Motion detection solid-state imaging device

• US 5,990,471 A
• Filed: 01/13/1998
• Issued: 11/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): ALLEN, STEPHONE B
• Application Number:
  US09/006,613
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 250/208.1, 348/208, 348/220, 358/906, 386/121
• US Class Current: 250/208.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/76 Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/144 Movement detection for video coding H04N19/503; analysis of motion in general G06T7/20

Abstract

A motion detection solid-state imaging device of the present invention includes a plurality of photoelectric converters arranged in a matrix to form a receiving field, the device detecting motion of an image based on signals from the photoelectric converters. First and second photoelectrics of the plurality of photoelectric converters which are spatially adjacent to each other are treated as a set. A first light integration period of the first photoelectric converter is shorter than a second light integration period of the second photoelectric converter, while the first and second light integration periods end substantially at a same point of time. The signals from the first and second photoelectric converters are both read out after the first and second light integration periods. A product of a ratio of the second light integration period with respect to the first light integration period and the signal from the first photoelectric converter is obtained so as to detect motion of the image based on a difference between the product and a signal from the second photoelectric converter.

Claims

1. A motion detection solid-state imaging device comprising a plurality of photoelectric converters arranged in a matrix to form a receiving field, the device detecting motion of an image based on signals from the photoelectric converters wherein:

first and second photoelectrics of the plurality of photoelectric converters which are spatially adjacent to each other are treated as a set;

a first light integration period of the first photoelectric converter is shorter than a second light integration period of the second photoelectric converter, while the first and second light integration periods end substantially at a same point of time;

the signals from the first and second photoelectric converters are both read out after the first and second light integration periods; and

a product of a ratio of the second light integration period with respect to the first light integration period and the signal from the first photoelectric converter is obtained so as to detect motion of the image based on a difference between the product and a signal from the second photoelectric converter.

2. A motion detection solid-state imaging device according to claim 1, wherein:

the first light integration period is about 1/2 of the second light integration period, and the ratio of the second light integration period with respect to the first light integration period is about 2; and

motion of the image on the receiving field is detected based on a difference between the signal from the first photoelectric converter being approximately doubled and the signal from the second photoelectric converter.

3. A motion detection solid-state imaging device according to claim 1, wherein:

the photoelectric converters arranged in a matrix are divided into sets each including first and second photoelectric converters; and

the first and second light integration periods are set individually for each of the sets.

4. A motion detection solid-state imaging device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of photoelectric converter performs photoelectric conversion and signal storage.

5. A motion detection solid-state imaging device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of photoelectric converter performs photoelectric conversion, signal storage and signal amplification.

6. A motion detection solid-state imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising a correlated double sampling section for compensating the signal from at least one of the plurality of photoelectric converter by subtracting, from the signal read out from at least one photoelectric converter, an output of at least one photoelectric converter after draining a charge from at least one photoelectric converter.

7. A motion detection solid-state imaging device according to claim 1, wherein an optical low-pass filter is provided on the receiving field, the filter having a separation width which corresponds to a separation distance between one set of the first and second photoelectric converters.

8. A motion detection solid-state imaging device, according to claims 1, wherein, when a brightness of an image on the receiving field varies periodically, the first light integration period of the first photoelectric converter is set to a multiple of the period of brightness variation of the image on the receiving field.

9. A motion detection solid-state imaging device, according to claim 1, wherein a detection signal indicating that motion of an image on the receiving field is detected and a signal of each photoelectric converter indicating the image on the receiving field are switchably output.

10. A motion detection solid-state imaging device according to claim 1, wherein:

the first and second light integration periods are initiated by resetting the first and second photoelectric converters and are terminated by reading out the signals of the first and second photoelectric converters; and

the reset and readout operations are performed for each horizontal row of the photoelectric converters arranged in a matrix.

11. A motion detection solid-state imaging device according to claim 10, wherein:

for each horizontal row of the photoelectric converters arranged in a matrix, signals are read out and performed by a common readout section; and

the first photoelectric converters of the horizontally arranged photoelectric converters are reset by a first reset section, while second photoelectric converters of the horizontally arranged photoelectric converters are reset by a second reset section.

12. A motion detection solid-state imaging device, comprising:

a plurality of photoelectric converters arranged in a matrix to form a receiving field; and

vertical CCDs provided along each column of the matrix arrangement, signal charges of the photoelectric converters in the column being transmitted and taken out through the vertical CCD of the column by resetting the photoelectric converters arranged in columns, wherein;

a first photoelectric converter and a second photoelectric converter are alternately arranged for each column of the matrix arrangement so as to form the column;

the first photoelectric converter is reset during a second light integration period of the second photoelectric converter so as to initiate a first light integration period of the first photoelectric converter, with the second light integration period of the second photoelectric converter being continued, and the first and second photoelectric converters are both reset at the end of the first and second light integration periods so as to take out the signal charges of the first and second photoelectric converters through the vertical CCD; and

a product of a ratio of the second light integration period with respect to the first light integration period and a signal charge of the first photoelectric converter is obtained so as to detect motion of the image based on a difference between the product and a signal charge from the second photoelectric converter.

13. A motion detection solid-state imaging device, according to claim 12, further comprising a first horizontal CCD and a second horizontal CCD, wherein:

signal charges of the first and second photoelectric converters are transmitted to the first and second horizontal CCDs for each column through the vertical CCD of the column;

a signal charge of the first photoelectric converter is taken out through the first horizontal CCD; and

a signal charge of the second photoelectric converter is taken out through the second horizontal CCD.

14. A motion detection solid-state imaging device, according to claim 12, further comprising a horizontal CCD, wherein:

signal charges of the first and second photoelectric converters are transmitted to the horizontal CCD for each column through the vertical CCD of the column;

the signal charges of the first and second photoelectric converters are transmitted alternately through the horizontal CCD; and

the signal charges of the first and second photoelectric converters are synchronously taken out by retarding at least one of the signal charges of the first and second photoelectric converters.

15. A motion detection solid-state imaging device, according to claims 12, wherein, when a brightness of an image on the receiving field varies periodically, the first light integration period of the first photoelectric converter is set to a multiple of the period of brightness variation of the image on the receiving field.

16. A motion detection solid-state imaging device, according to claims 15, wherein a detection signal indicating that motion of an image on the receiving field is detected and a signal of each photoelectric converter indicating the image on the receiving field are switchably output.