Defective pixel correction method and system
First Claim
1. A method for correcting at least one defective pixel comprising:
- a) receiving a current pixel location;
b) receiving a defective pixel location;
c) determining whether the current pixel location is a defective pixel location;
d) when the current pixel location is not a defective pixel location, providing a received pixel value as output pixel value; and
e) when the current pixel location is a defective pixel location, providing a previous pixel value as the output pixel value.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A defective pixel detection and correction mechanism for use in an image sensor integrated circuit determines whether a current pixel is a defective pixel in a consistent manner from frame to frame. The defective pixel detection and correction mechanism also replaces defective pixels with stable replacement values. The defective pixel detection and correction mechanism has a defective pixel detection mechanism that employs a look-up table with defective pixel locations for providing a non-varying determination of whether a pixel is defective or non-defective. The defective pixel detection and correction mechanism also has a defective pixel correction mechanism that employs a consistent replacement choice facility to provide a previous pixel value in the same frame, on the same row, and a predetermined number of pixels from the current pixel location as a replacement value and a replacement unit (e.g., multiplexer) for replacing the defective pixel value with the replacement value.
72 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for correcting at least one defective pixel comprising:
-
a) receiving a current pixel location;
b) receiving a defective pixel location;
c) determining whether the current pixel location is a defective pixel location;
d) when the current pixel location is not a defective pixel location, providing a received pixel value as output pixel value; and
e) when the current pixel location is a defective pixel location, providing a previous pixel value as the output pixel value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A circuit for correcting defective pixels in an array having a plurality of pixels comprising:
-
a defective pixel detection mechanism for providing a determination of whether a pixel is defective that does not vary from frame to frame, the defective pixel detection mechanism having a table for storing a plurality of defective pixel location; and
a defective pixel correction mechanism that replaces a current defective pixel with a previous pixel value from the same frame, on the same row, and a predetermined number of pixels from the current defective pixel;
wherein the defective pixel correction mechanism eliminates artifacts that stem from inconsistent detection of defective pixel from frame to frame. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. An image sensor comprising:
-
(a) a sensor array having a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns;
wherein at least one pixel is defective;
(b) a row selector coupled to the sensor array for selecting a row of the sensor array;
(c) a column selector coupled to the sensor array for selecting a column of the sensor array;
(d) a timing controller coupled to the row selector and column selector for providing control signals thereto;
(e) a defective pixel detection mechanism that employs a look-up table with defective pixel locations for providing a determination of whether a pixel is defective or non-defective that does not vary from frame to frame; and
(f) a defective pixel correction mechanism coupled to the defective pixel detection mechanism that employs a consistent replacement choice facility for providing a previous pixel value in the same frame, on the same row, and a predetermined number of pixels from the current pixel location as a replacement value, and a replacement unit for replacing the defective pixel value with the replacement value.
-
Specification