Integrated sensor with frame memory and programmable resolution for light adaptive imaging
AssigneeCalifornia Institute of Technology
InventorsZhimin Zhou, Eric R. Fossum, Bedabrata Pain
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An image sensor operable to vary the output spatial resolution according to a received light level while maintaining a desired signal-to-noise ratio. Signals from neighboring pixels in a pixel patch with an adjustable size are added to increase both the image brightness and signal-to-noise ratio. One embodiment comprises a sensor array for receiving input signals, a frame memory array for temporarily storing a full frame, and an array of self-calibration column integrators for uniform column-parallel signal summation. The column integrators are capable of substantially canceling fixed pattern noise.
Claims16
An adaptive programmable light imaging device, comprising:
- an array of active pixel sensor pixels, each pixel producing a signal based only on the received radiation within the pixel;
- a plurality of programmable summation kernels, each summation kernel programmable to selectively sum together a number of said pixels from said active pixel sensor;
- and
- a resolution control circuit, producing an output signal which controls a size of said summation kernels between a minimum value kernel size and a maximum value kernel size by monitoring a received signal level from individual pixels, statistically determining numbers of pixels which are in specified states, and automatically changing the size of the summation kernels based on statistically determining.
An adaptive programmable light imaging device, comprising:
- an array of active pixel sensor pixels, each pixel producing a signal based only on the received radiation within the pixel;
- a plurality of programmable summation kernels, each summation kernel programmable to selectively sum together a number of said pixels from said active pixel sensor;
- and
- a resolution control circuit, producing an output signal which controls a size of said summation kernels between a minimum value kernel size and a maximum value kernel size by monitoring a received signal level from individual pixels, statistically determining numbers of pixels which are in specified states, and automatically changing the size of the summation kernels based on statistically determining further comprising a counter which counts a number of pixels which are in specified illumination states and sets said summation kernel size based on said count.
An adaptive programmable light imaging device, comprising:
- an array of active pixel sensor pixels, each pixel having an in-pixel buffer transistor, and in-pixel selection transistor, and a photoreceptor producing a signal based only on the received radiation within the pixel;
- a double sampling circuit, operating to eliminate at least one amplifier offset from said signal;
- a plurality of programmable summation kernels, each summation kernel programmable to selectively sum together a number of said pixels from said active pixel sensor;
- and
- a resolution control circuit, including an illumination condition detecting part connected to said active pixel sensor pixels and determining the illumination condition therefrom, and producing an output signal which automatically controls a size of said summation kernels between a minimum value kernel size for a maximum illumination condition, and a maximum value kernel size based on a minimum illumination condition, wherein said illumination condition detecting part comprises a counter which counts numbers of pixels which are in specified illumination states and sets said summation kernel size based on said count.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.