Abstract: A method for reading out an image sensor, the method includes the steps of integrating charge in a photodetector with the photodetector at a first capacitance; reading the resulting signal level at a first time with the photodetector at the first capacitance; changing the photodetector capacitance to a second capacitance; and reading the signal level associated with the photodetector at the second capacitance.

Abstract: An image sensor is disclosed for capturing a color image, comprising a two-dimensional array of pixels having a plurality of minimal repeating unit wherein each repeating unit is composed of eight pixels having five panchromatic pixels and three pixels having different color responses.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a plurality of pixels with each pixel having a photosensitive area that captures a sequence of at least two light exposures by accumulating photon-induced charge for each exposure; at least two charge storage areas each of which is associated respectively with one of the sequence of light exposures into which the accumulated charge for each exposure is transferred sequentially; and at least one amplifier that is associated with at least one of the charge storage areas.

Abstract: A method for using a capture device to capture at least two video signals corresponding to a scene, includes: providing a two-dimensional image sensor having a plurality of pixels; reading a first group of pixels from the image sensor at a first frame rate to produce a first video signal of the image scene; reading a second group of pixels from the image sensor at a second frame rate for producing a second video signal; and using at least one of the video signals for adjusting one or more of the capture device parameters.

Abstract: An electronic imaging system includes a method for calibrating an image sensor having a array of pixels each used in capturing an image, the method comprising the steps of capturing first dark floor values at a first time from substantially all of the pixels in the array, storing the first dark floor values, capturing second dark floor values at a second time from substantially all of the pixels in the array, using the first and second dark floor values to compute third dark floor values, using the third dark floor values when processing the captured image.

Abstract: A timing generator for an electronic image sensor includes one or more memory based tables for controlling timing events that occur within one or more different types of image sensor lines, and one or more memory based tables for controlling timing events that occur within one or more different types of image sensor frames.

Abstract: An image sensor for capturing a color image is disclosed having a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels and wherein the first group of pixels has individual pixels that have spectral photoresponses that correspond to a set of at least two colors, with the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least six pixels with at least some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit composed only of pixels from the second group of pixels, and including ways to combine similarly positioned pixels from at least two adjacent minimal repeating units.

Abstract: A timing generator for an electronic image sensor includes one or more memory based tables for controlling timing events that occur within one or more different types of image sensor lines, and one or more memory based tables for controlling timing events that occur within one or more different types of image sensor frames.

Abstract: A camera includes an image sensor having an array of light measuring elements; a shutter curtain which moves in a predetermined direction and with a predetermined speed to block light from reaching the image sensor; and a reset mechanism for resetting the light measuring elements to a nominal state; wherein, when the reset mechanism initiates operation at a first time to reset incrementally the elements of the array with substantially the same predetermined direction and with substantially the same predetermined speed as the shutter curtain for starting the light measuring process, the shutter curtain moves at a second time to block light from the image sensor which effectively stops the light measuring process

Abstract: A timing generator for controlling an image sensor, the timing generator includes a first output driver that is continuously supplying a current to an output; a second output driver that is connected in parallel with the first output driver and that is selectively energized for supplying an additional current to the output; a controller that is electrically connected to the second driver which, based on the resulting waveform at the output, is adjusted to either supply its current or not supply its current for varying a total current to the output to control an image sensor.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, what is provided is a method for displaying an image using an active matrix display of picture elements that radiate light in response to the application of electrical power. In this method, a display mode is selected from at least a first and a second mode. The image is presented on the display when the first mode is selected and the image is presented in a modified form when a second mode is selected. The image is modified so that presenting the image in the second mode consumes less power than presenting the image in the first mode.

Abstract: Gain factors for correcting pixel to pixel variations in system response in a multi-pixel scanner array are determined by calculating gain factors for a so-called “open gate” condition (with no film present), by calculating gain factors for a so-called “Dmin” condition (looking at the minimum density of the film), and by selectively combining the “open gate” gains and “Dmin” gains to create composite set of gain factors which overcome the shortcomings of using either original set of gains alone. The composite gain factors can be a proportional sum of the two original sets of gains with the proportionality changing on a pixel-by-pixel basis to select more of one set of gains or the other set of gains. A number of discriminating functions are disclosed which may be used to calculate the proportionality based on some understanding of how the presence of film changes the characteristics of the scanning system.

Abstract: A serial output memory device is employed to reprogram a peripheral processor. The serial output memory device is addressed by a central processor and loaded with program instructions for the peripheral processor. The program instructions are serially retrieved from the serial output memory device and loaded into the peripheral processor's program address space.

Abstract: A hybrid camera includes a camera housing (12); an electronic imaging device (68) supported within the camera housing; a first optical system (58) for focusing light from a scene onto the imaging device, the first optical system having a first optical axis (16') and a first field of view (162); a film imaging plane (48) defined within the camera housing for photographic film (44); a second optical system (30) for focusing light from a scene onto the film imaging plane, the second optical system having a second optical axis (14') spaced from the first optical axis and a second field of view (164); a viewfinder (18, 26) supported by the camera housing, the viewfinder having a third optical axis (18') and a third field of view, the viewfinder being located relative to a selected one of the first and second optical systems such that the third field of view includes at least 75% of the field of view of the selected optical system; the field of view of the selected optical system being larger than that of a non-sel

Abstract: Signal processing circuit for a multi-pixel scanner array is calibrated by establishing gain and offset correction factors from selected scanner signal measurements and known gain/offset settings that provide accurate calibration of the processing circuit on a pixel-by-pixel basis without concern for variations of component and response values within the signal processing circuit itself from nominal values. When used as a film scanner apparatus, measurements of signal responses taken at open gate conditions are compensated by adjusting exposure values for imager operation during film scanning to make the minimum response output of the apparatus for film D.sub.min equal to the minimum derived of open gate condition during the calibration process.

Abstract: Pixel data from bad photosites of a linear imaging device is suppressed and replaced with pixel data from the next available good photosite. The loss of pixel data blocks from the beginning of the scan line is made up at the end of the scan line by continuing to write to memory the end pixel data a requisite number of times needed to complete the full scan line data.

Abstract: A bipolar CCD signal processing circuit and method in which offset in a non-zero dark level of the CCD signal which is induced by pixel-to-pixel gain adjustment is compensated by applying a proportionate amount of the gain compensation component of the gain signal to the gain-adjusted CCD signal to compensate for the gain-induced offset whereby the dark level of the gain-adjusted CCD signal is substantially restored on a pixel-to-pixel basis to its predetermined non-zero value. When gain-induced offset compensation is employed, the range of any separately applied compensation for pixel-to-pixel offsets, other than those induced by gain compensation, is substantially reduced.

Abstract: A CCD linear imager signal processor is dynamically controlled on a pixel-by-pixel and line-by-line basis by means of programmably variable control word bit maps to control the number of range and size of blocks of imaging pixel data that are accumulated to vary the imaging resolution and the format of the imaging process.

Abstract: A CCD linear imager is dynamically controlled on a pixel-by-pixel basis by a line-related map of control words stored in memory with individual control words addressed by a pixel counter operating in synchronism with processing of each imaging pixel in the CCD. Multiple control word maps may be stored in memory for programmed selection "on the fly" to vary the operating control of the CCD on a line-by-line basis.

Abstract: By waiting until an amplitude signal from a recorded track undergoes a predetermined change from an observed maximum signal level, the maximum level is "validated" as a signal peak representative of track center. The amplitude signal is generated as a transducer moves radially across a rotating disk and crosses one or more concentric information-bearing tracks. The amplitude signal is sampled at regular intervals and processed by a software low pass filter. Succeeding filtered samples are compared to find a signal maximum. The maximum level is then retained and each new sample is subtracted from the retained level. When the signal difference exceeds an excursion threshold, the signal maximum is "validated" and the head is moved to track center.