Abstract: An image sensor comprising a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns, the plurality of pixels comprising: image pixels arranged for providing image data, and shading detection pixels arranged for providing signals from which a degree of shading can be derived, wherein the shading detection pixels are located in substantially the same area as defined by the image pixels.

Abstract: An image sensor (1) comprising: an array (2) of pixels logically organized in rows and columns, the outputs of the pixels being connected to column lines (COLx) connectable to an array of buffers (3) via a routing block (10), the buffers being connected to an array of A/D convertors (4), the routing block (10) having a group of switches (6, 7) for reading sub-picture data, whereby the values of at least two rows of the sub-picture are distributed over the analog-to-digital-convertors before digitizing them in parallel. The entire sub-picture (21) may be digitized in one step. The routing block (10) may comprise an analog bus (9). The image sensor (1) further comprises a control circuit (8) for controlling the routing block (10) for routing pixel values on the column lines (COL) to a subset of the buffer array, the control circuit being adapted for supporting sub-pictures (21) with programmable positions and/or sizes.

Abstract: A digital camera (400) comprises a sensor array (410) having image pixels (I) for capturing image data during an exposure period (EP), and focus-detection pixels (F) for determining focus information in a first mode of operation. The digital camera (400) is adapted for obtaining brightness related data (v) from the focus-detection pixels (F) in a second mode of operation, during capturing of an image by means of the image pixels (I), the digital camera further comprising a controller (428) adapted for determining the exposure period (EP) based on the brightness related data (v) obtained from the focus-detection pixels (F). A corresponding method is also provided.

Abstract: An image sensor (810) comprises a plurality of image pixels (R, G, B) and a plurality of focus-pixels (F), each focus-pixel comprising a light shield (51a, 51b) for partly shielding the focus-pixel from incident light so as to obtain a focus-related signal in a first mode of operation. The image sensor further comprises additional circuitry for processing the focus-related signal, which additional circuitry is conveniently located underneath the light shields. The additional circuitry may be adapted for accumulating the charge of two focus-pixels (F1a, F2a), e.g. by charge binning, and for providing the accumulated charge in a second mode of operation.

Abstract: An array (31) comprising a plurality of pixels (Pi,j) for detecting radiation, the pixels (Pi,j) being arranged in rows and columns is typically arranged for reading out pixel information on a row-by-row basis. According to the present invention, the array (31) is furthermore provided with selectable means for moving pixel information of a first set (35) of pixels of different rows, e.g. of a particular column, of the array, the first set (35) of pixels (Pi,j) comprising a number of pixels (Pi,j) larger than one, into information present on a number of columns of the array equal to the number of pixels (Pi,j) in the first set (35). This way, pixel information on a plurality of pixels of different rows, e.g. of a same column, can be read out simultaneously.

Abstract: An image sensor comprising a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns, the plurality of pixels comprising: image pixels arranged for providing image data, and shading detection pixels arranged for providing signals from which a degree of shading can be derived, wherein the shading detection pixels are located in substantially the same area as defined by the image pixels.

Abstract: A method for correcting image data, in particular for color correction and cross-talk reduction of image data obtained by an image sensor comprising image pixels (R, G, B) and non-image pixels (F), the image pixels (R,G,B) being overlaid with a color filter array (CFA) and having a different spectral sensitivity than the non-image pixels, comprises determining a set of color components (rold, gold, bold) for the image pixels (R,G,B) based on raw image data (rraw, graw, braw) read only from the image pixels (R,G,B) of the image sensor (10); correcting the set of color components of non-direct neighbors of the non-image pixels (F) by means of a first color correction matrix (CCM1); and correcting the set of color components of direct neighbors of the non-image pixels by means of a second color correction matrix (CCM2) different from the first color correction matrix. An image sensor (10) and an auto-focus camera using same are also disclosed.

Abstract: An array comprises a plurality of pixels logically arranged in rows and columns. The pixels comprise a photoreceptor (11) for converting impinging radiation into electronic charge, a transfer element (12) for transferring the electronic charge towards a sense node, a reset transistor (13) for resetting the sense node (16), means for converting the electronic charge onto the sense node (16) into a voltage, and for outputting the voltage as a pixel signal, and means adapted for biasing the sense nodes at a low voltage lower than a reset voltage which is meant to initialize the photoreceptor, during integration of impinging radiation on the photoreceptors. The means for converting and outputting comprise a source follower (14) for converting the electronic charge, and a select transistor (15) for outputting the voltage as a pixel signal, and the reset transistor of at least one pixel is coupled with one main electrode to the gate of the reset transistor of another pixel.

Abstract: An image sensor (810) comprises a plurality of image pixels (R, G, B) and a plurality of focus-pixels (F), each focus-pixel comprising a light shield (51a, 51b) for partly shielding the focus-pixel from incident light so as to obtain a focus-related signal in a first mode of operation. The image sensor further comprises additional circuitry for processing the focus-related signal, which additional circuitry is conveniently located underneath the light shields. The additional circuitry may be adapted for accumulating the charge of two focus-pixels (F1a, F2a), e.g. by charge binning, and for providing the accumulated charge in a second mode of operation.

Abstract: A digital camera (400) comprises a sensor array (410) having image pixels (I) for capturing image data during an exposure period (EP), and focus-detection pixels (F) for determining focus information in a first mode of operation. The digital camera (400) is adapted for obtaining brightness related data (v) from the focus-detection pixels (F) in a second mode of operation, during capturing of an image by means of the image pixels (I), the digital camera further comprising a controller (428) adapted for determining the exposure period (EP) based on the brightness related data (v) obtained from the focus-detection pixels (F). A corresponding method is also provided.

Abstract: An array (31) comprising a plurality of pixels (Pi,j) for detecting radiation, the pixels (Pi,j) being arranged in rows and columns is typically arranged for reading out pixel information on a row-by-row basis. According to the present invention, the array (31) is furthermore provided with selectable means for moving pixel information of a first set (35) of pixels of different rows, e.g. of a particular column, of the array, the first set (35) of pixels (Pi,j) comprising a number of pixels (Pi,j) larger than one, into information present on a number of columns of the array equal to the number of pixels (Pi,j) in the first set (35). This way, pixel information on a plurality of pixels of different rows, e.g. of a same column, can be read out simultaneously.

Abstract: An image sensor (1) comprising: an array (2) of pixels logically organized in rows and columns, the outputs of the pixels being connected to column lines (COLx) connectable to an array of buffers (3) via a routing block (10), the buffers being connected to an array of A/D convertors (4), the routing block (10) having a group of switches (6, 7) for reading sub-picture data, whereby the values of at least two rows of the sub-picture are distributed over the analog-to-digital-convertors before digitizing them in parallel. The entire sub-picture (21) may be digitized in one step. The routing block (10) may comprise an analog bus (9). The image sensor (1) further comprises a control circuit (8) for controlling the routing block (10) for routing pixel values on the column lines (COL) to a subset of the buffer array, the control circuit being adapted for supporting sub-pictures (21) with programmable positions and/or sizes.

Abstract: An array comprises a plurality of pixels logically arranged in rows and columns. The pixels comprise a photoreceptor (11) for converting impinging radiation into electronic charge, a transfer element (12) for transferring the electronic charge towards a sense node, a reset transistor (13) for resetting the sense node (16), means for converting the electronic charge onto the sense node (16) into a voltage, and for outputting the voltage as a pixel signal, and means adapted for biasing the sense nodes at a low voltage lower than a reset voltage which is meant to initialise the photoreceptor, during integration of impinging radiation on the photoreceptors. The means for converting and outputting comprise a source follower (14) for converting the electronic charge, and a select transistor (15) for outputting the voltage as a pixel signal, and the reset transistor of at least one pixel is coupled with one main electrode to the gate of the reset transistor of another pixel.

Abstract: A method for correcting image data, in particular for colour correction and cross-talk reduction of image data obtained by an image sensor comprising image pixels (R, G, B) and non-image pixels (F), the image pixels (R,G,B) being overlaid with a colour filter array (CFA) and having a different spectral sensitivity than the non-image pixels, comprises determining a set of colour components (rold, gold, bold) for the image pixels (R,G,B) based on raw image data (rraw, graw, braw) read only from the image pixels (R,G,B) of the image sensor (10); correcting the set of colour components of non-direct neighbours of the non-image pixels (F) by means of a first colour correction matrix (CCM1); and correcting the set of colour components of direct neighbours of the non-image pixels by means of a second colour correction matrix (CCM2) different from the first colour correction matrix. An image sensor (10) and an auto-focus camera using same are also disclosed.