Abstract: Imaging apparatus (26) is provided for use with an image sensor (24). The apparatus includes a non-linear mapping circuit (42), which is configured to receive a raw stream of input pixel values generated by the image sensor and to perform a non-linear mapping of the input pixel values. to generate a mapped stream of mapped pixel values, and a linear convolution filter (44), which is arranged to filter the mapped stream of mapped pixel values to generate a filtered stream of filtered pixel values. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method for imaging includes receiving an input image that includes a matrix of pixels (32) having input pixel values. The input pixel values are processed so as to detect a region of saturation in the input image. A first image filtering operation is applied to the input pixel values of at least the pixels that are outside the region of saturation, so as to generate first filtered pixel values. A second image filtering operation is applied to the input pixel values of at least the pixels that are within the region of saturation, so as to generate second filtered pixel value. An enhanced output image is generated by stitching together the first and second filtered pixel values.

Abstract: An image enhancement circuit (26, 60, 190, 260) includes an input interface (64, 262), which is operative to accept a stream of input pixel values belonging to pixels (32) of an input image. The input image includes a plurality of different input sub-images including respective subsets of the pixels, such that the input pixel values of the pixels in the different input sub-images are interleaved in the stream. A plurality of filter cells (92, 144, 206, 222, 238, 364) are connected in a two-dimensional array configuration and are arranged to separately filter the input pixel values of each of the input sub-images with respective two-dimensional deconvolution kernels so as produce respective output sub-images that include output pixel values. A multiplexer (88, 332) is coupled to multiplex together the output pixel values of the output sub-images so as to produce a filtered output image.

Abstract: Standard memory circuits are used for executing a sum-of-products function between data stored in the memory and data introduced into the memory. The sum-of-products function is executed in a manner substantially similar to a standard memory read operation. The memory circuits are standard or slightly modified SRAM and DRAM cells, or computing memory arrays (CAMs).

Abstract: A method for imaging includes receiving an input image that includes a matrix of pixels (32) having input pixel values. The input pixel values are processed so as to detect a region of saturation in the input image. A first image filtering operation is applied to the input pixel values of at least the pixels that are outside the region of saturation, so as to generate first filtered pixel values. A second image filtering operation is applied to the input pixel values of at least the pixels that are within the region of saturation, so as to generate second filtered pixel value. An enhanced output image is generated by stitching together the first and second filtered pixel values.

Abstract: Standard memory circuits are used for executing a sum-of-products function between data stored in the memory and data introduced into the memory. The sum-of-products function is executed in a manner substantially similar to a standard memory read operation. The memory circuits are standard or slightly modified SRAM and DRAM cells, or computing memory arrays (CAMs).

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention comprise imaging systems and methods for an interlaced scan of an image sensor array. An exemplary method is described in which an image sensor array is exposed to light for a period of time to generate voltage levels representative of array pixels. The voltage levels of a first field of the array are scanned, the first field comprising a number of row-pairs of the array. The voltage levels of a second field of the array are also scanned, the second field comprising a different set of row-pairs interlaced with the row-pairs of the first field. A set of image data from the first field and a set from the second field are generated. Various row-pairs may be averaged in generating the sets of image data. Additionally, exemplary imaging systems are described with various configurations for scanning an image sensor array in interlaced mode.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to measure small shifts and rotations of video images captured in short succession after a first reference video image is captured, and to add the sequence of captures while shifting or rotating back the shifted or rotated images, in order to improve the SNR in low light conditions.

Abstract: A method of compressing an image according to an image compression algorithm includes sequentially receiving pixel values into a buffers bank in line-by-line order. The image includes a plurality of pixels arranged into lines and columns. Each pixel has a pixel value associated therewith. Each line has L pixels. The image compression algorithm operates on blocks of pixels, each block having N lines and M columns. The method also includes storing each block-line of pixel values in a buffer of the buffers bank. A block-line includes M consecutive pixels of a line. The method also includes, for each block-line, storing a pointer to the buffer in which the block-line is stored and reading block-lines out of the buffers bank to a compression engine, wherein the block-lines are read out of the buffers bank in an order that is different from the line-by-line order in which the block-lines were received into the buffers bank.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing an image includes a buffer memory, which is configured to receive and store an input data stream including multiple image lines and one or more embedded data lines, which are interleaved with the image lines and include metadata that are not a part of the image. An image processor receives the input pixel values in succession from the buffer memory and processes the input pixel values so as to generate an output data stream including output pixel values, which are different from the input pixel values. A processing controller detects the one or more embedded data lines and controls the image processor, responsively to detecting the one or more embedded data lines, so that the embedded data lines pass through the image processor without modification of the metadata and are interleaved with the image lines of the output pixel values in the output data stream.

Abstract: Embodiments of the current invention provide for systems and methods for correcting shading effects in image sensors. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, embodiments of the current invention provide methods and systems for dynamically correcting shading effects for digitally converted outputs from individual pixels on a pixel array in the image sensor, wherein the shading correction may be calculated according to a function of an elliptical-type equation from the radial location of the pixel on the pixel array. In embodiments of the present invention, the correction is performed at the Bayer domain before demosaicing processing to provide for accuracy of shading correction and low power consumption.

Abstract: A method for data processing includes accepting input data words including bits for storage in a memory, which includes multiple memory cells arranged in rows and columns. The accepted data words are stored so that the bits of each data word are stored in more than a single row of the memory. A data processing operation is performed on the stored data words by applying a sequence of one or more bit-wise operations to at least one row of the memory, so as to produce a result that is stored in one or more of the rows of the memory.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a semiconductor substrate and an array of random access memory (RAM) cells, which are arranged on the substrate in first columns and are configured to store data. A computational section in the device includes associative memory cells, which are arranged on the substrate in second columns, which are aligned with respective first columns of the RAM cells and are in communication with the respective first columns so as to receive the data from the array of the RAM cells and to perform an associative computation on the data.

Abstract: An image enhancement circuit (26, 60, 190, 260) includes an input interface (64, 262), which is operative to accept a stream of input pixel values belonging to pixels (32) of an input image. The input image includes a plurality of different input sub-images including respective subsets of the pixels, such that the input pixel values of the pixels in the different input sub-images are interleaved in the stream. A plurality of filter cells (92, 144, 206, 222, 238, 364) are connected in a two-dimensional array configuration and are arranged to separately filter the input pixel values of each of the input sub-images with respective two-dimensional deconvolution kernels so as produce respective output sub-images that include output pixel values. A multiplexer (88, 332) is coupled to multiplex together the output pixel values of the output sub-images so as to produce a filtered output image.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate in general to systems and methods for dynamically correcting color cross-talk and related color distortion in an image sensor. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, certain embodiments of the present invention relate to correcting pixel outputs from a pixel array in an image sensor at the Bayer domain for color cross-talk and/or green disparity using hyperbolically varying correction functions to dynamically derive color cross-talk correction factors using pixel location on the pixel array, a selected pixel output and related outputs from neighboring pixels on the image sensor prior to or synchronous with color interpolation.

Abstract: A method for enhancing an image read from an image sensor in the digital domain includes analyzing a row or a column of the image; determining the row or column is defective; and replacing the row or the column with information from adjacent portions of the image when the row or image is found defective.

Abstract: A method of compressing an image according to an image compression algorithm includes sequentially receiving pixel values into a buffers bank in line-by-line order. The image includes a plurality of pixels arranged into lines and columns. Each pixel has a pixel value associated therewith. Each line has L pixels. The image compression algorithm operates on blocks of pixels, each block having N lines and M columns. The method also includes storing each block-line of pixel values in a buffer of the buffers bank. A block-line includes M consecutive pixels of a line. The method also includes, for each block-line, storing a pointer to the buffer in which the block-line is stored and reading block-lines out of the buffers bank to a compression engine, wherein the block-lines are read out of the buffers bank in an order that is different from the line-by-line order in which the block-lines were received into the buffers bank.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to measure small shifts and rotations of video images captured in short succession after a first reference video image is captured, and to add the sequence of captures while shifting or rotating back the shifted or rotated images, in order to improve the SNR in low light conditions.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate in general to systems and methods for dynamically correcting color cross-talk and related color distortion in an image sensor. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, certain embodiments of the present invention relate to correcting pixel outputs from a pixel array in an image sensor at the Bayer domain for color cross-talk and/or green disparity using hyperbolically varying correction functions to dynamically derive color cross-talk correction factors using pixel location on the pixel array, a selected pixel output and related outputs from neighboring pixels on the image sensor prior to or synchronous with color interpolation.

Abstract: Embodiments of the current invention provide for systems and methods for correcting shading effects in image sensors. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, embodiments of the current invention provide methods and systems for dynamically correcting shading effects for digitally converted outputs from individual pixels on a pixel array in the image sensor, wherein the shading correction may be calculated according to a function of an elliptical-type equation from the radial location of the pixel on the pixel array. In embodiments of the present invention, the correction is performed at the Bayer domain before demosaicing processing to provide for accuracy of shading correction and low power consumption.