Abstract: A circuit that produces a clocking signal for a low to medium capacitance input of a device includes a drive gate connected to a common-base bi-polar driver circuit. The output of the drive gate is connected to an emitter of an NPN bi-polar transistor through one coupling capacitor and to an emitter of a PNP bi-polar transistor through another coupling capacitor. The transistors are connected in a common-base configuration with the collectors of the transistors connected together. One voltage is connected to the base of the PNP transistor. Another voltage is connected to the base of the NPN transistor. A diode is connected in parallel with the base-emitter of the PNP transistor. Another diode is connected in parallel with the base-emitter of the NPN transistor. A damping resistor is connected between the collectors of the transistors and the low to medium capacitance clock input of the device.

Abstract: An image sensor includes an electronic shutter layer that is used to drain charge away from the photosensitive regions during an electronic shutter operation. A current sensing component and a selector component are electrically connected to a contact to the electronic shutter layer in the image sensor. The current sensing component senses a current level in the electronic shutter layer and changes a state of an alert signal when the current level equals or exceeds a threshold current level. The selector component receives the alert signal from the current sensing component and a shutter signal from an electronic shutter pulse driver component. Depending on the state of the alert signal, the selector component either transmits, or does not transmit, the shutter signal to the electronic shutter layer. An electronic shutter operation is performed when the electronic shutter layer receives the shutter signal.

Abstract: An image sensor includes an electronic shutter layer that is used to drain charge away from the photosensitive regions during an electronic shutter operation. A current reference component is electrically connected to a contact to the electronic shutter layer. The current reference component produces a signal having a level that is constant as a load current varies from zero to a threshold current level. A scaler component is electrically connected between the current reference component and an electronic shutter pulse driver component. The scaler component transmits the signal to the electronic shutter pulse driver component when the load current does not exceed the threshold current level. When the load current exceeds the threshold current level, the scaler component scales the level of the signal to a different level and transmits the scaled signal to the electronic shutter pulse driver component.

Abstract: An image sensor includes an electronic shutter layer that drains charge away from the photosensitive regions during an electronic shutter operation. A signal is applied to the electronic shutter layer through a contact. Prior to performing an electronic shutter operation, a determination is made as to whether or not a current level in the electronic shutter layer substantially equals or exceeds a threshold current level. If the current level in the electronic shutter layer substantially equals or exceeds the threshold current level, the electronic shutter operation is not performed. The electronic shutter operation is performed if the current level in the electronic shutter layer does not substantially equal or exceed the threshold current level.

Abstract: An image sensor includes an electronic shutter layer that is used to drain charge during an electronic shutter operation. A timing generator is electrically connected to a selector component. The selector component is electrically connected to an electronic shutter pulse driver component. The electronic shutter pulse driver component is electrically connected to a current sensing component. The current sensing component is electrically connected to the electronic shutter layer through a contact. The current sensing component senses a current level in the electronic shutter layer and changes a state of an alert signal when the current level equals or exceeds a threshold current level. Depending on the state of an alert signal, the selector component either transmits, or does not transmit, the drive pulse signal to the electronic shutter pulse driver component. An electronic shutter operation is performed when the electronic shutter pulse driver component receives the drive pulse signal.

Abstract: A circuit that produces a clocking signal for a low to medium capacitance input of a device includes a drive gate connected to a common-base bi-polar driver circuit. The output of the drive gate is connected to an emitter of an NPN bi-polar transistor through one coupling capacitor and to an emitter of a PNP bi-polar transistor through another coupling capacitor. The transistors are connected in a common-base configuration with the collectors of the transistors connected together. One voltage is connected to the base of the PNP transistor. Another voltage is connected to the base of the NPN transistor. A diode is connected in parallel with the base-emitter of the PNP transistor. Another diode is connected in parallel with the base-emitter of the NPN transistor. A damping resistor is connected between the collectors of the transistors and the low to medium capacitance clock input of the device.

Abstract: An image sensor includes an electronic shutter layer that drains charge away from the photosensitive regions during an electronic shutter operation. A signal is applied to the electronic shutter layer through a contact. Prior to performing an electronic shutter operation, a determination is made as to whether or not a current level in the electronic shutter layer substantially equals or exceeds a threshold current level. If the current level in the electronic shutter layer substantially equals or exceeds the threshold current level, the electronic shutter operation is not performed. The electronic shutter operation is performed if the current level in the electronic shutter layer does not substantially equal or exceed the threshold current level.

Abstract: An image sensor includes an electronic shutter layer that is used to drain charge away from the photosensitive regions during an electronic shutter operation. A current reference component is electrically connected to a contact to the electronic shutter layer. The current reference component produces a signal having a level that is constant as a load current varies from zero to a threshold current level. A scaler component is electrically connected between the current reference component and an electronic shutter pulse driver component. The scaler component transmits the signal to the electronic shutter pulse driver component when the load current does not exceed the threshold current level. When the load current exceeds the threshold current level, the scaler component scales the level of the signal to a different level and transmits the scaled signal to the electronic shutter pulse driver component.

Abstract: An image sensor includes an electronic shutter layer that is used to drain charge during an electronic shutter operation. A timing generator is electrically connected to a selector component. The selector component is electrically connected to an electronic shutter pulse driver component. The electronic shutter pulse driver component is electrically connected to a current sensing component. The current sensing component is electrically connected to the electronic shutter layer through a contact. The current sensing component senses a current level in the electronic shutter layer and changes a state of an alert signal when the current level equals or exceeds a threshold current level. Depending on the state of an alert signal, the selector component either transmits, or does not transmit, the drive pulse signal to the electronic shutter pulse driver component. An electronic shutter operation is performed when the electronic shutter pulse driver component receives the drive pulse signal.

Abstract: An image sensor includes an electronic shutter layer that is used to drain charge away from the photosensitive regions during an electronic shutter operation. A current sensing component and a selector component are electrically connected to a contact to the electronic shutter layer in the image sensor. The current sensing component senses a current level in the electronic shutter layer and changes a state of an alert signal when the current level equals or exceeds a threshold current level. The selector component receives the alert signal from the current sensing component and a shutter signal from an electronic shutter pulse driver component. Depending on the state of the alert signal, the selector component either transmits, or does not transmit, the shutter signal to the electronic shutter layer. An electronic shutter operation is performed when the electronic shutter layer receives the shutter signal.

Abstract: A method for reducing shutter latency while maintaining low dark current in the imager and minimizing energy consumption in a digital camera, the method including the steps of providing an imager operating in accumulation mode; and substantially continuous flushing of charges from the imager before capturing an exposure of an image with a time between vertical transfers greater than or equal to time between vertical transfers during normal image readout so that, if continuous flushing for a time necessary to readout substantially all rows of pixels has occurred, the exposure may be captured with substantially zero latency.

Abstract: An image sensor includes an active pixel area for image capture; one or more black pixel areas disposed in a pre-determined, significant spaced apart distance from the active pixel area; and a light shield to prevent light from illuminating the black pixel areas.

Abstract: A method for reducing shutter latency while maintaining low dark current in the imager and minimizing energy consumption in a digital camera, the method including the steps of providing an imager operating in accumulation mode; and substantially continuous flushing of charges from the imager before capturing an exposure of an image with a time between vertical transfers greater than or equal to time between vertical transfers during normal image readout so that, if continuous flushing for a time necessary to readout substantially all rows of pixels has occurred, the exposure may be captured with substantially zero latency.

Abstract: A film scanner illuminant system with a light integrator module for creating an homogenous light illuminant from a light source. Temporal variations in light beam profiles from the light source which introduce low level temporal variations in the spatial homogeneity of light from the integrator are reduced below level of perceptibility by use of a light shaping diffuser to diffuse the beam of input light at the light input port of the light integrator. Preferably asymmetric light diffusers are used although some additional advantage is obtainable by use of spherical diffusers. The diffuser may be used with a variety of known light integrator configurations.

Abstract: An image sensor includes an active pixel area for image capture; one or more black pixel areas disposed in a pre-determined, significant spaced apart distance from the active pixel area; and a light shield to prevent light from illuminating the black pixel areas.

Abstract: A restart circuit for a dc arc lamp, which is subject to power variations that cause the lamp to extinguish, includes a power circuit for supplying the dc arc lamp with current that has a constant current value while the lamp is operating. A current monitor connected to the power circuit monitors the current supplied to the dc arc lamp and provides a current sense signal corresponding to the supplied current. A comparator, which is connected to receive the current sense signal, provides a restart signal having a hysteresis characteristic. The restart signal is activated when the current sense signal falls a first predetermined value below the constant current value (indicating that the lamp has extinguished) and deactivated when the current sense signal rises above a second predetermined value greater than said first predetermined value, but still less than the constant current value.

Abstract: There are disclosed electronic imaging systems employing CCD imaging units and one or more unique analog signal processors (ASP's). Each ASP receives color-component image signals from the CCD unit and provides respective output image signals, such as red, green and blue color components, having proper white balance for combining into a full color image. The dark background or zero level of the output image signals is referenced to a common "dark" reference voltage to minimize dark background variations in the combined color image regardless of the gain setting of the ASP or ASP's. Each ASP is substantially identical and has a unique architecture which facilitates its implementation as an integrated circuit. The ASP has a dynamic range of substantially better than 8-bits and provides for a wide range of signal sample rates (e.g., 1 to 40 MHz).

Abstract: A color difference compressor operating in a color difference baseband system compensates for illumination overload in the output of a color sensor by switching a pair of multiplexers between the active video portion of the color difference signals and a predetermined blanking level. The output signal from the sensor is separated into three colors by a sample/hold circuit prior to generations of the color difference signals and a signal overload in any one of the three colors triggers an overload control signal that switches the multiplexers.

Abstract: A high efficiency remote current sensing motor drive circuit is disclosed, wherein the use of a sense resistor to sense motor current is eliminated to improve the overall efficiency of the motor drive circuit. The disclosed motor drive circuit is based on the principle that the drain-to-source voltage of a power FET in a motor phase driver can be detected and used to generate a feedback current that is proportional to the detected drain-to-source voltage and inversely proportional to a drain-to-source resistance of a reference FET that is much smaller than the power FET.

Abstract: A focusing aid for a manually-focused video camera provides an indication of optimum focus by switching the d.c. level of the video signal between two values according to its high frequency content. The switched d.c. levels generate a brightness transition that is confined to a columnar region occupying one side of the display in an electronic viewfinder. A high frequency component is separated from the video signal and converted into a d.c. control signal having an amplitude that varies with frequency content. By accumulating the d.c. control signal for each video field and switching a voltage divider in response to the amplitude of the accumulated control signal, a transition between d.c. levels is generated that is time-wise dependent upon high frequency content. The switched d.c. level is injected into the video signal during the scanning of the column.