Pixel information recovery by oversampling a comparison of pixel data and a noise signal
AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Systems Corporation
InventorDenpol Kultran
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An exemplary electronic light processing cell uses a photo sensor unit to provide an analog electrical output proportional to an amount of light impinging on the photo sensor. A noise source provides a noise output that is compared by a comparator, during a plurality of times during a frame of an image, with the analog electrical output to generate a binary digital output representative of each comparison. A digital counter counts the binary digital outputs during the frame and stores a count at the end of a frame where the value of the stored count is proportional the light impinging the photo sensor. The value of the stored count is adapted for use by an image processing unit to render an image.
Claims15
An electronic light processing cell comprising:
- a photo sensor unit provides an analog electrical output proportional to an amount of light impinging on the photo sensor;
- a noise source provides a noise output;
- a comparator compares, during a plurality of times during a frame of an image, the analog electrical output and the noise output and provides a binary digital output representative of each comparison;
- a digital counter counts the binary digital outputs during the frame and stores a count at the end of a frame where the value of the stored count is proportional the light impinging the photo sensor, the value of the stored count adapted for use by an image processing unit to render an image based on a plurality of such values representing different locations within the frame.
A method for generating a digital value that is proportional the magnitude of light impinging a photo sensor during a frame of an image, the method comprising the steps of:
- generating an analog electrical output proportional to an amount of light impinging on the photo sensor;
- generating a noise output;
- comparing a plurality of times during each frame the analog electrical output and the noise output and generating a binary digital output representative of each comparison;
- counting the binary digital outputs during each frame and storing a count at the end of a frame where the value of the stored count is proportional the light impinging the photo sensor, the value of the stored count adapted for use by an image processing unit to render an image.
An electronic device comprising:
- a light generation source that outputs a pulse of light;
- a photo sensor unit provides an analog electrical output proportional to an amount of light impinging on the photo sensor;
- a noise source provides a noise output;
- a comparator compares the analog electrical output and the noise output and provides a binary digital output representative of the photo sensor unit sensing a reflected light pulse corresponding to a reflection of the pulse of light from a target;
- a clock outputs a series of clock signals having a predetermined frequency;
- a digital counter, coupled to the clock and comparator, counts a number of clock signals occurring during a frame where a frame is defined between the generation of one pulse of light and the binary digital output from the comparator, the value of the number being proportional to the time required for the reflected light pulse from the target to reach the photo sensor unit.
A method for determining a distance to a target comprising the steps of:
- generating a pulse of light;
- generating an analog electrical output proportional to light impinging on a photo sensor;
- generating a noise output;
- comparing the analog electrical output and the noise output and providing a binary digital output representative of the photo sensor unit sensing a reflected light pulse corresponding to a reflection of the pulse of light from the target;
- generating a series of clock signals having a predetermined frequency;
- counting a number of clock signals occurring during a frame where a frame is defined between the generation of one pulse of light and the binary digital output from the comparator, the value of the number being proportional to the time required for the reflected light pulse from the target to reach the photo sensor unit;
- converting the value into a distance of the target from the photo sensor based on a known speed of travel of the reflected light pulse and the time required for the reflected light pulse to reach the photo sensor based on the value and predetermined frequency.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.