Serial output from a CMOS imager

• US 20050151868A1
• Filed: 10/08/2003
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Transchip Israel Limited
• Original Assignee: Transchip Israel Limited
• Inventors: Furman, Ben, Fraenkel, Miriam
• Granted Patent: US 7,626,624 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/308
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 11/20 Conversion of the manner in which the individual colour picture signal components are combined, e.g. conversion of colour television standards
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/002 for television cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/70 Circuitry for compensating brightness variation in the scene
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/71 Circuitry for evaluating the brightness variation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/73 by influencing the exposure time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/745 Detection of flicker frequency or suppression of flicker wherein the flicker is caused by illumination, e.g. due to fluorescent tube illumination or pulsed LED illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/63 applied to dark current
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/67 applied to fixed-pattern noise, e.g. non-uniformity of response
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/745 Circuitry for generating timing or clock signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/75 Circuitry for providing, modifying or processing image signals from the pixel array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/16 Circuitry for reinsertion of dc and slowly varying components of signal; Circuitry for preservation of black or white level
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/69 for modifying the colour signals by gamma correction controlling camera response for colour signals H04N23/83
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/73 Colour balance circuits, e.g. white balance circuits or colour temperature control camera processing pipelines for colour balance H04N23/88

Abstract

Systems, methods and devices related to detecting and transmitting images. Imaging systems and devices as well as methods of using such that are provided herein include flicker detection and/or correction; and/or built-in self test associated with various analog circuitry in the imaging devices; and/or power reduction ability; and/or pixels with charge evacuation functionality; and/or a parallel to serial conversion unit and associated serial output interface; and/or other advanced functionality.

Claims

1. A CMOS imager, wherein the CMOS imager comprises:

an image sensor;

a parallel to serial data conversion unit, wherein the parallel to serial data conversion unit receives an image derived from the image sensor and converts the image to a serial data stream; and

a serial output interface, wherein the serial output interface provides access to the serial data stream.

2. The CMOS imager of claim 1, wherein the image sensor comprises one or more pixels, and wherein the one or more pixels include a charge evacuation element.

3. The CMOS imager of claim 1, wherein the serial output interface includes a clock signal and a data signal, and wherein the clock signal is only active when valid data is presented on the data signal.

4. The CMOS imager of claim 1, wherein the serial output includes a clock signal, a data signal, and a qualifying signal, and wherein the qualifying signal indicates the presence of valid data on the data signal.