pixels, and plural second lines arrayed with second phase difference detection pixels, are arrayed alternately; reading out section read out signals of the phase difference detection pixels; first correlation computing section carry out first correlation computation on signals read out from a set of the first and the second phase difference detection pixel; second correlation computing section carry out second correlation computation on signals read out from at least one set among a set of plural first phase difference detection pixels of the first line, and a set of plural second phase difference detection pixels of the second line; correcting section corrects results of the first correlation computation, by results of the second correlation computation; and focusing section control focusing based on the corrected correlation computation. | 12-19-2013 |
20140002703 | SOLID STATE IMAGING ELEMENT AND CAMERA SYSTEM | 01-02-2014 |
20140022427 | SOLID STATE IMAGING APPARATUS, SIGNAL READING METHOD, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - There is provided a solid state imaging apparatus including a pixel array in which a plurality of unit pixels are arranged two-dimensionally. Each pixel includes a photoelectric conversion element, a transfer transistor which transfers a charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion element to floating diffusion, a reset transistor which resets the charge of the floating diffusion, and an output transistor which outputs the charge of the floating diffusion. The floating diffusion of at least one of the plurality of unit pixels is electrically connected via the output transistor. | 01-23-2014 |
20140049674 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME, METHOD FOR DRIVING THE SAME, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - An imaging device with ( | 02-20-2014 |
20140063304 | IMAGE SENSOR WITH FIXED POTENTIAL OUTPUT TRANSISTOR - An image sensor pixel includes a photosensitive region and pixel circuitry. The photosensitive region accumulates an image charge in response to light incident upon the image sensor. The pixel circuitry includes a transfer-storage transistor, a charge-storage area, an output transistor, and a floating diffusion region. The transfer-storage transistor is coupled between the photosensitive region and the charge-storage area. The output transistor has a channel coupled between the charge-storage area and the floating diffusion region and has a gate tied to a fixed voltage potential. The transfer-storage transistor causes the image charge to transfer from the photosensitive region to the charge-storage area and to transfer from the charge-storage area to the floating diffusion region. | 03-06-2014 |
20140085518 | CMOS TDI IMAGE SENSOR WITH ROLLING SHUTTER PIXELS - An improved complementary metal oxide semiconductor image sensor for time delay and integration imaging is provided that utilizes rolling shutter pixels. Columns of rolling shutter pixels in the CMOS image array are provided with a space between adjacent pixels to provide synchronization with movement of the subject in the along track direction. Preferably, the physical offset between the pixels is 1/Nth of a pixel pitch for a column having N rows. | 03-27-2014 |
20140125852 | OPTICAL DEMODULATION USING AN IMAGE SENSOR - A controller for an image sensor includes a mode selector that receives a selection between image capture mode and data capture mode. An exposure sensor collects exposure data for a scene falling on the image sensor. A command interface sends commands to the image sensor to cause the image sensor to capture an image with a rolling reset shutter operation in which an integration interval for the image sensor is set based on the exposure data if the image capture mode is selected. The integration interval for the image sensor is set to less than two row periods, preferably close to one row period, without regard to the exposure data if the data capture mode is selected. An analog gain may be increased to as large a value as possible in data capture mode. All pixels in a row may be summed before AD conversion in data capture mode. | 05-08-2014 |
20140125853 | IMAGING APPARATUS COMPRISING IMAGE SENSOR ARRAY HAVING SHARED GLOBAL SHUTTER CIRCUITRY - There is set forth herein in one embodiment an image sensor array including a global shutter shared by first and second pixels. The global shutter can include a charge storage area having an associated shield for reducing charge build up on the charge storage area attributable to incident light rays. There is set forth herein in one embodiment an imaging apparatus having one or more configuration. The one or more configuration can include one or more of a configuration wherein a frame read out from an image sensor array has unbinned pixel values, a configuration wherein a frame read out from an image sensor array has binned pixel values corresponding to an M×N, M>=2, N>=2 arrangement of pixel values, and a configuration wherein a frame read out from an image sensor array has binned pixel values corresponding to a 1×N, N>=2 arrangement of pixel values. | 05-08-2014 |
20140139712 | IMAGING DEVICE - An imaging device includes: a stack-type solid-state imaging device which includes pixels including: a photoelectric conversion film which performs photoelectric conversion on light to convert the light into signal charges; a pixel electrode on a first surface of the photoelectric conversion film, the first surface being at a side of the semiconductor substrate; a transparent electrode on a second surface of the photoelectric conversion film, the second surface being opposite to the first surface; and a pixel circuit unit configured to read the signal charges, and accumulate the read signal charges, and the imaging device further includes a control unit configured to control exposure time by selectively applying, to the transparent electrode, a voltage having a first voltage value at which the signal charges move to the pixel circuit unit and a voltage having a second value at which the signal charges move to the pixel circuit unit. | 05-22-2014 |
20140146209 | PUMPED PINNED PHOTODIODE PIXEL ARRAY - The present invention relates to a pumped pixel that includes a first photo-diode accumulating charge in response to impinging photons, a second photo-diode, and a floating diffusion positioned on a substrate. The pixel also includes a charge barrier positioned on the substrate between the first photo-diode and the second photo-diode, where the charge harrier temporarily blocks charge transfer between the first photo-diode and the second photo-diode. A pump gate may also be formed on the substrate adjacent to the charge barrier. The pump gate pumps the accumulated charge from the first photo-diode to the second photo-diode through the charge barrier. Also included is a transfer gate positioned on the substrate between the second photo-diode and the floating diffusion. The transfer gate serves to transfer the pumped charge from, the second photo-diode to the floating diffusion. | 05-29-2014 |
20140204253 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE - According to one embodiment, a pixel array unit, an exposure period control unit, and a charge discharge control unit are provided. In the pixel array unit, pixels that accumulate photoelectrically converted charges are arranged in a matrix form. The exposure period control unit controls an exposure period of the pixels with respect to each of lines. The charge discharge control unit performs discharge control of charges accumulated in the pixels in a non-exposure period of the pixels with respect to each of lines. | 07-24-2014 |
20140204254 | IMAGE SENSOR, ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, AND DRIVING METHOD OF ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - An image sensor that has a pixel array section in which pixels are arrayed in a two-dimensional manner in vertical and horizontal directions and that controls an exposure time of each pixel in a rolling shutter method is disclosed. The sensor includes control means for determining an electronic shutter occurrence number within one horizontal scanning period, which is the number of rows where electronic shutters are simultaneously performed in one horizontal scanning period, by an operation based on an address addition amount (P | 07-24-2014 |
20140218575 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An image capturing apparatus is provided. A synchronizing signal generation unit generates a short-term vertical synchronizing signal VDS and a long-term vertical synchronizing signal VDL, one cycle of which is equal to N cycles of VDS. An exposure control unit performs short-term exposure and long-term exposure for the predetermined number of lines of an image sensor according to VDS and VDL. The exposure control unit starts a read operation of pixel signals for a long-term exposure line in synchronism with VDL, and starts a read operation of pixel signals for a short-term exposure line in synchronism with VDS, which does not overlap a read period Fr_L Readout of pixel signals of a long-term exposure line. | 08-07-2014 |
20140240563 | SIGNAL PROCESSING UNIT, SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD, IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE, AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - A signal processing unit includes: a synchronizing signal control section configured to control length of a synchronizing signal for a predetermined row in a frame, in which the synchronizing signal serves as a basis of charge read processing that reads charge from a pixel array on a row basis; and a timing adjustment section configured to adjust timing of electronic shutter operation of unit pixels, according to the length of the synchronizing signal for the predetermined row controlled by the synchronizing signal control section. | 08-28-2014 |
20140267853 | IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE AND FOCAL PLANE SHUTTER - An image pickup device includes: an image pickup element; a control portion sequentially resetting charge stored in the image pickup element for every pixel line in a predetermined direction such that an electronic leading blade moves in a simulated manner; and a focal plane shutter. | 09-18-2014 |
20140300787 | SOLID-STATE IMAGE PICKUP ELEMENT, METHOD OF DRIVING THE SAME, AND CAMERA SYSTEM - Disclosed herein is a solid-state image pickup element, including a pixel portion in which plural pixels each including a photoelectric conversion element for converting an optical signal into an electrical signal and accumulating therein the resulting electrical signal in accordance with an exposure period of time are disposed in a matrix; and a pixel driving portion adapted to control operations of the pixels in rows so as to carry out an electronic shutter operation and a reading operation of the pixel portion. | 10-09-2014 |
20140340550 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND PROGRAM - An image processing apparatus includes an intermediate image generating unit configured to input an image which has been shot with differing exposure times set by region, generates a plurality of exposure pattern images corresponding to differing exposure times based on the input image, and generates a plurality of timing images which are difference images of the plurality of exposure pattern images; and a distortion correction processing unit configured to generate a corrected image equivalent to an exposure processing image at a predetermined exposure time by synthesizing processing of the plurality of timing images. | 11-20-2014 |
20140347534 | IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE AND FOCAL PLANE SHUTTER - An image pickup device includes: an image pickup element; a control portion artificially driving an electronic leading blade by resetting stored charges of the image pickup element in a predetermined direction at every pixel line; and a focal plane shutter includes a board including an opening exposing the image pickup element, a mechanical trailing blade capable of opening and closing the opening, a trailing blade drive lever driving the trailing blade, an actuator actuating the trailing blade drive lever, a shading member capable of opening and closing at least a part of the opening, a shading member drive lever driving the shading member, a connection member provided on the shading member drive lever, and a biasing member biasing the shading member drive lever such that the shading member recedes from the opening. | 11-27-2014 |
20150070543 | DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - A digital photographing apparatus and a method of controlling the same. A continuous shooting speed of the digital photographing apparatus may be improved by simultaneously performing a shutter operation and a read out operation of image data. A disclosed method of controlling a digital photographing apparatus includes displaying an image signal input through an image pickup device as a live view image, performing a first operation by driving a shutter, reading data from the image pickup device, and performing a second operation by driving the shutter during a time period overlapping the reading of the data. | 03-12-2015 |
20150077602 | IMAGE SENSOR AND IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS - An image sensor comprises a first semiconductor substrate on which a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged, a second semiconductor substrate on which a plurality of storage devices each for storing pixel signals are arranged; and a plurality of connection units configured to electrically connect the photodiodes and the storage devices, wherein the plurality of storage devices are arranged in correspondence with the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements. | 03-19-2015 |
20150085170 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME - A solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of pixels in a two-dimensional array. Each pixel includes a photoelectric conversion element that converts incident light into electric charge, and a charge holding element that receives the electric charge from the photoelectric conversion element, and transfers the electric charge to a corresponding floating diffusion. The charge holding element further includes a plurality of electrodes. | 03-26-2015 |
20150092093 | IMAGING DEVICE AND IMAGING METHOD - A unit group which is formed by pixel cell rows L | 04-02-2015 |
20150097997 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGING APPARATUS, SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND PROGRAM - An image processing apparatus includes: a shaking estimating unit configured to estimate the shaking information of an image generated within a predetermined period of time; a short-time-exposure shaking correcting unit configured to correct the shaking of a plurality of short-time-exposure images generated due to intermittent exposure within the predetermined period of time based on the estimated shaking information; a long-time-exposure shaking correcting unit configured to correct the shaking of a long-time-exposure image generated due to consecutive exposure within the predetermined period of time based on the estimated shaking information; and an image synthesizing unit configured to synthesize the corrected short-time-exposure images and the corrected long-time-exposure image. | 04-09-2015 |
20150109502 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE AND CAMERA SYSTEM - A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel section wherein pixels including photoelectric conversion devices are arranged in a matrix; and a pixel driving section including a row selection circuit which controls the pixels to perform an electronic shutter operation and readout of the pixel section. The row selection circuit has a function of selecting a readout row from which a signal is read out and a shutter row on which reset is performed by discharging charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion devices, in accordance with address and control signals. The row selection circuit can set, in accordance with the address and control signals, in the pixels of the selected row, at least a readout state, a discharge state where a smaller amount of the charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion devices than the reset is discharged, an electronic shutter state, and a charge state where the charge is accumulated in the photoelectric conversion devices. | 04-23-2015 |
20150116561 | IMAGE PICKUP SYSTEM - An image pickup system includes: an image sensor that performs a rolling-shutter image pickup operation; a generator; an adding section that adds image pickup signals from an image pickup signal in a predetermined frame to an image pickup signal in an Nth frame, with the predetermined frame being set as a first frame; a light source; a signal output section that outputs a signal representing either a timing of start of readout of a first line in the predetermined frame or a timing of completion of readout of a last line in a frame immediately before the predetermined frame; and a light source control section that starts light emission after an input of the signal and terminates light emission in a period after completion of readout of a first line in an N-1th frame until before a start of a first line in the Nth frame. | 04-30-2015 |
20150124132 | IMAGING ELEMENT, DRIVING METHOD, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - The present technology relates to an imaging element, a driving method, and an electronic apparatus that can decrease a voltage and increase a saturation signal amount. | 05-07-2015 |
20150124133 | DRIVE APPARATUS, DRIVE METHOD, AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE - Provided is a drive apparatus including an address decoder circuit provided in each pixel row of a pixel array inside a solid state image sensor, the address decoder circuit being configured to generate at least a control signal to cause, based on a V address signal to identify the pixel row in the pixel array, pixels of the pixel row corresponding to the V address signal to perform a read operation that reads accumulated charges from the relevant pixels or an electronic shutter operation that sweeps away the accumulated charges from the relevant pixels. The V address signals of at least two mutually different systems are supplied to the address decoder circuit, and at least the two mutually different address decoder circuits generate the control signal for at least the two mutually different pixel rows within one horizontal scanning period. | 05-07-2015 |
20150146058 | Focal-Plane Shutter - A focal-plane shutter is provided with a driving member that drives a fore-blade, a setting component that sets the driving member into a set position prior to a shutter action, a component being attracted provided in the driving member, and electromagnets that exert attracting action by means of electrical conduction to the component being attracted under a condition where the driving member is set into the set position. The component being attracted includes an axis, a part being attracted on one end of the axis, and a flange having a curved surface curved in a convex manner on the other end of the axis. The driving member includes through-holes at designated intervals that go through the axis and two flat inclined surfaces that receive the curved surface of the flange in two locations. | 05-28-2015 |
20150146059 | IMAGE SENSOR, ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, AND DRIVING METHOD OF ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - An image sensor that has a pixel array section in which pixels are arrayed in a two-dimensional manner in vertical and horizontal directions and that controls an exposure time of each pixel in a rolling shutter method is disclosed. The sensor includes control means for determining an electronic shutter occurrence number within one horizontal scanning period, which is the number of rows where electronic shutters are simultaneously performed in one horizontal scanning period, by an operation based on an address addition amount (P | 05-28-2015 |
20150296103 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, DRIVING METHOD, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - Disclosed is a solid-state imaging device including a pixel array, two vertical scanning circuits, and a control part. The pixel array has a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix form. The two vertical scanning circuits are configured to sequentially select and scan each of the pixels in a vertical direction per row. The control part is configured to generate, based on a mode signal corresponding to an imaging mode, a driving switch signal to stop driving of one of the two vertical scanning circuits. | 10-15-2015 |
20150358563 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, METHOD OF CONTROLLING IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - An image pickup apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store a relation between an aperture value and a shutter speed for image restoration, a control unit configured to set the aperture value and the shutter speed based on a shooting condition and the relation stored in the storage unit, and an image pickup unit configured to photoelectrically convert an optical image formed via an image pickup optical system with the set aperture value and shutter speed to output an image, and the image restoration is processing to reduce a deterioration of the image caused by an aberration of the image pickup optical system. | 12-10-2015 |
20160006917 | IMAGING DEVICE AND METHOD OF DRIVING IMAGING DEVICE - An imaging device includes a pixel including a first photoelectric conversion element, a second photoelectric conversion element, and a microlens commonly provided for the first and the second photoelectric conversion elements, a read-out circuit configured to reset the first and the second photoelectric conversion elements, read out a first focal point detection signal based on signal charges generated in the first photoelectric conversion element, and read out, after the first focal point detection signal is read out, a second focal point detection signal based on signal charges generated in at least the second photoelectric conversion element, and a correction unit configured to correct at least one of the first and the second focal point detection signals in accordance with a time difference between a timing of the read-out of the first focal point detection signal and a timing of the read-out of the second focal point detection signal. | 01-07-2016 |
20160006959 | SOLID-STATE IMAGE TAKING DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - A solid-state image taking device including a pixel section and a scan driving section wherein on each pixel column included in the pixel area determined in advance to serve as a pixel column having the unit pixels laid out in the scan direction, the opto-electric conversion section and the electric-charge holding section are laid out alternately and repeatedly, and on each of the pixel columns in the pixel area determined in advance, two the electric-charge holding sections of two adjacent ones of the unit pixels are laid out disproportionately toward one side of the scan direction with respect to the optical-path limiting section or the opto-electric conversion section. | 01-07-2016 |
20160037093 | IMAGE SENSORS WITH ELECTRONIC SHUTTER - In various embodiments, an image sensor and related method are disclosed. In an embodiment, an image sensor includes an optically sensitive material, and a pixel circuit including a sense node in electrical communication with the optically sensitive material. The pixel circuit stores an electrical signal proportional to an intensity of light incident on the optically sensitive material during an integration period. The pixel circuit includes a differential transistor pair in electrical communication with the optically sensitive material. The differential transistor pair includes a first transistor and a second transistor, with the first transistor being disposed between the optically sensitive material and the sense node. The differential transistor pair steers current between the optically sensitive material and the sense node through the first transistor during the integration period and steers current through the second transistor after the integration period to discontinue integration of the electrical signal onto the sense node. | 02-04-2016 |
20160044256 | METHOD OF ADAPTIVELY REDUCING POWER CONSUMPTION AND AN IMAGE SENSOR THEREOF - A method of adaptively reducing power consumption in an image sensor includes using an electronic rolling shutter to reset pixels of the image sensor row by row. Signal charges are read out from the pixels row by row, followed by obtaining an integration time and a frame height. A power-saving signal is generated when the integration time is substantially greater than the frame height, and at least a circuitry that is not required to operate during an active period of the power-saving signal is turned off. | 02-11-2016 |
20160044258 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND IMAGING METHOD THEREOF - An imaging apparatus and an image method thereof are provided. The imaging apparatus includes an image pickup including a pixel, the pixel being configured to accumulate a charge. The imaging apparatus further includes an image processor configured to perform image processing based on the accumulated charge to generate an image, a signal generator, and a controller configured to determine an exposure pattern of the pixel, and control the signal generator to generate a reset signal based on the determined exposure pattern. The pixel is configured to accumulate the charge based on the reset signal. | 02-11-2016 |
20160050377 | ACTIVE PIXEL SENSORS AND IMAGE DEVICES HAVING STACKED PIXEL STRUCTURE SUPPORTING GLOBAL SHUTTER - A global shutter pixel has a stacked pixel structure. The pixel includes a sample and readout circuit on a lower substrate and a photodiode and transfer circuit on an upper substrate. The sample and readout circuit is configured to store accumulated charge and output a pixel data signal corresponding to the stored accumulated charge. The photodiode and transfer circuit is configured to accumulate charge in response to incident light, and to transfer the accumulated charge to the sample and readout circuit, the upper substrate being stacked on the lower substrate. | 02-18-2016 |
20160080676 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME - A solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of pixels in a two-dimensional array. Each pixel includes a photoelectric conversion element that converts incident light into electric charge, and a charge holding element that receives the electric charge from the photoelectric conversion element, and transfers the electric charge to a corresponding floating diffusion. The charge holding element further includes a plurality of electrodes. | 03-17-2016 |
20160088249 | SOLID-STATE IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE - A solid-state image pickup device includes an optoelectronic conversion unit, a first optical signal accumulation unit, a second optical signal accumulation unit, and a combining unit, in which the first optical signal accumulation unit accumulates a first optical signal obtained by the optoelectronic conversion by the optoelectronic conversion unit in a first period, the second optical signal accumulation unit accumulates a second optical signal obtained by the optoelectronic conversion by the optoelectronic conversion unit in a second period, the second period being shorter than the first period, and the combining unit combines the second optical signal with the first optical signal when a noise in the first optical signal is equal to or larger than a noise in the second optical signal. | 03-24-2016 |
20160100113 | Image Sensors and Related Methods and Electronic Devices - An image sensor is provided including a pixel array, a correlated double sampling (CDS) unit, an analog-digital converting (ADC) unit, a control unit, and an overflow power voltage control unit. The pixel array includes at least one unit pixel that generates accumulated charges corresponding to incident light in a photoelectric conversion period and outputs an analog signal based on the accumulated charges in a readout period. The CDS unit generates an image signal by performing a CDS operation on the analog signal. An ADC unit converts the image signal into a digital signal. A control unit controls the pixel array, the CDS unit, and the ADC unit. An overflow power voltage control unit controls an overflow power voltage to have a low voltage level in the photoelectric conversion period and controls the overflow power voltage to have a high voltage level in the readout period. | 04-07-2016 |
20160142653 | IMAGE SENSOR AND METHOD OF OUTPUTTING DATA FROM THE IMAGE SENSOR - An image sensor capable of implementing a global shutter mode and a rolling shutter mode is provided. The image sensor includes a row driver, a pixel array, an analog-to-digital converter, and an output compensating circuit. The row driver performs decoding for a reset operation, a transfer operation and a read operation, and generates control signals. The pixel array, in a rolling shutter mode, performs the transfer operation on a second row group while the read operation for a first row group is performed, and receives an optical signal, converts the optical signal to electrical signal, and outputs the electrical signal as an image signal in response to the control signals. | 05-19-2016 |
20160381308 | OPTICAL ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING ENHANCED GLOBAL SHUTTER PIXEL ARRAY AND RELATED METHODS - An optical electronic device may include a plurality of different optical sources, and a global shutter sensor including an array of global shutter pixels, with each global shutter pixel including a plurality of storage elements. A controller may be coupled to the plurality of optical sources and the global shutter sensor and configured to cause a first optical source to illuminate and a first storage element in each global shutter pixel to store optical data during a first integration period, cause a second optical source to illuminate and a second storage element in each global shutter pixel to store optical data during a second integration period, and output the stored optical data from the first and second storage elements of the global shutter pixels after the first and second integration periods. | 12-29-2016 |
20190149754 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, METHOD FOR DRIVING SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS | 05-16-2019 |