Abstract: Structures and methods are provided for obtaining depth information regarding a scene being imaged. The scene is illuminated with light having a time varying parameter. Light reflected from the scene is received and values for the time varying parameter associated with different portions of the scene are determined.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus comprises a semiconductor substrate, a multiplicity of photo electric conversion elements, a vertical electric charge transfer device having a plurality of vertical electric charge transfer channels and transfer electrodes, reading out parts and a driving device that imposes a first voltage to the reading out electrode for reading out the accumulated signal electric charge from the photo electric conversion elements to the transfer channels in a reading out period and at a same time during the reading out period imposes a second voltage to at least one of the transfer electrodes adjoining to the reading out electrode for each photo electric conversion element for accumulating the signal electric charge in the vertical electric charge transfer channel under the one of the transfer electrode. Damage in the dynamic range of the solid-state imaging apparatus can be prevented.

Abstract: A photo-sensor image resolution adjustment apparatus is in communication with an array of image photo-sensors that are organized in columns and rows and have multiple sensor types arranged in a pattern such as a Bayer pattern to detect light. The photo-sensor image resolution adjustment apparatus has a photo-sensor array decimation circuit to partition the array of image photo-sensors into a plurality of sub-groups. A column averaging circuit averages the light conversion electrical signals from common color photo-sensors within the sub-groups. A row averaging circuit averages the common color adjacent light conversion electrical signals from color adjacent rows within the sub-groups in high light intensity condition. In low light conditions, a row binning circuit integrates the common color adjacent light conversion electrical signals from color adjacent rows within the sub-groups.

Abstract: Many electrical sensing devices include an array of transducer elements for converting external stimuli to electrical indications. Novel technologies to realize improvements in low power consumption, low noise, and analog output path which occupies minimal die area while maintaining certain data rates are disclosed. A two stage pipeline architecture of the invention in the analog output path maintains fast pixel rates with minimal ADC (analog digital converter) arrangement. A novel power supply and the use of differential amplifiers in connection with a black signal level as a reference voltage are also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for image processing using a graphics processor in a handheld device including a first memory device receiving a video input signal containing encoded video frame having a plurality of portions of encoded video frame data. The first memory device has a storage capacity less than all of the plurality portions of the encoded video frame data. The method and apparatus further includes the graphics processor coupled to the first memory device, wherein the graphics processor receives the first portion of the encoded video frame data and generates a first graphics portion. A second memory device receives the first graphics portion and stores the first graphics portion therein. As such, the encoded video frame is processed on a portion-by-portion basis using the first memory device and the second memory device in conjunction with the graphics processor.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an XY-addressing solid-state imaging apparatus including a solid-state imaging device having a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged pixels and a horizontal and vertical scanning circuits for reading pixel signals of the solid-state imaging device; a shift register of at least one of the horizontal and vertical scanning circuits including shift register units serially connected in a large number of stages for transferring information related to scan location by clock and a storing section connected through a storing switch and transmitting switch to each shift register unit; the solid-state imaging apparatus also includes a drive control means for causing the storing section to store a scan start location information in a scan start location setting period before a main scanning so that the scan start location information is transmitted from the storing section in the main scanning to start scanning from a desired scan start location and for effecting the storing of the scan start locati

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pattern of a color filter array. The pattern includes a plurality of pixel arrays, which has four color filters arranged in an array. The color of the neighboring color filters is distinct to each other. Moreover, the pattern of the color filter array has enlarged color filters or extended edges in corners of the pattern. These enlarged color filters or extended edges increase the contact area between the pattern and a substrate that the pattern formed on. Therefore, the adhesion strength between the pattern and the substrate can be augmented to prevent peeling from the substrate. According to the invention, the yield of the product will be raised substantially.

Abstract: Disclosed is a CMOS image sensor that controls a reset voltage to reduce reset noise caused by a reset operation of the CMOS image sensor, fixed pattern noise caused by different characteristics of detection circuits, and image lag caused by the influence of a previous image signal upon the current output signal, thereby achieving a high signal to noise ratio.

Abstract: In a solid-state image pickup apparatus, a solid-state image sensor includes a color filter having filter segments arranged in a pattern, photosensitive cells for photoelectrically transducing light transmitted through the filter segments to generate corresponding signal charges, vertical transfer devices for vertically transferring the signal charges, a horizontal transfer device for transferring the signal charges input from the vertical transfer devices in the horizontal direction, and a charge holding circuit intervening between the vertical and horizontal transfer devices for temporarily storing the signal charges. A signal charge thinning circuit omits signal charges whose color pattern, which is generated by mixing signal charges having the same color attribute in the direction of row in the filter pattern to thereby horizontally thin the signal charges, is different in positional relation from the filter pattern.

Abstract: A system controller controls a solid-state image pickup device so as to read pixels at a predetermined pixel skip-reading-out rate. During pixel skip-reading-out, the system controller adds up, for example, four pixels to acquire a value representative of a unit area for pixel skip-reading-out. A space between adjoining ones of pixels to be added up is set to, for example, a half of an inter-sample space, whereby an MTF of an image signal representing added pixels, which is attained at the sample rate, is set to 0. Consequently, an aliasing noise can be eliminated and deterioration in image quality can be prevented. Moreover, since four pixels are added up irrespective of a pixel skip-reading-out rate, a sensitivity will not vary.

Abstract: In a photoelectric conversion device having a plurality of pixel circuits, a read transistor, a main electrode of which is connected to a charge accumulation node of a photoelectric conversion unit in each pixel circuit is operated in a pentode region, so as to read out a photoelectric conversion signal of each diode to a floating diffusion.

Abstract: A photodiode structure (300) includes a first plurality of co-located light band detectors that generate analog detector signals, a first multiplexing circuit (440) coupled to the first plurality of analog detector signals, which sequentially generates each of the first plurality of analog detector signals at a first multiplexed output (444), a second multiplexing circuit (445) coupled to a first plurality of reference signals, which sequentially generates at a second multiplexed output (449) each of the first plurality of reference signals in synchronism with the first multiplexed output (444); and a single digital pixel sensor circuit (315) having inputs coupled to the first and second multiplexed outputs, which sequentially generates a series of digital outputs based on the first and second multiplexed outputs (444. 449).

Abstract: A spectral device is disposed above a semiconductor substrate formed with a number of photoelectric conversion elements. The spectral device has a plurality of spectral regions each corresponding to a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, each of the spectral regions spectroscopically splitting light fluxes of a plurality of colors necessary for color imaging and contained in incidence light toward different directions, each of the spectroscopically split light fluxes becoming incident upon an associated photoelectric conversion element among the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements corresponding to each of the spectral regions.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus includes a photoelectric converter having a plurality of pixels covered by a color filter composed of a plurality of colors, a plurality of common readout units adapted to sequentially output signals from the plurality of pixels, a time division multiplex (TDM) unit for time division multiplexing signals from the plurality of common readout units, and a readout control unit for reading the signals from the plurality of pixels to the common readout units in such a way that signals from pixels covered by color filters of the same color are continuously multiplexed.

Abstract: A color filter array includes arrangements of green-filtered pixels to optimize performance and accuracy of color interpolation operations. Where red or blue pixels are found, green values are estimated with a high degree of accuracy. Unknown red and blue intensity values are interpolated by converting known red and blue values to hue. The interpolated hue values are then converted to intensity data.

Abstract: Many electrical sensing devices include an array of transducer elements for converting external stimuli to electrical indications. Novel technologies to realize improvements in low power consumption, low noise, and analog output path which occupies minimal die area while maintaining certain data rates are disclosed. A two stage pipeline architecture of the invention in the analog output path maintains fast pixel rates with minimal ADC (analog digital converter) arrangement. A novel power supply and the use of differential amplifiers in connection with a black signal level as a reference voltage are also described.

Abstract: An image interpolating device comprises a color filter, in which R, G, and B color filter elements are disposed in a checkerboard arrangement, and an imaging device which generates R, G, and B-signals corresponding to the color filter elements. In an interpolation process, the difference between a first comparative value V1 and a second comparative value V2 is compared. V1 is determined using color signals of pixels offset in the right and left directions to an objective pixel. V2 is determined using color signals of pixel offset in the upper and lower directions to the objective pixel. When V1 is less than V2, an arithmetic mean of G-signals of pixels offset in the right and left directions by one pixel is obtained as an interpolated G-signal. When V1 is not less than V2, an arithmetic mean of G-signals of pixels offset in the upper and lower directions by one pixel is obtained as the interpolated G-signal.

Abstract: In order to reduce a chip area, an image pickup apparatus includes unit cells arranged in a plurality of lines, each having a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions disposed at least in a horizontal direction and a common circuit to which signals from the plurality of photoelectric conversion portions are input and a subtracting circuit shared by respective photoelectric conversion portions of at least one of the unit cells.

Abstract: In a solid-state image pick-up device having a photoelectrical conversion element cell array with a matrix arrangement of cells, between either a first or second signal line and a prescribed selection circuit that drives the signal line are provided a multiple signal line received light amount value storage means that includes a amount of received light detection means that separately reads out the amount of received light data for a plurality of photoelectrical conversion element cells connected to a plurality of selected signal lines in the other signal group, and a switching means that selectively transmits this detected amount of received light information to an output means.

Abstract: Modular surface treatment materials such as carpet tiles, ceramic floor and wall panels and tiles, ceiling tiles, vinyl flooring squares, wall covering materials, and the like, are provided in a matrix of a plurality of different colors and a sequential array of tonal variations within each color. A system and method, including a computer-aided design tool for laying out patterns of individual modular material units selected from the color-tone matrix, is included, as well as display devices for materials in the matrix.

Abstract: A CMOS active pixel color linear image sensor is operable in line-packed readout mode, and at very high speed. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the sensor is formed entirely on a single-chip and may be further configurable for operation in parallel-packed and/or pixel-packed modes. Line-packed pixel readout is accomplished by spreading same color pixel signal sampled values in storage elements across each of plural readout register arrays in a “cyclic” manner. Facility is introduced for starting the reading of a next pixel (e.g., R pixel 2) even before the previous pixel (R pixel 1) has been read out to increase the effective pixel readout rate.

Abstract: A CMOS active pixel color linear image sensor is operable in line-packed readout mode, and at very high speed. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the sensor is formed entirely on a single-chip and may be further configurable for operation in parallel-packed and/or pixel-packed modes. Line-packed pixel readout is accomplished by spreading same color pixel signal sampled values in storage elements across each of plural readout register arrays in a “cyclic” manner. Facility is introduced for starting the reading of a next pixel (e.g., R pixel 2) even before the previous pixel (R pixel 1) has been read out to increase the effective pixel readout rate.

Abstract: In an image recording apparatus, an imaging surface of an image device is formed so as to store and read out an image by arranging two-dimensionally a plurality of photoelectric transfer elements, the imaging surface is divided along lines into a plurality of blocks, scanning lines are formed in accordance with the photoelectric transfer elements arranged in a horizontal direction of the respective divided blocks, and the plurality of scanning lines of the respective blocks are parallelly linearly scanned to output a multichannel video signals.

Abstract: A single integrated-circuit color camera chip is color sensitive by grouping closely-adjoining light-detecting cells in a photodiode array into triplets. Each pixel of the sensor includes both a read transistor and a write transistor. Each cells in the triplet is similar, but each cell is associated with a color filter of a different color, with red, green or blue cells in an R-G-B system. The proximity and small size of the cells in a triplet allows accurate color differentiation each pixel. Color information is adjusted on-chip for color, brightness and contrast before being sent to an external read device or display device. The color filter is a series of passive layers formed on the integrated circuit surface permitting the selective transmission of light or electromagnetic radiation of certain frequency ranges. The filter may be coated onto a semiconductor wafer after the latter has undergone conventional MOS process steps.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for draining video data from a planarized video buffer in a video camera. The method includes the steps of reading a first sequence of video data from a first plane of the planarized image buffer starting at a buffer address indicated by a first pointer, and then reading a second sequence of video data from a second plane of the planarized image buffer starting at a buffer address indicated by a second read pointer. The apparatus includes an address generation unit and a sequence counter. The address generation unit includes a number of read pointers each configured to indicate a memory location within a different data plane of a video buffer. The address unit is configured to address a sequence of memory locations in a video buffer starting at a location indicated by an active one of the read pointers.

Abstract: A color television camera includes a panchromatic light sensor such as a CCD imager. Light from a scene to be imaged is filtered by an electronically controlled light filter such as an etalon, which is scanned from color to color at the field rate, so that the image for each field is generated by a different color. The periodic spectral line or spectral band response of a single etalon is improved by a cascade of two etalons with different periodicity, which pass only a single spectral line or band. When an RGB color sequence is used, a complete color signal frame is generated in three fields. The imager may be operated at a field rate higher than the standard field rate, such as 90 Hz. for use with conventional 30 Hz. color frame rate, and a memory may be coupled to the output of the imager to store the three-field sequence of signals which occurs during each standard color frame, so that a complete color signal is available during each standard color frame.

Abstract: A solid-state array scanner with a color filter at each pixel sensor is provided to accomplish color scanning of color images with a set of pixels sensors for each color pixel. In addition, a scaler device is provided for selectively scaling the output pixel signal from each pixel sensor to correct for color filter loss when scanning black/white images. Thus, while a set of pixel signals must be combined for each color pixel in color mode scanning, in mono mode scanning of black/white images, the pixel signal from each pixel signal may be used. An address means selectively addresses each solid-state pixel sensor device in the array for readout of the illumination intensity, or pixel signal, sensed by that device. Each pixel sensor will have a given color filter dependent upon the sensor's location in the array. From the address of the pixel sensor, the scaler value to compensate for the color filter in mono mode can be selected.

Abstract: The present invention relates to subsampling processors and a three color sensor array that may be employed to supply subsampled chrominance data to a printing machine, a computer memory device or other device. In one embodiment of the present invention, a three color array of the present invention scans features of an object using an array of one or more subsampling sensor sets spanning a fast scan direction width of n times m (preferrably 2) pixels, with each set having aligned in a slow scan direction column m pixel-sized green sensors aligned in a fast scan direction line for determining pixel-by-pixel green color and luminance, a red sensor extending m pixels wide in said fast scan direction and m pixels long in said slow scan direction for detecting red color and a blue sensor extending m pixels wide in said fast scan direction and m pixels long in said slow scan direction for detecting blue color.

Abstract: In an imaging apparatus capable of expanding a dynamic range image signals of different levels are read simultaneously from a solid-state element whose light-receiving surface is divided. Read 1/2 frame image signals are switched by a changeover switch circuit at intervals of a 1/2 frame time. One of two image signals of different levels supplied from the two outputs of the changeover switch circuit is delayed at a delay circuit. Further, those image signals are separated into r, g, and b components, and then undergo logarithmic conversion into image signals of multiple desired levels. The signals are digitized at an A/D converter and undergo operations at an adder, which adds while keeping their logarithmic characteristic, and at an inverse logarithmic converter. A luminance signal is obtained at a matrix circuit, and is converted into a logarithm at a logarithmic circuit. The lighting irregularity components of the resulting signal are suppressed.

Abstract: In a color image sensing system, a solid state image sensor has every four adjacent picture elements thereof grouped as one set, and combinations of color filters are arranged to cover almost all the picture elements of the image sensor. The color filters include first color filters which are arranged to pass a given color component for an obliquely adjacent pair of picture elements within each of the sets, and second and third color filters which are arranged to cover the other obliquely adjacent pair of picture elements within the same set.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device in which a plurality of optoelectric transducing elements are vertically and horizontally arranged into a matrix array, groups of optoelectric transducing elements arrayed in first rows serve as picture elements having a red spectral characteristic, groups of optoelectric transducing elements arrayed in second rows serve as picture elements having a blue spectral characteristic, and vertical charge transfer paths and groups of picture elements arrayed in the column direction are alternately arranged.