Abstract: A shading correction circuit of the present invention includes an image pickup device having photo detectors arranged on its receptive surface, and a shading correction part for performing shading correction on an output signal of the image pickup device. The image pickup device has an effective pixel area and an upper optical black part. The shading correction part has a correction coefficient generating part and a correction processing part. The correction coefficient generating part thereof extracts shading variation according to an output of the upper optical black part, and generates a correction coefficient for the shading variation. The correction processing part thereof performs shading correction on an image signal by using the correction coefficient generated by the correction coefficient generating part.

Abstract: The reduced signal-to-noise ratio of colored pixels that results from a lower conversion efficiency is eliminated by utilizing a programmable gain amplifier which individually applies a gain to the output of each colored pixel so that the maximum signal level of each colored pixel is matched to the maximum input range of an A/D converter.

Abstract: An electronic device controller includes an image sensor controller that controls an image sensor having an effective pixel region and a dummy pixel region, and a servo controller that performs servo control on a drive device that drives a carriage on which the image sensor is mounted. The servo controller performs the servo control based on servo control information (for speed control, initial position detection) read by some or all of the dummy pixel region of the image sensor. Alternatively, the servo control may be performed based on servo control information read by one or more separate sensors mounted on the carriage with the image sensor. Moreover, speed servo control may be performed according to speed control ranges based on servo control information for each speed range.

Abstract: A method of bad pixel correction for an image sensor. The image sensor has a plurality of rows, and each row includes at least one dark pixel on both ends of the row and valid pixels. The method comprises the steps of inserting a dummy value with a bad pixel flag into a first in first out (FIFO), wherein the dummy value is used for replacing a value of the dark pixel; determining whether a control signal is asserted, wherein the control signal is used for indicating that a current pixel is the valid pixels when the control signal is asserted; writing the values of the valid pixels into the FIFO when the control signal is asserted; determining whether the control signal is deasserted; and inserting a dummy value with a bad pixel flag into the FIFO when the control signal is deasserted.

Abstract: A shared output visible imager pixel array combines a high optical fill factor with low read noise. A relatively small group of pixels are connected to a relatively short common bus line. An amplifier located in close proximity with the pixels is connected to the common bus line and shared among the pixels. By reducing the amount of amplifier circuitry associated with each pixel, the optical fill factor is increased. Also, since the bus line is relatively short, the bus capacitance is much lower relative to the traditional passive-pixel designs. On average, the transistor count per pixel can be less than two, for large arrays.

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 and device for temperature compensation of an image detector including photosensitive spots sensitive to ambient temperature, each connected to a row conductor and a column conductor. The photosensitive spots are connected by their conductors to a read circuit. The photosensitive spots are divided into detecting photosensitive spots to be exposed to light information corresponding to the image to be detected, the read circuits associated with these photosensitive spots each delivering a measurement voltage representative of the image to be detected, and into blind photosensitive spots protected from the light information, the read circuits associated with these blind photosensitive spots each delivering a dark voltage serving for temperature compensation.

Abstract: The CMOS image sensor includes a pixel array with M(row line)×N(column line) unit pixels, M and N being a positive integer, respectively, wherein each unit pixel includes a light sensing element, coupled to a sensing node, for receiving light from an object to generate photoelectric charges, a resetting unit, coupled to the sensing node, for making a fully depleted region within the light sensing unit and providing a reset voltage level to the sensing node in response to a first control signal, wherein the reset voltage level corresponds to a level of the first control signal and is supplied to a unit pixel of a next row line as a power source, arranged on the same column line, an amplifying unit for amplifying the voltage level of the sensing node to generate an amplified signal, wherein a power source of the amplifying unit is derived from a unit pixel of a previous row line, arranged on the same column line, and a switching unit, coupled between the amplifying unit and an output terminal, for perform

Abstract: An imaging system that uses an array controller which is adapted to imaging arrays having black cells to control an imaging array not having black cells. The imaging system includes an array controller that is adapted to process a scan line that includes one or more black pixels. The imaging system includes an imaging array not having black cells that generates a series of pixel data samples in response to light from an image. The imaging system includes circuitry for generating the scan line by synthesizing the black level pixels and combining the black pixels with the series of pixel data samples.

Abstract: In a photosensitive device wherein signals are read sequentially from a plurality of photosensors onto a video line, an offset control detects a condition in which the photosensors experience a predetermined number of integration periods without reading out signals onto the video line. In response to such a condition, the offset control resets the offset on the video line.

Abstract: There is provided an image sensing apparatus comprising a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion unit, an amplification unit for amplifying a signal from the photoelectric conversion unit, a transfer unit for transferring the signal from the photoelectric conversion unit to the photoelectric conversion unit, and a read control unit for controlling a read of the signal from the amplification unit under control of the voltage level of the input portion of the amplification unit.

Abstract: In a solid-state imaging device, bus lines are provided at both sides of an imaging area vertically to send vertical-transfer clock pulses to shunt wires disposed on or over the imaging area at both ends of the signal lines of the shunt wires. Bus lines disposed closer to a horizontal transfer register are placed at a boundary area of the imaging area and the horizontal transfer register. Since the bus lines pass through an upper layer of the boundary area, imaging performed by light receiving elements is not performed but dummy pixels having almost the same structure as the light receiving sections are disposed and vertical transfer registers are provided in the boundary area to just transfer signal charges by the vertical transfer registers with a characteristic similar to that in the imaging area to the horizontal transfer register.

Abstract: Disclosed is an imaging apparatus in which release time lag is shortened by not performing focusing operation again, in the case that a focused state is maintained after the focusing operation is performed once and electric current is decreased to lengthen a battery life.

Abstract: An on-chip FPN calibration method and circuits scheme applying a reference voltage signal to an array of calibration pixels coupled to a sensor matrix. Two data values are read from each bit line and used to calculate an offset and a gain error for a pixel column. A reference offset and a reference gain error value are then generated by computing the average offset and the average gain error from the collected offset and gain error values of each bit line. Calibration data for each bit line then comprises an offset difference and a gain error difference, the offset difference comprising the difference between the offset value for that bit line and the reference offset, and the gain error difference comprising the gain error difference between the gain error for that bit line and the reference gain error. The calibration data for each bit line is then stored in on-chip volatile memory and is used later under normal operation to compensate for the FPN effect.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a compensation circuit for reducing an effect of dark current generated during operation. The compensation circuit calculates an initial dark current offset value using optically dark regions of a photo sensitive array. The compensation circuit also automatically adjusts the initial dark current offset value as output signals from successive rows of the photo sensitive array are transferred. The compensation circuit can calculate the initial dark current offset value each time an image is captured, thereby compensating for variables such as temperature.

Abstract: A method of compensating for nonuniformities in an image sensor includes: providing an image sensing device 20; measuring test pixel signals from the image sensing device 20 during a test mode; determining which test pixel signals are greater than a fixed threshold level ST; and calculating nonuniformity coefficients for the pixels having test pixel signals greater than the fixed threshold level ST.

Abstract: A pixel column amplifier architecture creates a reduced noise differential image signal from an pixel sensor array. The pixel column amplifier architecture comprises a first double sampling (DS) circuit and a second DS circuit that has the same configuration as the first DS circuit. An image signal containing a combination of noise components created on a substrate is coupled to the first DS circuit. A reference image signal, held in a reset state, represents the noise component of the image signal and is coupled to the second DS circuit. Further, a reference voltage source is coupled to a reference input of both the first DS and the second DS circuits. The first DS circuit provides the first side of the differential image signal, and the second DS circuit provides the second side of the differential image signal.

Abstract: In processing an image signal output from an image sensing unit which includes a plurality of image sensing regions constructing one frame and a plurality of output terminals in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of image sensing regions, and which outputs, from each of the plurality of output terminals, an image signal pertaining to image sensing in a corresponding image sensing region and a dummy image signal concerning the corresponding image sensing region, offset differences between a plurality of image signals output from the plurality of output terminals are reduced on the basis of a plurality of dummy image signals output from the plurality of output terminals. The plurality of dummy image signals are independent of electric charge obtained from photoelectric converters of the image sensing unit.

Abstract: An image-sensing semiconductor device has, in addition to a plurality of photodiodes, a dummy photodiode. The dummy photodiode is fed with a bias repeatedly with a predetermined period, and the plurality of photodiodes are fed with a bias sequentially with a predetermined cycle. The differences between the individual output signals of the plurality of photodiodes and the output signal of the dummy photodiode are calculated sequentially by a differential amplifier.

Abstract: In a photosensitive device wherein voltages are read sequentially from a dark, or dummy, photosensor and a plurality of active photosensors with each of a series of scans, a circuit downstream of the photosensors resets the offset value of the voltage signals, based on successive voltage readings from the dark photosensor. An RC averaging circuit maintains a running average of readings from the dark photosensor over a large number of scans. Signals from the dark photosensors are read a first time into the averaging circuit, and then signals from the dark photosensors are read directly to downstream video circuitry. This double readout of dark-photosensor signals enables precise calibration of both on-chip circuitry and downstream video circuitry.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image sensor including one or more dummy pixels that produce a reference signal which is used to compensate for errors within the devices of the main pixel cells. In one embodiment, at least one dummy pixel is used in conjunction with other circuitry to correct for nonlinearities in the transfer characteristic of a source follower transistor within each pixel. In another embodiment, an array of dummy pixels is used to correct for leakage current within the pixels during an electronic shutter mode of operation. The two techniques can be combined whereby both threshold voltage mismatch and leakage current are compensated for.

Abstract: An electronic imaging device employs black pattern correction for dark current in a charge transfer image sensor. The sensor is composed of image pixels having a characteristic black pattern of dark current in which the amplitude of the dark current for each pixel is dependent upon exposure time. A reference dark frame exposure is captured from the image sensor in the absence of light and dark frame pixel values are obtained. An exposure section regulates the exposure time of image light upon the image sensor and provides a corresponding plurality of image frame exposures; the image sensor thus generates a corresponding plurality of image frames each comprised of image frame pixel values. A processor then generates a correction factor from the dark frame pixel values and applies the correction factor to the image frame pixel values for the plurality of image frames to obtain corrected image frame pixel values that are modified for the black pattern.

Abstract: In order to obtain a reference output from which density nonuniformity and fixed pattern noise are removed using OB pixels in a solid-state image pickup device, a solid-state image pickup device which has a plurality of storage units for storing pixel signals output from a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, which are formed on a single semiconductor substrate and at least two of which are shielded from light, in correspondence with the photoelectric conversion elements. Pixel signal outputs from the shielded photoelectric conversion elements are subjected to averaging processing on the storage units. Also, in the solid-state image pickup device, the storage units are formed of capacitances, which are electrically and temporarily connected to each other to attain the averaging processing.

Abstract: A gray scale display control device by which flickers occurring in a gray scale display are reduced. This gray scale display control device is provided with: a blink data storing unit for storing blink data by which pixel groups of a display portion are blinked correspondingly to a gray scale; a blink data generating unit, to which the blink data stored in the blink data storing unit is written, for outputting the blink data written thereto to the display portion in such a manner as to be in a predetermined arrangement; and a blink data arrangement unit for determining an order in which the blink data written to the blink data generating unit are respectively arranged in the pixel groups. In this gray scale display control device, the blink data written to the blink data generating unit is adapted to be able to be rewritten.

Abstract: Colored optical sensing module comprising a color adjustment device positioned in front of a colored charge coupler device array. The color adjustment device purifies the color component of the image data input into the charge coupler device array. The present invention also discloses a image scanner comprising said color adjustment device.

Abstract: A digital black clamp circuit for calibrating the black level of an image signal produced by an imaging device, such as a CCD sensor. The digital black clamp circuit comprises a source of a video signal having a first interval of black level pixels and a second interval of image pixels; a differential amplifier having first and second inputs and an output, wherein the source is coupled to one of the first and second inputs; an A/D converter coupled to the output of the differential amplifier; a digital signal processor coupled to the A/D for accumulating and averaging digital black level pixels; a D/A converter coupled to the digital signal processor; and a control for selectively uncoupling the D/A converter to the other of the first and second inputs of the differential amplifier during the first interval of the video signal; and for coupling the D/A converter to the other of the first and second inputs during the second interval of the video signal to clamp the image pixels to an average black level.

Abstract: In a photosensitive device wherein voltages are read sequentially from a dark, or dummy, photosensor and a plurality of active photosensors with each of a series of scans, a circuit downstream of the photosensors resets the offset value of the voltage signals, based on successive voltage readings from the dark photosensor. An RC circuit in parallel with the video line maintains a running average of readings from the dark photosensor over a large number of scans. This averaging of many dark-pixel readings averages out short-term thermal noise on the dark photosensor, for a truer offset value.

Abstract: An interline transfer CCD image sensor includes a plurality of photodiodes disposed in an optical black area located between the image pickup area and the horizontal charge transfer path, and a processor for calculating the dark current generated in the vertical charge transfer paths and for estimating the dark current components in the image pickup area.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for accurately detecting light energy of a signal of interest (e.g., a laser pulse) even when the signal-to-noise ratio is relatively low. The present invention is further directed to accurate detection of a signal of interest even when either or both the signal of interest and background illumination vary across plural pixels of an imaging an array. For example, a signal of interest can be accurately detected even in the presence of pixel response non-uniformity and fixed pattern noise, or when the incident signal of interest is not confined laterally to a single pixel.

Abstract: Solid-state imaging apparatus for producing an image signal has an active pixel region comprised of a plurality of active light receiving pixels for converting incident light to an image signal, and an optical black region disposed at the peripheral portion of the active pixel region and comprised of a plurality of pixels having a surface provided with a light shield. At least one pixel in the optical black region is located at a predetermined position and produces a position reference signal of a level which differs from that produced by the remaining pixels in the optical black region.

Abstract: There is provided a low-cost CCD solid state imaging device which can make best use of effective pixels and which can obtain images of two or more kinds of aspect ratios without using digital signal processing or any optical means. For creation of wide aspect ratio images, an image is formed by signal charges transferred by a first horizontal CCD. On the other hand, an image is formed by signal charges transferred from the first horizontal CCD to a second horizontal CCD via a coupling, whereby a narrow aspect ratio image with a horizontal dimension shorter than a wide aspect ratio image is created by utilizing any arbitrary horizontal area out of all effective pixels of a light receiving portion, depending on the area where the first horizontal CCD and the second horizontal CCD are coupled with each other by the coupling.