Image sensor having pixel array and method for automatically compensating black level of the same

• US 20030184666A1
• Filed: 12/30/2002
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Crosstek Capital LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Crosstek Capital LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Jo, Wan-Hee
• Application Number:
  US10/330,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20030184666A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/308
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/63 applied to dark current
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/633 by using optical black pixels
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/75 Circuitry for providing, modifying or processing image signals from the pixel array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/78 Readout circuits for addressed sensors, e.g. output amplifiers or A/D converters

Abstract

The presentc invention provides a pixel array of an image sensor, an image sensor having the same and a method for automatically compensating a black level of an image sensor. The inventive image sensor is able to prevent degradation of properties of the image sensor with regardless of applied conditions. To achieve this effect, an image sensor having a pixel array, includes: a first pixel group including N and M numbers of unit pixels, where N and M are integers; and a second pixel group being arrayed in one and the other sides of the first pixel group in a column direction so as to evaluate an offset value of a black level with respect to the unit pixels.

Claims

1. An image sensor having a pixel array, comprising:

a first pixel group including N and M numbers of unit pixels, where N and M are integers; and

a second pixel group being arrayed in one and the other sides of the first pixel group in a column direction so as to evaluate an offset value of a black level with respect to the unit pixels.

2. The pixel array unit of the image sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein the offset value is an average value with respect to offset values of whole pixels in the second pixel group.

3. The pixel array unit of the image sensor as recited in claim 1, further comprising a third pixel group being arrayed in between the first pixel group and the second pixel group and also outer sides of the second pixel group so as to shield incident lights from entering to the second pixel group.

4. The pixel array unit of the image sensor as recited in claim 3, wherein the third pixel group does not have addresses.

5. An image sensor, comprising:

a pixel array unit including a first pixel group having N and M numbers of unit pixels and a second pixel group being arrayed in one and the other sides of the first pixel group in a column direction for evaluating an offset value of a black level with respect to the unit pixels; and

an offset adjusting unit for eliminating offset changes due to the black level by changing an offset value of the first pixel group according to an offset value of the black level.

6. The image sensor as recited in claim 5, wherein the offset value of the black level is an average of the offset values of the black level with respect to whole pixels in the second pixel group.

7. The image sensor as recited in claim 5, further comprising a third pixel group being arrayed in between the first pixel group and the second pixel group and also outer sides of the second pixel group so as to shield incident lights from entering to the second pixel group.

8. The image sensor as recited in claim 7, wherein the third pixel group does not have addresses.

9. The image sensor as recited in claim 5, wherein the offset adjusting unit includes:

a timing control unit for applying timing of offset values for each color of red (R), green (G) and blue (B) updated in accordance with a difference between the evaluated offset value of the black level and an initial offset value.

10. A method for automatically compensating a black level of an image sensor that includes a pixel array unit having a first pixel group for sensing an image and a second pixel group for compensating a black level, comprising the steps of:

evaluating an offset value of a black level with respect to the second pixel group;

determining an offset value updated by the offset value of the black level and an initial offset value; and

compensating the black level by adding the updated offset value and image data with respect to the first pixel group.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the offset value of the black level is an average of offset values of the black level with respect to whole pixels in the second pixel group.

12. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the initial offset value can be controlled externally.