Abstract: An imaging array includes a plurality of rows of pixel sensors. A timing pattern generator generates timing pattern control signals and provide the timing pattern control signals to every row in the array. Timing pattern control signals generated during a timing pattern period directed to operate the pixel sensors in a selected row. A latched row driver circuit includes an enable latch in each row of the array responsive to a row address enable signal provided prior to the timing pattern period to gate the timing pattern control signals to the pixel sensors in the selected row at the start of the timing pattern period. A row address generator circuit is coupled to the timing pattern generator and to the enable latches in each row of the array to generate the row address enable signal for each selected row prior to the timing pattern period.

Abstract: An imaging array includes a plurality of rows of pixel sensors. A timing pattern generator generates timing pattern control signals and provide the timing pattern control signals to every row in the array. Timing pattern control signals generated during a timing pattern period directed to operate the pixel sensors in a selected row. A latched row driver circuit includes an enable latch in each row of the array responsive to a row address enable signal provided prior to the timing pattern period to gate the timing pattern control signals to the pixel sensors in the selected row at the start of the timing pattern period. A row address generator circuit is coupled to the timing pattern generator and to the enable latches in each row of the array to generate the row address enable signal for each selected row prior to the timing pattern period.

Abstract: In an array of multi-color vertical detector color pixel sensors, a readout wiring architecture includes a transfer transistor for each individual color detector. In first and second rows in a first column, the first, second, and third color transfer transistor gates are coupled, respectively, to the first, second, and third row-select lines. In a first row in a second column, the first color transfer transistor gate is coupled to the second row-select line, the second color transfer transistor gate is coupled to the first row-select line, and the third color transfer transistor gate is coupled to the third row-select line. In a second row in the second column, the first color transfer transistor gate is coupled to the first row-select line, the second color transfer transistor gate is coupled to the third row-select line, and t the third color transfer transistor gate is coupled to the second row-select line.

Abstract: A switchable amplifier and comparator circuit includes an operational amplifier having an inverting input, a non-inverting input, a first differential output and a second differential output, the first differential output switchably coupled to the inverting input and the second differential output switchably coupled to the non-inverting input. A first feedback capacitor is coupled to the inverting input and switchably coupled to the first differential output, a second feedback capacitor is coupled to the non-inverting input and switchably coupled to the second differential output. A capacitive load is switchably coupled between the first differential output and the second differential output. A diode clamp circuit is switchably coupled between the first differential output and the second differential output. A resistive load is switchably coupled between the first differential output and the second differential output.

Abstract: In an array of multi-color vertical detector color pixel sensors, a readout wiring architecture includes a transfer transistor for each individual color detector. In first and second rows in a first column, the first, second, and third color transfer transistor gates are coupled, respectively, to the first, second, and third row-select lines. In a first row in a second column, the first color transfer transistor gate is coupled to the second row-select line, the second color transfer transistor gate is coupled to the first row-select line, and the third color transfer transistor gate is coupled to the third row-select line. In a second row in the second column, the first color transfer transistor gate is coupled to the first row-select line, the second color transfer transistor gate is coupled to the third row-select line, and t the third color transfer transistor gate is coupled to the second row-select line.

Abstract: A method of classifying and correcting defects in vertical color pixel sensors in utilizing defective pixel information, the method includes defining ranges of output levels of normal pixel sensors from exposure to dark and bright flat field light sources. Dark and bright images are captured, and pixel outputs are measured for each image. Pixels in the dark and bright images having outputs in at least one color channel that are outside of the ranges of the output levels of normal pixel sensors are entered into defective pixel maps. The defective pixels are classified into categories and defective pixel sensors that can be corrected are identified. Correction values for identified defective pixel sensors that can be corrected are generated and entered into a calibration memory associated with the vertical color image sensor.

Abstract: In an array containing rows and columns of multi-color vertical detector color pixel sensors disposed in a rows and columns of the array, a readout wiring architecture includes a plurality of row-select lines for each row of the array, equal to the number of colors in the vertical detector color pixel sensors, an individual column line for each column, a transfer transistor for each individual color detector coupled between a color detector and a column line associated with the column in which the color detector is disposed. Each transfer transistor has a gate coupled to one of the plurality of row-select lines in a row in which the vertical detector color pixel sensor is disposed. The gates of at least some of the transfer transistors in each row for each color detector in adjacent columns of the array are coupled to different ones of the row-select lines for that row.

Abstract: In an array containing rows and columns of multi-color vertical detector color pixel sensors disposed in a rows and columns of the array, a readout wiring architecture includes a plurality of row-select lines for each row of the array, equal to the number of colors in the vertical detector color pixel sensors, an individual column line for each column, a transfer transistor for each individual color detector coupled between a color detector and a column line associated with the column in which the color detector is disposed. Each transfer transistor has a gate coupled to one of the plurality of row-select lines in a row in which the vertical detector color pixel sensor is disposed. The gates of at least some of the transfer transistors in each row for each color detector in adjacent columns of the array are coupled to different ones of the row-select lines for that row.

Abstract: A focal plane phase detect pixel sensor is formed on a substrate and includes a surface pixel sensor formed in a pixel sensor area at a surface of the substrate. The surface pixel sensor has a sensing area occupying no more than an adjacent pair of quadrants centered in the pixel sensor area. A microlens is disposed over the surface pixel sensor.

Abstract: A focal plane phase detect pixel sensor is formed on a substrate and includes a surface pixel sensor formed in a pixel sensor area at a surface of the substrate. The surface pixel sensor has a sensing area occupying no more than an adjacent pair of quadrants centered in the pixel sensor area. A microlens is disposed over the surface pixel sensor.

Abstract: In an imaging array having a plurality of pixel sensors arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, pixel data being read out on column lines of the array, a column line voltage clamp circuit for column lines of the array includes a master voltage clamp circuit coupled to provide a reference voltage clamp level on a reference node, and a slave voltage clamp circuit coupled to each column line in the imaging array, each slave voltage clamp circuit configured to clamp voltage on the column line to a column voltage clamp level derived from the reference voltage level.

Abstract: A pixel sensor array includes a plurality of surface pixel sensors disposed in a substrate, a layer of dielectric material formed over the surface of the pixel sensors, a plurality of apertures formed in the dielectric layer each aligned with one of the surface pixel sensors and having an inner side wall. A lining layer is formed on the inner side wall of each aperture and is substantially fully reflective to visible light. The lining layer is spaced apart from the surface of the substrate and has a smaller cross-sectional area than a cross-sectional area of each surface pixel sensor. A filler material substantially transparent to visible light is disposed inside of the reflective lining layer and has a top surface lying in the plane with the top surface of the layer of dielectric material. A microlens is disposed over the top surface of each aperture.

Abstract: A method for performing restoration for highlights and saturated regions in a digital image includes analyzing the pixels in the image and compensating an appropriate amount to identified highlights and saturated pixels. For a pixel with vertical color channels, the output for each channel is highly correlated, and each color channel can be recovered as a combination of the other channels. Each selected pixel in the highlights or saturated regions is identified as a restorable pixel only if at least two color channels of the pixel are not saturated. For each restorable pixel, a replacement pixel value is generated by using the equation derived from the color channels correlation. For pixels where more than one color channel is saturated, the similarity is calculated between these pixels and restored pixels. These pixels can be compensated using the combination of the similarity index and the pixel values of other color channels.

Abstract: A method for adjusting predetermined ISO-dependent image processing parameters for images captured by a digital camera includes measuring the exposure deviation in exposure units from an optimal exposure as determined by the camera during an image capture process, deriving an estimated camera sensitivity from the exposure deviation, and adjusting the ISO-dependent image processing parameters for images captured by the camera as a function of the derived estimated camera sensitivity.

Abstract: A method for performing color density filtering of images captured in a digital camera having a mechanical shutter and an imaging array including a plurality of pixels each including different color sensors aligned with each other, including opening the mechanical shutter, resetting all of the color sensors in each pixel by asserting a row reset signal, separately asserting color-select signals for each color after the mechanical shutter is opened, independently starting exposure for each different color sensor at a color sensor exposure start time by de-asserting its color select signal, the exposure start time for each different color sensor being a function of a color density filter function, closing the mechanical shutter, and reading color exposure values from the color sensors by separately asserting color-select signals after the mechanical shutter has closed, the reading being unrelated to the start times for the color sensors.

Abstract: A method for performing restoration for highlights and saturated regions in a digital image includes analyzing the pixels in the image and compensating an appropriate amount to identified highlights and saturated pixels. For a pixel with vertical color channels, the output for each channel is highly correlated, and each color channel can be recovered as a combination of the other channels. Each selected pixel in the highlights or saturated regions is identified as a restorable pixel only if at least two color channels of the pixel are not saturated. For each restorable pixel, a replacement pixel value is generated by using the equation derived from the color channels correlation. For pixels where more than one color channel is saturated, the similarity is calculated between these pixels and restored pixels. These pixels can be compensated using the combination of the similarity index and the pixel values of other color channels.

Abstract: A method for performing color density filtering of images captured in a digital camera having a mechanical shutter and an imaging array including a plurality of pixels each including different color sensors aligned with each other, including opening the mechanical shutter, resetting all of the color sensors in each pixel by asserting a row reset signal, separately asserting color-select signals for each color after the mechanical shutter is opened, independently starting exposure for each different color sensor at a color sensor exposure start time by de-asserting its color select signal, the exposure start time for each different color sensor being a function of a color density filter function, closing the mechanical shutter, and reading color exposure values from the color sensors by separately asserting color-select signals after the mechanical shutter has closed, the reading being unrelated to the start times for the color sensors.

Abstract: In a digital camera having an imaging array including a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns, the digital camera having a mechanical shutter, a method for performing neutral density filtering of images captured by the imaging array, the method comprising opening the mechanical shutter, operating each row in the array by resetting all of the pixel sensors in the row, starting exposure for all of the pixel sensors in the row, closing the mechanical shutter, reading pixel values from the pixels in the array after the mechanical shutter has closed at a time unrelated to a time at which any pixel-select signal was de-asserted, and wherein the interval of time between starting exposure for all of the pixel sensors in the row and closing the mechanical shutter for each row a function of a neutral density filter function applied to an image to be captured.

Abstract: In an imaging array having a plurality of pixel sensors arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, pixel data being read out on column lines of the array, a column line voltage clamp circuit for column lines of the array includes a master voltage clamp circuit coupled to provide a reference voltage clamp level on a reference node, and a slave voltage clamp circuit coupled to each column line in the imaging array, each slave voltage clamp circuit configured to clamp voltage on the column line to a column voltage clamp level derived from the reference voltage level.

Abstract: A method for adjusting predetermined ISO-dependent image processing parameters for images captured by a digital camera includes measuring the exposure deviation in exposure units from an optimal exposure as determined by the camera during an image capture process, deriving an estimated camera sensitivity from the exposure deviation, and adjusting the ISO-dependent image processing parameters for images captured by the camera as a function of the derived estimated camera sensitivity.