US 7,548,261 B2Granted

Column averaging/row averaging circuit for image sensor resolution adjustment in high intensity light environment

AssigneeDigital Imaging Systems GmbH

InventorsGuang Yang, Taner Dosluoglu

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Abstract

A photo-sensor image resolution adjustment apparatus is in communication with an array of image photo-sensors that are organized in columns and rows and have multiple sensor types arranged in a pattern such as a Bayer pattern to detect light. The photo-sensor image resolution adjustment apparatus has a photo-sensor array decimation circuit to partition the array of image photo-sensors into a plurality of sub-groups. A column averaging circuit averages the light conversion electrical signals from common color photo-sensors within the sub-groups. A row averaging circuit averages the common color adjacent light conversion electrical signals from color adjacent rows within the sub-groups in high light intensity condition. In low light conditions, a row binning circuit integrates the common color adjacent light conversion electrical signals from color adjacent rows within the sub-groups.

Claims46

Dependent claims

A sensor resolution adjustment apparatus in communication with an array of sensors, wherein said array of sensors is organized in arrangements having a first dimension and a second dimension and has a plurality of sensor types arranged in a pattern to detect a phenomena and convert said phenomena to a conversion electrical signal, whereby each sensor type detects unique attributes of said phenomena, said sensor resolution adjustment apparatus adjusting sensor resolution for reception of the phenomena and comprising:

a sensor array decimation circuit in communication with said array of sensors to partition said array of sensors into a number of designated sub-groups, each designated sub-group comprising any number of the sensors of the array of sensors and to generate partition control signals identifying addresses of said designated sub-groups, said number of designated sub-groups and the number of sensors per designated sub-group being determined by the pattern of the sensor types;
a first dimensional averaging circuit in communication with said array of sensors to receive said conversion electrical signals and in communication with said sensor array decimation circuit to receive said partition control signals, from said partition control signals selecting the designated sub-groups and comprising one averaging device for averaging said conversion electrical signals from the any number of sensors detecting common attributes from the first dimension of each of said designated sub-groups of said array of sensors to generate first dimensional averaged electrical signals of said first dimension of each of said designated sub-group of said array of sensors;
and
a second dimensional averaging circuit
in communication with said first dimensional averaging circuit to receive said first dimensional averaged electrical signals of each designated sub-group of sensors that detect said common attributes arranged on said first dimension within each sub-group of the array of sensors, and
in communication with said sensor array decimation circuit to receive said partition control signals and comprising an integration device that is based on the partition control signals integrates said first dimensional averaged electrical signals for any number of sensors having said common attributes on a second dimension of each of said designated sub-groups of said array of sensors to selectively generate second dimensional averaged electrical signals of said second dimension of each of said designated sub-groups of sensors having common attributes of said array of sensors.

3 more elements

A photo-sensor image resolution adjustment apparatus in communication with an array of image photo-sensors, wherein said array of image photo-sensors is organized in columns and rows and has a plurality of sensor types arranged in a pattern to detect light and convert said light to a light conversion electrical signal, whereby each sensor type detects unique colors of said light, said photo-sensor image resolution adjustment apparatus adjusting sensor resolution for reception of the light and comprising:

a photo-sensor array decimation circuit in communication with said array of image photo-sensors to partition said array of image photo-sensors into a number of designated sub-groups each designated sub-group comprising any number of the image photo-sensors of the array of image photo-sensors and to generate partition control signals identifying addresses of said designated sub-groups, said number of designated sub-groups and the number of image photo-sensors per designated sub-group being determined by the pattern of the image photo-sensor types;
a column averaging circuit in communication with said array of image photo-sensors to receive said light conversion electrical signals and in communication with said photo-sensor array decimation circuit to receive said partition control signals, from said partition control signals selecting the designated sub-groups and comprising one averaging device for averaging said light conversion electrical signals from the any number of photo-sensors detecting common colors from the columns of each of said designated sub-groups of said array of image photo-sensors to generate column averaged electrical signals of said columns of each of said designated sub-group of said array of image photo-sensors;
and
a row averaging circuit:
in communication with said column averaging circuit to receive said column averaged electrical signals of each designated sub-group of photo-sensors that detect said common colors arranged on said columns within each designated sub-group of the array of image photo-sensors, and
in communication with said photo-sensor array decimation circuit to receive said partition control signals and comprising an integration device that based on the partition control signals integrates said column averaged electrical signals for the any number of photo-sensors having said common colors on rows of each of said designated sub-groups of said array of image photo-sensors to create row averaged electrical signals of said rows of each of said designated sub-group of photo-sensors having common colors of said array of image photo-sensors.

3 more elements

An image photo-sensing device comprising:

an array of image photo-sensors organized in columns and rows and having a plurality of sensor types arranged in a pattern to detect light and convert said light to a light conversion electrical signal, whereby each sensor type detects unique colors of said light;
and
a photo-sensor image resolution adjustment apparatus in communication with the array of image photo-sensors for adjusting sensor resolution for reception of the light of said array of photo-sensors, said photo-sensor image resolution adjustment apparatus comprising:
a photo-sensor array decimation circuit in communication with said array of image photo-sensors to partition said array of image photo-sensors into a number of designated sub-groups each designated sub-group comprising any number of the image photo-sensors of the array of image photo-sensors and to generate partition control signals identifying addresses of said designated sub-groups, said number of designated sub-groups and the number of image photo-sensors per designated sub-group being determined by the pattern of the image photo-sensor types,
a column averaging circuit in communication with said array of image photo-sensors to receive said light conversion electrical signals and in communication with said photo-sensor array decimation circuit to receive said partition control signals, from said partition control signals selecting the designated sub-groups and comprising one averaging device for averaging said light conversion electrical signals from the any number of photo-sensors detecting common colors from the columns of each of said designated sub-groups of said array of image photo-sensors to generate column averaged electrical signals of said columns of each of said designated sub-groups of said array of image photo-sensors, and
a row averaging circuit:
in communication with said column averaging circuit to receive said column averaged electrical signals of each designated sub-group of photo-sensors that detect said common colors arranged on said columns within each sub-group of the array of image photo-sensors, and
in communication with said photo-sensor array decimation circuit to receive said partition control signals and comprising an integration device that is based on the partition control signals to average said column averaged electrical signals for the any number of photo-sensors having said common colors on rows of each of said designated sub-groups of said array of image photo-sensors to create row averaged electrical signals of said rows of each of said designated sub-groups of photo-sensors having common colors of said array of image photo-sensors.

5 more elements

A method for photo-sensor image resolution adjustment comprising the steps of:

providing an array of image photo-sensors, wherein said array of image photo-sensors is organized in columns and rows and has a plurality of sensor types arranged in a pattern to detect light and convert said light to a light conversion electrical signal, whereby each sensor type detects unique colors of said light;
partitioning said array of image photo-sensors into a number of designated sub-groups of said array of image photo-sensors, said number of sub-groups and the number of image photo-sensors per designated sub-group being determined by the pattern of the image photo-sensor types;
providing partition control signals for addresses designating each of said sub-groups;
column averaging said light conversion electrical signals from photo-sensors detecting common colors from the columns of each of said designated sub-groups of said array of image photo-sensors from said partition control signals to create column averaged electrical signals of said columns of said designated sub-groups of said array of image photo-sensors;
and
row averaging said column averaged electrical signals of each designated sub-group of photo-sensors that detect said common colors arranged on said columns within each sub-group of the array of image photo-sensors from said partition control signals.

3 more elements

An apparatus for adjusting photo-sensor image resolution comprising:

means for providing an array of image photo-sensors, wherein said array of image photo-sensors is organized in columns and rows and has a plurality of sensor types arranged in a pattern to detect light and convert said light to a light conversion electrical signal, whereby each sensor type detects unique colors of said light;
means for partitioning said array of image photo-sensors into a number of designated sub-groups of said array of image photo-sensors, said number of designated sub-groups and the number of image photo-sensors per designated sub-group being determined by the pattern of the image photo-sensor types;
means for providing partition control signals for addresses designating each of said sub-groups;
means for column averaging said light conversion electrical signals from photo-sensors detecting common colors from the columns of each of said designated sub-groups of said array of image photo-sensors from said partition control signals to create column averaged electrical signals of said columns of said designated sub-group of said array of image photo-sensors;
and
means for row averaging said column averaged electrical signals of each designated sub-group of photo-sensors that detect said common colors arranged on said columns within each sub-group of the array of image photo-sensors from said partition control signals.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/999,843Filed 30 Nov 2004
Published: US 2006/0113458 A11 Jun 2006
Granted: 16 Jun 2009
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

H04N 23/84
Camera processing pipelines; Components thereof: for processing colour signals
H04N 25/134
Characterised by the spectral characteristics of the filter elements: based on three different wavelength filter elements
H04N 25/78
Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors: readout circuits for addressed sensors, e.g. output amplifiers or A/D converters
H04N
Pictorial communication