Abstract: A method for removing a sunspot of an image sensor, an apparatus for removing a sunspot of an image sensor and an image sensor are provided. The method includes: obtaining reset sampling signal values of pixel units in a pixel array of the image sensor; for each of the reset sampling signal values, determining whether the reset sampling signal value is less than a predetermined sampling signal threshold, and generating a comparing signal when the reset sampling signal value is less than the predetermined sampling signal threshold; generating location information of the pixel unit corresponding to the reset sampling signal value according to the comparing signal; and replacing the reset sampling signal value corresponding to the location information with a maximum brightness value.

Abstract: A pixel cell, a method for manufacturing the same and an image sensor including the same are provided. The pixel cell includes: a substrate; a photodiode, a pass transistor and a floating diffusion structure respectively formed on the substrate, in which the pass transistor is formed between the photodiode and the floating diffusion structure; and a PINNED structure, formed on the substrate and connected with the floating diffusion structure, in which a reset voltage of the floating diffusion structure is higher than a depletion voltage of the PINNED structure.

Abstract: A method and a device for enhancing an edge of an image are provided. The method includes: obtaining a first gradient value of a pixel; determining whether the pixel is at a rough edge according to the first gradient value; if yes, obtaining a first edge enhancement value of the pixel and obtaining a first edge enhancement result of the pixel according to the first edge enhancement value; if no, obtaining a second gradient value of the pixel; determining whether the pixel is at a tiny edge according to the second gradient value; if yes, obtaining a second edge enhancement value of the pixel and obtaining a second edge enhancement result of the pixel according to the second edge enhancement value; if no, obtaining the pixel value of the pixel as the edge enhancement result of the pixel; and repeating above steps until each pixel of the image is processed.

Abstract: The present invention proposes an image sensor, a monitoring system and a method for designing an image sensor, the image sensor including: a color filter, wherein, for light in infrared wavebands, the color filter only allows particular-wavelength infrared light to pass, and the color filter includes multiple n-color filters, wherein each filter corresponds to one color, the multiple n-color filters are used for dividing visible light in incident light into n-color light; and a light-sensitive chip, including a signal processing circuit and multiple light-sensitive units, the multiple light-sensitive units are respectively used for sensing intensity of light transmitting through the multiple n-color filters and generating electric signals corresponding to the light transmitting through the multiple n-color filters, the signal processing circuit is used for processing the electric signals for imaging, wherein a gain ratio of the signal processing circuit to the electric signals is A1: A2: . . . : Ai: . . .

Abstract: The present invention proposes an image sensor and a monitoring system, the image sensor including: a color filter, wherein, for light in infrared wavebands, the color filter only allows particular-wavelength infrared light to pass, and the color filter includes multiple n-color filters, wherein each filter corresponds to one color, used for dividing visible light in incident light into n-color light; and a light-sensitive chip including a signal processing circuit and multiple light-sensitive units, wherein the multiple light-sensitive units are respectively used for sensing intensity of light transmitting through the multiple n-color filters and generating electric signals corresponding to the light transmitting through the multiple n-color filters, the signal processing circuit is used for processing the electric signals for imaging, and a gain ratio of the signal processing circuit to the electric signals is A1:A2: . . .

Abstract: A method for removing a sunspot of an image sensor, an apparatus for removing a sunspot of an image sensor and an image sensor are provided. The method includes: obtaining reset sampling signal values of pixel units in a pixel array of the image sensor; for each of the reset sampling signal values, determining whether the reset sampling signal value is less than a predetermined sampling signal threshold, and generating a comparing signal when the reset sampling signal value is less than the predetermined sampling signal threshold; generating location information of the pixel unit corresponding to the reset sampling signal value according to the comparing signal; and replacing the reset sampling signal value corresponding to the location information with a maximum brightness value.

Abstract: A method and a device for obtaining a high dynamic range image are provided. The method includes: obtaining a pixel value of each pixel in two images of a same scene; determining a brightness value of each pixel in the two images; determining an objective brightness value of each pixel in a combined image combining the two images; determining a color value of each pixel in the two images; determining a color value of each pixel in the combined image; correcting the color value of each pixel in the combined image so as to obtain a corrected color value of each pixel in the combined image; determining a pixel value of each pixel in the combined image; and obtaining a high dynamic range image.

Abstract: A pixel array is provided. The pixel array comprises a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged 4*4 Bayer matrix units, in which the matrix unit comprises a plurality of pixels, any of a green filter, a red filter and a blue filter is disposed in one pixel, and one or more of the green filters are replaced by white color filters in the matrix units. A camera using the same and a color processing method based on the pixel array are also provided.

Abstract: A method and a device for enhancing an edge of an image are provided. The method includes: obtaining a first gradient value of a pixel; determining whether the pixel is at a rough edge according to the first gradient value; if yes, obtaining a first edge enhancement value of the pixel and obtaining a first edge enhancement result of the pixel according to the first edge enhancement value; if no, obtaining a second gradient value of the pixel; determining whether the pixel is at a tiny edge according to the second gradient value; if yes, obtaining a second edge enhancement value of the pixel and obtaining a second edge enhancement result of the pixel according to the second edge enhancement value; if no, obtaining the pixel value of the pixel as the edge enhancement result of the pixel; and repeating above steps until each pixel of the image is processed.

Abstract: A method and a device for obtaining a high dynamic range image are provided. The method includes: obtaining a pixel value of each pixel in two images of a same scene; determining a brightness value of each pixel in the two images; determining an objective brightness value of each pixel in a combined image combining the two images; determining a color value of each pixel in the two images; determining a color value of each pixel in the combined image; correcting the color value of each pixel in the combined image so as to obtain a corrected color value of each pixel in the combined image; determining a pixel value of each pixel in the combined image; and obtaining a high dynamic range image.

Abstract: A pixel cell, a method for manufacturing the same and an image sensor including the same are provided. The pixel cell includes: a substrate; a photodiode, a pass transistor and a floating diffusion structure respectively formed on the substrate, in which the pass transistor is formed between the photodiode and the floating diffusion structure; and a PINNED structure, formed on the substrate and connected with the floating diffusion structure, in which a reset voltage of the floating diffusion structure is higher than a depletion voltage of the PINNED structure.

Abstract: A method for reading out a high dynamic range image in an image sensor comprises: resetting a pixel array row by row from an initial row of the pixel array to process a first integration treatment for a first image when reaching a first start time; resetting the pixel array row by row from the initial row of the pixel array to process a second integration treatment for the first image when reaching a second start time; and resetting the pixel array row by row from the initial row of the pixel array to process a first integration treatment for a second image when reaching a third start time.

Abstract: A pixel array is provided. The pixel array comprises a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged 4*4 Bayer matrix units, in which the matrix unit comprises a plurality of pixels, any of a green filter, a red filter and a blue filter is disposed in one pixel, and one or more of the green filters are replaced by white color filters in the matrix units. A camera using the same and a color processing method based on the pixel array are also provided.

Abstract: A method of image edge enhancement comprises: determining the edge trend for an image in accordance with the second order gradient value of a center pixel in different directions; performing interpolation operation with the center pixel; calculating absent color component of pixels; performing edge enhancement for the image in the interpolation module in accordance with original color component of the center pixel and the image edge trend based on the Bayer data. The image edge enhancement process takes into account the influence of the green component values of different pixels surrounding the center pixel, and adopts a noise-resistant, self-adaptive edge enhancement algorithm, to suppress noise on the image edge. Thus, the resulting image has a clear image edge. In addition, the fact that the process performs image edge enhancement in the interpolation module based on the Bayer data can significantly reduce the consumption of memory space.

Abstract: A method for reading out a high dynamic range image in an image sensor comprises: resetting a pixel array row by row from an initial row of the pixel array to process a first integration treatment for a first image when reaching a first start time; resetting the pixel array row by row from the initial row of the pixel array to process a second integration treatment for the first image when reaching a second start time; and resetting the pixel array row by row from the initial row of the pixel array to process a first integration treatment for a second image when reaching a third start time.

Abstract: This invention discloses a type of image signal sampling circuits and methods. The circuit includes: a signal acquisition unit, a column read out unit, and a working module control circuit. The control circuit includes: a control unit, a source column switch group, a ground column switch group, and a between-column switch group. Each sampling column circuit is equipped with a source column switch and a ground column switch. The source column switch is connected between the inputs of the signal source and the signal acquisition unit. The ground column switch is connected between the ground and the bottom of the signal acquisition unit. The input of the column read out unit is connected to the input of the signal acquisition unit and the output is used to send out the sampled signal. A between-column switch is installed between the input of a front column signal acquisition unit and the bottom of a back signal acquisition unit.

Abstract: This invention discloses a type of image signal sampling circuits and methods. The circuit includes: a signal acquisition unit, a column read out unit, and a working module control circuit. The control circuit includes: a control unit, a source column switch group, a ground column switch group, and a between-column switch group. Each sampling column circuit is equipped with a source column switch and a ground column switch. The source column switch is connected between the inputs of the signal source and the signal acquisition unit. The ground column switch is connected between the ground and the bottom of the signal acquisition unit. The input of the column read out unit is connected to the input of the signal acquisition unit and the output is used to send out the sampled signal. A between-column switch is installed between the input of a front column signal acquisition unit and the bottom of a back signal acquisition unit.

Abstract: A method of image edge enhancement comprises: determining the edge trend for an image in accordance with the second order gradient value of a center pixel in different directions; performing interpolation operation with the center pixel; calculating absent color component of pixels; performing edge enhancement for the image in the interpolation module in accordance with original color component of the center pixel and the image edge trend based on the Bayer data. The image edge enhancement process takes into account the influence of the green component values of different pixels surrounding the center pixel, and adopts a noise-resistant, self-adaptive edge enhancement algorithm, to suppress noise on the image edge. Thus, the resulting image has a clear image edge. In addition, the fact that the process performs image edge enhancement in the interpolation module based on the Bayer data can significantly reduce the consumption of memory space.