Abstract: A method and apparatus for smoothing an image in a plurality of video frames consisting of a current frame and at least one previous frame. The position of at least one pixel in each of the plurality of frames is determined to provide respective determined positions. An adjusted position of the at least one pixel in the current frame is calculated based on the determined positions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for correcting image artifacts in a high dynamic range image formed by combining a plurality of exposures taken at different integration periods. A determination is made as to whether there is motion between the exposures. If motion is detected, pixel signal values chosen are replaced with pixel signal values from another exposure.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses for the detection of motion using statistics data already available within an imager, such as sharpness scores or brightness values. The method includes obtaining at least two sets of statistics data for respective image frames which include corresponding windows; initializing a motion counter; determining, for each window, a relative difference value for the particular window; comparing the relative difference value to a first threshold. If the relative difference value is greater than the first threshold, the method increments the motion counter; and determines if there is motion by comparing the value of the motion counter to a second threshold. The motion detection may further take into account the relative importance of certain areas of the image frame.

Abstract: A signal chain for an image sensor is disclosed. The signal chain includes photo sensing elements, pixel readout circuits, and an amplifier. Each pixel readout circuit receives a charge-induced signal and a reset signal from one of the photo sensing elements. The readout circuit computes a difference signal between the charge-induced signal and said reset signal. The difference signal is measured with respect to a reference signal. The amplifier is coupled to the pixel readout circuits, and configured to supply the reference signal during computation of the difference signal. Further, the amplifier amplifies the difference signal when the computation is done.

Abstract: A process for forming a protective layer at a surface of an aluminum bond pad. The aluminum bond pad is exposed to a solution containing silicon, ammonium persulfate and tetramethylammonium hydroxide, which results in the formation of the protective layer. This protective layer protects the bond pad surface from corrosion during processing of an imager, such as during formation of a color filter array or a micro-lens array.

Abstract: A variable rate image sensor outputs pixel data at a variable rate using lookup tables to selectively read out particular rows at particular times. The readout rate is not constant, allowing for a smaller image buffer in the overall system.

Abstract: In general, the present invention discloses at least one trench isolation region formed in a semiconductor substrate to electrically and/or optically isolate at least one active region from another active region. The at least one trench isolation region comprises a bottom portion and first and second trench sidewalls. At least one trench sidewall is adjacent a doped region. The at least one sidewall adjacent a doped region has a higher impurity dopant concentration than impurity doped regions surrounding the at least one trench isolation region.

Abstract: A line buffering technique in which a plurality of line buffers are arranged based on a determined average number of branches and stages that are necessary to implement the buffers based on design constraints. In an exemplary embodiment, the line buffers may be arranged in any buffer topology arrangement meeting the average number of branches and the number of stages design constraints.

Abstract: Detection cells configured to output signals for dark current error correction. Various embodiments of detection cells accumulate dark charge supplied by dark current sources, and output dark charge signals indicating the amount of accumulated dark charge. The dark charge signals may be used to approximate the amount of dark charge read out by pixel cells of an imaging array and/or to offset portions of pixel cell signals attributable to dark charge accumulation.

Abstract: An imaging device and method for operating the device. The device comprises a pixel array having a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns and a plurality of readout circuits for the pixels. A reset circuit in one readout circuit is simultaneously operated with a row select circuit in another readout circuit using a common select line. A transfer select circuit may also be simultaneously operated with the common select line.

Abstract: Methods for forming and attaching covers to microelectronic imaging units, packaging microelectronic imagers at the wafer level, and microelectronic imagers having covers that protect the image sensor are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes providing a first substrate having a plurality of covers, the covers including windows comprising regions of the first substrate and stand-offs projecting from the windows. The method continues by providing a second substrate having a plurality of microelectronic dies with image sensors, integrated circuits electrically coupled to the image sensors, and terminals electrically coupled to the integrated circuits. The method includes assembling the covers with corresponding dies so that the windows are aligned with corresponding image sensors and stand-offs contact corresponding dies inboard of the terminals and outboard of the image sensors.

Abstract: The invention, in various exemplary embodiments, incorporates a photonic crystal lens element into an image sensor. The photonic crystal lens element comprises a substrate and a plurality of pillars forming a photonic crystal structure over the substrate. The pillars are spaced apart from each other. Each pillar has a height and a horizontal cross sectional shape. A material with a different dielectric constant than the pillars is provided within the spacing between the pillars. The photonic crystal element can be a lens configured to focus electromagnetic radiation onto an underlying pixel cell.

Abstract: An active pixel sensor (APS) that includes circuitry to eliminate artifacts in digital images. The APS includes a comparator for comparing a signal level from a pixel to an adjusted saturation voltage to determine if the pixel is saturated. If the pixel is saturated, an associated saturation flag is stored and used to replace the signal from the pixel with a maximum value corresponding to a brightest pixel in the image.

Abstract: An imager in which two adjacent pixels share row and reset lines and a row selection circuitry while the output transistors of the two pixels are configured as a differential amplifier. In operation, both pixels are reset at the same time, causing differential reset signals to be output from the amplifier. The charge from the first pixel is readout and a differential pixel signal for the first pixel is output from the amplifier. Because the reset and pixel signals are differential signals generated within the pixels, they are free from common-mode noise. Correlated double sampling can be used to obtain the pixel output value, which is also free from common-mode noise, from the differential reset and pixel signals. The second pixel may be readout in the same manner. Because the two pixels are sharing circuitry, the pixels have decreased fill factor and complexity as well.

Abstract: A method and apparatus providing an imager with shared power supply and readout lines. A pixel array has a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns. Each column of the array comprises a column line coupled to receive pixel signals from the pixels in the column and selectively operated to provide a supply voltage to at least one pixel in a different column.

Abstract: A pixel cell in which a capacitance is coupled between a storage node and a row select transistor. The pixel cell utilizes a readout timing sequence between operation of a reset transistor and a row select transistor to boost a reset voltage.

Abstract: A pixel having no dedicated reset control line. By using the voltage on the column line to control the gate of the reset transistor, there is no need to provide a dedicate reset control line.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for an image sensor device are disclosed. An image sensor device comprises an array of image pixels wherein each pixel is configured for sensing light incident on the pixel. An image sensor device may further comprise a ground contact shared between at least two image pixels of the plurality. The ground contacts may be provided in an even pattern, a random pattern, or a repeating random pattern across the array. The image sensor device may further include an array of shared pixel structures comprising a plurality of pixels, wherein a ground contact may be evenly or randomly placed within each pixel structure across the array of pixel structures.

Abstract: A novel system and method of predicting a user's rating of a new item in a collaborative filtering system is described. The invention incorporates social network information in addition to user ratings to make recommendations. The distance between users in the social network is used to enhance the estimate of user similarities for collaborative filtering. The social network can be constructed explicitly by users or deduced implicitly from observed interaction between users.