Abstract: An image sensor, in particular a CMOS image sensor, for an electronic camera has a plurality of pixels which are arranged in rows and columns and each of which is associated with one of at least three color channels. Each pixel comprises at least one light-sensitive detector element and a color filter. Each pixel that is associated with a first color channel of the three color channels comprises at least two light-sensitive detector elements that are configured to generate electrical signals independently of one another in dependence on incident light so that a phase difference between the electrical signals generated by the detector elements of the respective pixel can be used for an autofocus of the camera. Of the pixels that are not associated with the first color channel, at least some, in particular all, comprise only a single light-sensitive detector element that is configured to generate electrical signals in dependence on incident light.

Abstract: An image sensor for electronic cameras has a plurality of pixels for generating exposure-dependent signals, wherein a respective pixel at least comprises at least one light-sensitive element; a readout node; a transfer gate; a converter transistor; and a selection switch that is connected to a signal output of the converter transistor to selectively couple the signal output to a column line of the image sensor. The column line is coupled or can be coupled to a negative input of an associated column amplifier via an input capacitor, wherein an amplifier output of the column amplifier is connected to a column readout circuit and to a compensation line. The compensation line is coupled via a respective feedback capacitor to the respective readout node of the associated pixels.

Abstract: An image sensor for electronic cameras has a plurality of pixels for generating exposure-dependent signals, wherein a respective pixel at least comprises at least one light-sensitive element; a readout node; a transfer gate; a converter transistor; and a selection switch that is connected to a signal output of the converter transistor to selectively couple the signal output to a column line of the image sensor. The column line is coupled or can be coupled to a negative input of an associated column amplifier via an input capacitor, wherein an amplifier output of the column amplifier is connected to a column readout circuit and to a compensation line. The compensation line is coupled via a respective feedback capacitor to the respective readout node of the associated pixels.

Abstract: An image sensor for electronic cameras has a plurality of pixels for generating exposure-dependent signals, wherein a respective pixel at least comprises: a light-sensitive element to generate electrical charge from incident light; a readout node; a transfer gate to selectively couple the light-sensitive element to the readout node; a converter transistor to convert the charge present at the readout node into a voltage signal at a signal output; and a selection switch that is connected to the signal output of the converter transistor to selectively couple the signal output of the converter transistor to an associated readout line of the image sensor. The respective pixel has an electrically conductive shielding structure that at least partly surrounds the readout node and that is set or can be set to an electrical potential that depends on the voltage signal of the converter transistor.

Abstract: An image sensor for electronic cameras has a plurality of pixels for generating exposure-dependent signals, wherein a respective pixel at least comprises: a light-sensitive element to generate electrical charge from incident light; a readout node; a transfer gate to selectively couple the light-sensitive element to the readout node; a converter transistor to convert the charge present at the readout node into a voltage signal at a signal output; and a selection switch that is connected to the signal output of the converter transistor to selectively couple the signal output of the converter transistor to an associated readout line of the image sensor. The respective pixel has an electrically conductive shielding structure that at least partly surrounds the readout node and that is set or can be set to an electrical potential that depends on the voltage signal of the converter transistor.

Abstract: An image sensor, in particular a CMOS image sensor, for electronic cameras includes a plurality of light-sensitive pixels arranged in rows and columns for generating exposure-dependent pixel signals. A plurality of column lines, at least one precharge circuit for charging or discharging the column lines and at least one column readout circuit for reading out the pixel signals of the respective column are associated with a respective column. The image sensor has at least one switching device which is adapted to couple, in a first switch state, one of the column lines of a respective column to the precharge circuit and another one of the column lines of the respective column to the column readout circuit.

Abstract: In a method for correcting defective pixels of an image sensor which has a plurality of pixels for generating respective exposure dependent pixel signals, a defect characteristic for each pixel is associated with the image sensor and comprises information at least on whether the pixel is unusable, is usable without limitations or corresponds to one of a plurality of predefined defect classes. The method comprises a determination being made after the generation of the pixel signals for each pixel, at least when the defect characteristic of the pixel does not correspond to an unusable pixel or to a pixel which can be used without limitations, in dependence on at least the associated defect class of the pixel and on pixel signals of a plurality of adjacent pixels, whether the generated pixel signal of the pixel should be corrected, with the generated pixel signal of the pixel being replaced with a replacement value if this is the case.

Abstract: A diagnosis unit for an electronic camera comprises a housing and a coupling device for coupling the diagnosis unit to an objective connection of a camera or to a camera objective, wherein the coupling device surrounds a light exit opening of the housing. The diagnosis unit further comprises at least one light source arranged in the housing for outputting a diagnosis illumination through the light exit opening, and an interface for electrically connecting the diagnosis unit to a camera. A camera system comprises a diagnosis unit and an electronic camera having an image sensor.

Abstract: An image sensor for electronic cameras includes a plurality of light sensitive pixels arranged in rows and columns, wherein the pixels of a respective column can be read out via a respective column line and includes a plurality of data outputs, wherein a plurality of column lines are associated with the respective data output via at least one multiplexer device. The column lines are divided into a plurality of column line groups, wherein the respective column line group includes a plurality of column lines arranged next to one another; and wherein the number of column lines of the respective column line group corresponds to the number of the column lines associated with the respective data output.

Abstract: In a method of compressing image data which include a plurality of pixel values which are associated with a respective pixel, the pixel values are coded for at least some pixels in accordance with the following steps: determining an estimated pixel value of the respective pixel in dependence on the pixel value of at least one predetermined other pixel while using an estimation rule; and forming a difference value of the respective pixel which corresponds to a predefined relation between the pixel value and the estimated pixel value of the respective pixel and quantization of the difference value in accordance with a difference value quantization rule. The quantized difference values of the pixels are compressed in accordance with a compression rule.

Abstract: In a method for correcting defective pixels of an image sensor which has a plurality of pixels for generating respective exposure dependent pixel signals, a defect characteristic for each pixel is associated with the image sensor and comprises information at least on whether the pixel is unusable, is usable without limitations or corresponds to one of a plurality of predefined defect classes. The method comprises a determination being made after the generation of the pixel signals for each pixel, at least when the defect characteristic of the pixel does not correspond to an unusable pixel or to a pixel which can be used without limitations, in dependence on at least the associated defect class of the pixel and on pixel signals of a plurality of adjacent pixels, whether the generated pixel signal of the pixel should be corrected, with the generated pixel signal of the pixel being replaced with a replacement value if this is the case.

Abstract: An image sensor for electronic cameras includes a plurality of light sensitive pixels arranged in rows and columns for generating exposure proportional signals, wherein the pixels of a respective column are coupled to at least one respective column read-out circuit via at least one respective column line, and wherein the respective column read-out circuit includes at least two column amplifiers which are connected in parallel, and includes a control device for controlling a read-out process of an image, wherein the read-out process for the respective pixel includes at least one read-out cycle. The gain factor of at least one of the two column amplifiers of the respective column read-out circuit is adjustable.

Abstract: A digital camera includes an image sensor for producing analog image signals; an analog/digital converter for converting the image signals into digital raw data; and a signal processing unit for producing processed data from the raw data, wherein the signal processing device has a signal output. The camera has at least one first buffer memory for buffering at least some of the digital raw data and an evaluation device which is made to compare raw data stored in the first buffer memory with the processed data.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image sensor, in particular to a CMOS image sensor, for digital cameras, having a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns, wherein the respective pixel comprises: a light sensitive detector element to generate electrical charge from incident light during an exposure procedure, a readout node, a transfer gate to which a transfer control pulse can be applied to allow a charge transfer from the detector element to the readout node, and a reset device to reset a charge present in the readout node to a reference value. The image sensor furthermore has a control device for the control of the transfer gate and of the of the reset device of the respective pixel.

Abstract: An image sensor for electronic cameras includes a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns, wherein at least one common column is associated with a plurality of pixels of a column. Each pixel includes a light-sensitive detector element to produce an electric charge from incident light, a selection device to connect the detector element directly or indirectly to the associated column line and at least one switching device. The image sensor furthermore has a control device for controlling the selection device and the at least one switching device of the respective pixel. The control device is designed such that the selection device of a first pixel is activated within a time period in which the at least one switching device is activated in a second pixel with which the same column line is associated.

Abstract: An image sensor for electronic cameras has an image field having at least one image field block which includes a plurality of light sensitive pixels arranged in rows and columns for generating exposure dependent pixel signals, wherein the pixel signals of the pixels of the respective column of the respective image field block can be read out via one or more respective column lines extending parallel to one another. The image sensor has at least one first row of column amplifiers and at least one second row of column amplifiers for the respective image field block. The image sensor is adapted to read out the pixel signals of the pixels of the respective column of the respective image field block of an image or of two mutually following images partly via the at least one first row and partly via the at least one second row of column amplifiers (25).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image sensor, in particular a CMOS image sensor, for electronic cameras, having a plurality of light-sensitive pixels arranged in rows and columns, wherein all or at least some of the pixels of a column are connected to a respective common column line, and wherein the image sensor has a signal preprocessing device for one or more of the column lines to process a exposure signals generated by the pixels which can be applied to the respective column line. The image sensor is made selectively to apply one of at least two test input signals to the column lines.

Abstract: A film scanner for the optical scanning of a motion picture film having a sequence of a plurality of image regions and at least one row of a plurality of perforation holes in the longitudinal direction, in particular a motion picture film of the type 16 mm or 35 mm, comprises an image sensor for the detection at least of a respective image region of the motion picture film to generate a corresponding scanned image. The film scanner further comprises an evaluation unit for the evaluation of the scanned image to generate an image steadiness correction signal. The image sensor is made for the additional detection of only a respective part region of perforation holes in the environment of the detected image region of the motion picture film, with the evaluation unit being made to determine a position of the detected part region of at least one perforation hole. The evaluation unit generates the image steadiness correction signal on the basis of the at least one determined part region position.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image sensor, in particular to a CMOS sensor, having a plurality of light sensitive pixels arranged in rows and columns for the generation of output signals proportional to the exposure, wherein column lines are associated with the columns to supply the output signals to at least one column amplifier for amplification, wherein the at least one column amplifier cooperates with the column lines such that the amplification of the respective output signal depends on the capacitance of the respective column line.

Abstract: An image sensor for electronic cameras includes a plurality of light-sensitive pixels arranged in rows and columns for generating exposure-dependent pixel signals in an image field. Each pixel includes at least one light-sensitive element to generate electric charge from incident light and a converter transistor to convert a charge into a voltage signal. The pixels form a plurality of pixel groups with at least one common read-out circuit being associated with each pixel group are coupled to the output of the associated converter transistor. An amplifier circuit amplifies the voltage signals from each converter transistor.