Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises: an image sensor having an effective pixel area where plural pixels not shield from light are two-dimensionally arranged, and a first optical black area and a second optical black area including pixels shielded from light provided on the both sides of the effective pixel area; and a correction unit to, upon incident of high luminance light on the image sensor, correct an output signal of a pixel between a high luminance portion as a pixel part on which the high luminance light is incident in the effective pixel area and the first optical black area using an output signal of the first optical black area, and correct an output signal of a pixel between the high luminance portion and the second optical black area, using an output signal of the second optical black area.

Abstract: An image processing method for executing edge enhancement for an original image includes: extracting edge components based upon the original image; correcting the extracted edge components by attenuating the individual edge components so that a frequency distribution related to intensity of the edge components approximates a Gaussian distribution assuming a specific width; and executing edge enhancement for the original image based upon the corrected edge components.

Abstract: According to embodiment, an image processing device includes a black level correcting section. The black level correcting section includes a first input restricting unit and a second input restricting unit. The second input restricting unit performs a second input restriction, having a second signal level range including a moving average as a reference, on a black level signal subjected to a first input restriction by the first input restricting unit. A correction amount calculation unit calculates a difference of an average of signal values subjected to the second input restriction and a black level standard value as a correction value to apply on an effective pixel signal.

Abstract: An electronic camera includes an imager. An imager outputs an image signal that is based on electric charges produced on an imaging surface having an optical black area. A clamper clamps the image signal outputted from the imager by referring to a signal level of the optical black area. A processor processes the image signal outputted from the clamper by referring to a parameter setting. A restrictor restricts behavior of the clamper corresponding to a specific area allocated to the optical black area. An adjustor adjusts the parameter setting based on an output of the clamper corresponding to the restricting process of the restrictor.

Abstract: A technique for applying black level compensation to image data is provided. In one embodiment, an image processing system includes a first image processing pipeline configured to receive frames of image data generated by an image sensor and to alter the frames of image data to compensate for black level shift. The image processing system may also include a feed-forward loop having a second image processing pipeline configured to receive at least one of the frames of image data, to process the at least one frame, and to adjust a black level compensation parameter of the first image processing pipeline. Additional methods, systems, and devices relating to black level compensation are also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of circuits and methods for suppressing row-wise noise in the analog domain in an image sensing device. In one embodiment, a pixel sampling circuit includes a readout circuit that is connected to a plurality of pixels to receive analog signals from the pixels. The pixel sampling circuit also includes a noise correction circuit that provides a reference signal to remove at least a portion of the noise in the analog signals received from the pixels before the analog signals are converted into digital signals.

Abstract: A clamp control method, a clamp correction device, an image sensor, and an electronic apparatus in which high-quality imaging without unnaturalness as a whole can be performed with low power consumption in an image sensor having a large number of pixels.

Abstract: A method of suppressing a dark halo in an imager includes the steps of: extracting an edge value from an image; determining a chroma zone associated with the edge value extracted from the image; and modifying the edge value based on the chroma zone associated with the extracted edge value. The modified edge value from the imager is then provided to a user. The step of determining the chroma zone includes determining a chroma value of Cr and Cb in a Y-Cr-Cb color space; and modifying the edge value includes multiplying the edge value by a predetermined gain value, k, depending on the chroma value of Cr and Cb. If the value of Cr is greater than zero, then the gain value k is set close to zero, in order to suppress the dark halo in the modified edge value. On the other hand, if the value of Cr is less than zero, then the gain value k is set close to one, in order to sharpen the modified edge value in the image.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device comprises a pixel unit, an exposure control unit, a first read-out path, and a second read-out path. In the pixel unit, a plurality of photoelectric conversion devices, in which the amount of accumulated electric charges changes in accordance with incident light, are disposed two-dimensionally. The exposure control unit controls the pixel unit such that the start and end of accumulation of electric charges are performed at the same time in the photoelectric conversion devices which belong to a plurality of rows included in the pixel unit. The first read-out path reads out captured image signals of the photoelectric conversion devices in units of one row during a unit read-out period. The second read-out path reads out reset signals of the photoelectric conversion devices which belong to the same row as the row in which the captured image signals are read out during the unit read-out period.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel array section having an effective pixel region formed by a plurality of pixels which are disposed in the form of a matrix, each of which includes a photoelectric conversion device and a transistor reading out an electric charge obtained by photoelectric conversion at the photoelectric conversion device, and which are illuminated by light and a light-shielded pixel region formed by a plurality of pixels which are shielded from light; a row scan section selecting and controlling each row of pixels of the pixel array section to output a signal from each of the pixels of the selected row of pixels to a column signal line provided in association with the row of pixels; and an A-D conversion section converting the signal output from the signal line into a digital signal.

Abstract: An imaging system capable of black level calibration includes an imaging pixel array, at least one black reference pixel, and peripheral circuitry. The imaging pixel array includes a plurality of active pixels each coupled to capture image data. The black reference pixel is coupled to generate a black reference signal for calibrating the image data. Light transmitting layers are disposed on a first side of a pixel array die including the imaging system and cover at least the imaging pixel array and the black reference pixel. A light shielding layer is disposed on the first side of the pixel array die and covers a portion of the light transmitting layers and the black reference pixel without covering the imaging pixel array.

Abstract: An image sensor includes multiple photoactive pixels and multiple dark reference pixels arranged in rows and columns to form a pixel array. A dark signal is read out of one or more dark reference pixels in each column and used to determine a column offset for one or more columns in the pixel array. An offset window is used for each column in the pixel array to define an acceptable maximum dark signal and an acceptable minimum dark signal for each column. The dark signals from each column are analyzed to determine if there are any dark signals outside the offset window. If any of the dark signals are outside the offset window, the dark signal or signals can be compensated for or discarded.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixels, each having a photoelectric converter; a signal conversion circuit converting a pixel signal from the pixel array into an output signal; and a clamp correction circuit correcting a clamp level included in a predetermined signal dealt with by the signal conversion circuit. The clamp correction circuit includes an analog-to-digital converter performing analog-to-digital conversion of the predetermined signal and generating and outputting N+M bits of digital data at the time of analog-to-digital conversion, N+M bits being obtained by adding M bits for correction to N bits assigned to the predetermined signal; a correction-value generating unit determining a correction value based on the N+M bits of digital data and a target value; and a computing unit performing a correction computation using the N+M bits of digital data and the correction value to generate N bits of clamp-corrected data.

Abstract: An electronic image capture system for capturing a reduced noise image of a scene includes a detector array and an image processing apparatus. The detector array provides to the image processing apparatus data representing at least one image of a scene detected by the array. The image processing apparatus holds a noise model that characterizes the noise performance of the image capture system. Based on the image data and the noise model the image processing apparatus identifies one or more portions of the scene that are predicted to contribute disproportionately to visible noise in an image formed from said image data. Based on the identified portions of the scene and the noise model, the image processing apparatus determines an exposure pattern for the image capture system that is predicted to produce multiple exposures of the scene that are combinable to produce an image with a minimal predicted noise.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image sensing element including an effective pixel portion, and a shading pixel portion; a setting unit which variably sets, in at least one of row and column directions, an effective pixel signal readout region and shading pixel signal readout region; a readout unit which reads out the effective pixel signals and reads out the shading pixel signals; a correction data generation unit which generates correction data for each column or each row; a correction unit which corrects luminance levels of the effective pixel signals, for each column or each row; and a control unit which controls the setting unit so that the shading pixel signal readout region becomes wider than the effective pixel signal readout region.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging sensor, a switching section, and a controlling section. The imaging sensor includes a light receiving surface to which light receiving elements capable of addressing reading are arranged, and having, on the light receiving surface, an imaging area capturing a subject image and an optical black area outputting a signal of a dark current component, the optical black area which the light receiving elements are covered with a light shielding member. The switching section switching a first state and a second state. The controlling section reads a signal level by each partial area at the optical black area when a dark image is captured in the second state after capturing a normal image in the first state, sequentially compares with the signal level at a corresponding position of the normal image, and controls a exposure time of the dark image according to the comparison result.

Abstract: A signal chain of an imaging system is disclosed. The system includes three circuit stages. The first circuit stage includes a programmable gain amplifier (PGA) and a black level compensation (BLC) circuit that form a BLC loop. The second circuit stage includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), where a dark signal offset is added at an input of the ADC. The third circuit stage includes a digital gain circuit and a digital loop that makes a final output of the imaging system settle on a target level in the BLC mode.

Abstract: A method of pixel correction is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) calibrating a per-pixel correction model of a sensor at a plurality of different illumination levels, (B) generating a plurality of pixel values from the sensor in response to an optical signal and (C) generating a plurality of corrected values by applying the per-pixel correction model to the pixel values.

Abstract: A pixel structure includes two different photosensitive portions. One portion is shielded from incident light and the signals from both are fed into an op amp so that the differential signal is output as the pixel output, thereby cancelling dark current.

Abstract: An image sensor includes multiple photoactive pixels and multiple dark reference pixels arranged in rows and columns to form a pixel array. A dark signal is read out of one or more dark reference pixels in each column and used to determine a column offset for one or more columns in the pixel array. Each time an image or frame of an image is read out, the column offset for the one or more columns is updated using dark signals read out from a given number of dark reference pixels. The column offset for the one or more columns is scaled when a gain level is changed for a captured image.

Abstract: When clamping a signal from a solid state image sensor, float of an optical black pixel output due to incoming of infrared light avoids a malfunction of a clamp from occurring. When clamping a signal from the solid state image sensor, the difference between the optical black pixel output and a clamp target level is output as a difference output, the difference output is compared with a comparison level to integrate the number of times larger than the comparison level every horizontal line. When the number of times is equal to or more than a certain rate (?) from the number of optical black pixels on the horizontal line, an optical black float state is determined and clamping operation is performed in accordance with a held value immediately before.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method, for capturing an electronic image using a CMOS imager having an electronic shutter and a reduced dark current component in its image output signal. The dark current is reduced by—reading out each line of the CMOS imager in normal and reversed order and subsequent processing.

Abstract: Multi-phase black level calibration (BLC) methods and systems are generally disclosed. According to one embodiment of the present invention, an image sensor comprises a pixel sensor array, a timing generator, and a front-end processing block. The front-end processing block also includes a first summing junction, a first BLC block, and a second BLC block. According to a first timing signal from the timing generator, the first BLC block is configured to iteratively generate a first calibration signal in a first phase based on a first set of adjusted black level signals associated with a first set of black pixels, a changing accumulator step, and a predetermined condition associated with a first target black level. According to a second timing signal from the timing generator, the second BLC block is configured to generate a second calibration signal for a second summing junction to apply to an image signal associated with one or more active pixels in the frame in a second phase.

Abstract: A target digital image is received from an image sensor. The image is contaminated by noise of unknown magnitude that is represented by a reference digital image. A process is applied that uses statistical analysis of the target digital image and of the reference digital image to estimate a magnitude of the noise for at least some pixels of the target digital image.

Abstract: Systems and methods of bad pixel cluster detection are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method includes determining a correlation value corresponding to a correlation coefficient between image data and at least one bad pixel cluster pattern, and detecting a bad pixel cluster corresponding to the at least one bad pixel cluster pattern based on the correlation value exceeding a threshold.

Abstract: According to the embodiment, a feedback clamp circuit is included, which increases or decreases a clamp parameter so that a black level approaches a target value while controlling a change amount of the clamp parameter, which sets the black level, based on the black level read out from OB pixels.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging sensor, a switching section, and a controlling section. The imaging sensor includes a light receiving surface to which light receiving elements capable of addressing reading are arranged, and having, on the light receiving surface, an imaging area capturing a subject image and an optical black area outputting a signal of a dark current component, the optical black area which the light receiving elements are covered with a light shielding member. The switching section switching a first state and a second state. The controlling section reads a signal level by each partial area at the optical black area when a dark image is captured in the second state after capturing a normal image in the first state, sequentially compares with the signal level at a corresponding position of the normal image, and controls a exposure time of the dark image according to the comparison result.

Abstract: An image sensor includes multiple photoactive pixels and multiple dark reference pixels typically arranged in rows and columns to form a pixel array. A dark signal is read out from a given number of dark reference pixels in each column at a first gain level. An initial column offset correction is determined for one or more columns in the pixel array using respective dark signals read out at the first gain level. The initial column offset corrections are repeatedly scaled in response to each detected change to a different gain level. The column offset corrections can be scaled based on an amount of change between each respective different gain level and the first gain level.

Abstract: A pedestal level compensation method includes calculating a dark level difference error depending on temperature, calculating a pedestal level offset depending on an analog gain, and compensating a pedestal level according to the dark level difference error and the pedestal level offset.

Abstract: A Optical Black Pixel (OBP) cancellation circuit corrects offsets in sensors in a CCD/CMOS image sensor when reading dark pixels such at the periphery. A pixel voltage is switched to a sampling capacitor during two phases of the same pixel pulse. Sampling capacitors and feedback capacitors connect to differential inputs of an amplifier. An accumulating capacitor accumulates voltage differences and generates a common-mode voltage that is fed back to another sampling capacitor that stores an amplifier offset. The sampling capacitor and accumulating capacitor and their associated switches form a discrete-time first-order low-pass filter that filters the pixel voltage during the first phase. In the second phase the amplifier acts as a unity-gain amplifier to output an average of the pixel voltage differences generated during an OBP time when blackened or covered pixels are read from the image sensor.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device includes a pixel array section including an effective pixel region, an optical black pixel region, and a pixel region between the effective pixel region and the optical black pixel region; a vertical drive section which performs driving so that signals of pixels of the pixel region disposed at a side of the effective pixel region in a vertical direction are skipped and signals of pixels of the effective pixel region and the optical black pixel region are read; and a horizontal drive section which performs driving so that, from among the pixels selected by the vertical drive section, the signals of the pixels of the pixel region disposed at a side of the effective pixel region in a horizontal direction are skipped and the signals of the pixels of the effective pixel region and the optical black pixel region are read.

Abstract: After an end of exposure, a data level of OB signals that are imaging signals output from OB portion 400 are sampled by a CDS circuit 6 twice, to artificially generate two OB signals from each OB signal. Thereby, assuming that the total number of OB signals required to stabilize the black level in the clamp circuit 9 is n, the black level can be stabilized before it is started to output effective signals that are imaging signals from effective pixel portion 200 even if the number of OB signals output from the OB portion 400 is 1/n (in the case where pixel mixing or pixel thinning is performed, or in the case where the number of photoelectric conversion elements in the OB portion 400 is less than n). Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the image degradation by suppressing a wrong black level.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an image input apparatus including a plurality of pixel sections, each including a light-sensitive element configured to generate electric charge by photoelectric conversion, a semiconductor region configured to receive a signal transferred from the light-sensitive element, and a transfer switch configured to transfer the signal from the light-sensitive element to the semiconductor region. An image is formed based on a composite signal obtained by combining a saturation signal representing photoelectric charge overflowing from the light-sensitive element and flowing into the semiconductor region and a photoelectric conversion signal stored in the light-sensitive element. Formation of the image is controlled based on a corrected composite signal obtained by correcting a component corresponding to a noise component.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a data processing device, a data processing method, and a recording medium that enable a user to have a bodily sensation of collection of a material such as image data or the like, and editing. A processing section 31 generates first object image data as image data having a wider angle than image data obtained by image pickup by an image pickup device, and a manipulating section 35 extracts image data for one frame (extraction image data) from the first object image data according to an image pickup parameter set according to an operation of a user. Further, the manipulating section 35 superimposes the image data of a telop as second object image data on the extraction image data according to an editing parameter set according to an operation of the user. The present invention is applicable to television receivers receiving programs, for example.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus obtains a black image captured in the light-shielded state, and applies a cyclic type filter to each line in a direction parallel to the streak in the black image, reducing random noise in the first direction. The image processing apparatus deletes, from a black image obtained by applying the cyclic type filter, lines in the second direction by the group delay of the cyclic type filter. Further, the image processing apparatus generates an image having a line count corresponding to the group delay by using a final line in the second direction in the image from which lines corresponding to the group delay have been deleted. The image processing apparatus adds the generated image to the image from which lines corresponding to the group delay have been deleted, and outputs the resultant image.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that facilitate mitigating pixel or column fixed pattern noise in a CMOS imaging System-on-Chip (iSoC) sensor. For instance, pixel or column fixed pattern noise can be recognized by gating a pixel array without firing a transfer signal (TX). Inhibiting the transfer signal can cause zero input to be provided to pixels in the pixel array; thus, the sampled output from the pixels under such conditions can be a function of noise. Calibration and correction can thereafter be effectuated. Moreover, uniform frame rates for outputted frames can be yielded irrespective of use of a subset of read out frames for calibration. For example, frames employed for calibration can be replaced in a sequence of outputted frames by copies of stored frames. Further, signal levels can be balanced to account for differences in light integration time, which can result from blocking and unblocking firing of transfer signals.

Abstract: A target digital image is received from an image sensor. The image is contaminated by noise of unknown magnitude that is represented by a reference digital image. A process is applied that uses statistical analysis of the target digital image and of the reference digital image to estimate a magnitude of the noise for at least some pixels of the target digital image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a noise reduction unit which performs noise reduction processing to image signals, a first noise presumption unit which presumes a first noise amount from a present image signal among the image signals, and a second noise presumption unit which presumes a second noise amount based on the first noise amount, the present image signal, and the image signal of the past which underwent the noise reduction processing. The noise reduction unit performs the noise reduction processing to the present image signal based on the second noise amount.

Abstract: An image sensor, in particular a CMOS image sensor, for electronic cameras having a plurality of light-sensitive pixels which are arranged in rows and columns and whose signals are conducted via a plurality of column lines to column amplifiers, with a column amplifier being associated with each column line. At least one further column amplifier which is simultaneously also associated with at least one other column line is associated with the respective column line. A switching device switches the respective column line selectively to one of the associated column amplifiers.

Abstract: The application describes an X-ray detector, which uses direct X-ray conversion (DiCo) combined with CMOS pixel circuits. DiCo materials have to be used with high voltage to achieve a high field strength. This makes the sensor prone to leakage currents, which falsify the measured charge result. Moreover, most direct conversion materials suffer from large residual signals that lead to temporal artifacts (ghost images) in an X-ray image sequence. A circuit is described, which senses the sensor's dark current including residual signals from previous exposures before the sensor is exposed (again) to X-ray, and freezes relevant circuit parameters at the end of the sensing phase in such way, that the dark current (leakage current and residual signal) can still be drained during exposure. Therefore, the charge pulses generated in the sensor due to X-ray exposure can be integrated without charges carried by the leakage current or residual signal, thus obtaining a more accurate estimate of the deposited X-ray energy.

Abstract: Multiple images are captured where the exposure times for some of the images overlap and the images are spatially overlapped. Charge packets are transferred from one or more portions of pixels after particular integration periods, thereby enabling the portion or portions of pixels to begin another integration period while one or more other portions of pixels continue to integrate charge. Charge packets may be binned during readout of the images from the image sensor. Comparison of two or more images having different lengths of overlapping or non-overlapping exposure periods provides motion information. The multiple images can then be aligned to compensate for motion between the images and assembled into a combined image with an improved signal to noise ratio and reduced motion blur.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image reading device is disclosed. The reference memory stores reference signals of tone levels “0” to “n” which are output from the sensor by light of tone levels “0” to “n” reflected by the shading plate. The afterimage memory stores afterimage signals of tone levels “1” to “n” which are output from the sensor after the sensor outputs the reference signals. The image signal memory store image signals of first and second lines. The afterimage correction memory store the afterimage signals of tone levels “n?1” and “n” when the image signal of the first line is not smaller than the reference signal of tone level “n?1”, and smaller than the reference signal of tone level “n”. The signal processor performs afterimage correction on the image signal of the second line by calculation using at least the afterimage signals of tone levels “n?1” and “n”.

Abstract: A black level compensation (BLC) circuit is disclosed. The BLC circuit includes a switched-capacitor (SC) integrator configured to compensate a readout amplifier of an image sensor. An output of the readout amplifier is clamped to a reference voltage at which a black level of the image sensor is defined. According to one aspect, a bad pixel detector is used to detect a bad pixel or pixels and disconnect the BLC loop when the bad pixel or pixels are detected.

Abstract: A dead pixel processing device is disclosed. The dead pixel processing device separates an inputted Bayer pattern image into corresponding component data; calculates the distribution (pattern) of pixels based on the median of each data; calculates a comparing value based on a component having a center pixel; outputs an external flag which informs whether there are a dead pixel and/or a hot pixel by using the comparing value; compares the values of the center pixel and adjacent pixels in the component having the center pixel; calculates a measuring value based on the center pixel; outputs an internal flag by using the measuring value; and corrects the dead pixel or the hot pixel. With the present invention, an image can be corrected by detecting a corresponding dead pixel and hot pixel.

Abstract: Detection cells configured to output signals for dark current error correction. Various embodiments of detection cells accumulate dark charge supplied by dark current sources, and output dark charge signals indicating the amount of accumulated dark charge. The dark charge signals may be used to approximate the amount of dark charge read out by pixel cells of an imaging array and/or to offset portions of pixel cell signals attributable to dark charge accumulation.

Abstract: In a solid state imaging device according to the present application, a sampling hold part samples and holds, in accordance with sampling control signals ?TVN, ?TVS, a dark signal and a light signal of each of vertical signal lines provided to correspond to each column of pixels, and supplies the signals being held to horizontal signal lines in accordance with a horizontal scanning signal. During predetermined intervals T21, T22 including signal sampling timings t1, t2 determined by the sampling control signals ?TVN, ?TVS, pulse, signals ?GH, ?HCLK1, ?HCLK2, ?RSTH that relate in reading the signals supplied from the sampling hold part to the horizontal signal lines are stopped. Accordingly, an influence of noise when the signals corresponding to the signals of the vertical signal lines are sampled by the sampling hold part is reduced, resulting in that an image quality of a captured image is further increased.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup apparatus includes a first antireflection coating film formed on a light-receiving surface of a first photoelectric conversion element and a second antireflection coating film formed on a light-receiving surface of a second photoelectric conversion element. A total length of first photoelectric conversion element facing portions of gate lines adjacent to the first photoelectric conversion element is shorter than a total length of second photoelectric conversion element facing portions of gate lines adjacent to the second photoelectric conversion element. An area of the first antireflection coating film is larger than that of the second antireflection coating film.

Abstract: Provided are method and apparatus for eliminating image noise caused by variation between the imaging pixels on an image sensor. Preferably, a uniform light source is provided firstly, and the image sensor records exposure values taken from the source. Method is to sum the exposure values in each channel of each line, and calculate channel's average of sum for each channel and sum for adjacent lines' channels. A channel compensation value is then obtained by subtracting the average from the sum of one channel in one line, and divided by the pixel number in one channel. A compensation average constituted of a first part and a second part for each pixel is further calculated. A pixel compensation value for each pixel is obtained by suitably allotting the two parts. The pixel compensation value is finally recorded in memory and being a reference for future photographing.

Abstract: An image processing method for executing edge enhancement for an original image includes: extracting edge components based upon the original image; correcting the extracted edge components by attenuating the individual edge components so that a frequency distribution related to intensity of the edge components approximates a Gaussian distribution assuming a specific width; and executing edge enhancement for the original image based upon the corrected edge components.

Abstract: A programmable digital black level calibration circuit comprises a combining circuit, a digital programmable gain amplifier (PGA), and a black level feedback circuit. The combining circuit combines a digital image signal for optical black (OB) pixels and a feedback signal and outputs a digital PGA input signal. The PGA amplifies the digital PGA input signal by a PGA gain value and outputs a digital PGA output signal. The black level feedback circuit receives the digital PGA output signal and a target black level and in response outputs the feedback signal such that a black level of the OB pixels is calibrated with respect to the target black level. The programmable digital black level calibration circuit calibrates the black level in pure digital domain using signed data buses. The target black level is adjustable to a desired positive or negative value independent from the PGA gain value.