Solid state image sensor and video system using the same

• US 7,012,635 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2002
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Suu, Hiroshi, Umeda, Masafumi
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, TUAN V
• Application Number:
  US10/153,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20020145669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207.99, 348/222.1, 348/208.99, 348/208.1, 348/208.4, 348/208.5, 348/208.6, 348/234, 348/272, 348/294, 348/308, 348/311, 257/723, 257/724, 250/208.1
• US Class Current: 348/208.4
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/76 Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors

Abstract

A solid state image sensor controlled by a command signal. An area sensor has pixels arranged two-dimensionally. An interface is configured to receive the command signal. A selector is configured to select one of a plurality of readout schemes of reading out a pixel signal from the area sensor in accordance with the received command signal. A scanner is configured to scan the area sensor in accordance with the selected scheme selected, to read out the pixel signal from the area sensor. Processors subject the pixel signal to signal processing and output a digital video signal having a predetermined signal format. A motion vector detector is configured to detect a motion vector of an image based on the digital video signal and to output motion vector data to the interface. The area sensor, selector, scanner, processors, motion vector detector, and interface are mounted on a single chip.

Claims

1. A solid state image sensor controlled by a command signal, comprising:

an area sensor having pixels arranged two-dimensionally;

an interface configured to receive the command signal;

a selector configured to select one of a plurality of readout schemes of reading out a pixel signal from the area sensor in accordance with the command signal from the interface;

a scanner configured to scan the area sensor in accordance with the scheme selected by the selector, to read out the pixel signal from the area sensor;

an analog signal processor configured to subject the pixel signal to signal processing and to output a processed signal;

an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the processed signal into a first digital signal, and a digital signal processor configured to convert the first digital signal into the second digital video signal having a predetermined signal format; and

a motion vector detector configured to detect a motion vector of an image based on the second digital video signal and to output motion vector data to the interface;

a changing device configured to change a frame rate of the digital video signal in accordance with the command signal;

wherein said area sensor, said selector, said scanner, said analog signal processor, said analog-to-digital converter, said motion vector detector, and said interface are mounted on a single chip.

2. A solid state image sensor controlled by a command signal, comprising:

an area sensor having pixels arranged two-dimensionally;

an interface configured to receive the command signal;

a selector configured to select one of a plurality of readout schemes of reading out a pixel signal from the area sensor in accordance with the command signal from the interface;

a scanner configured to scan the area sensor in accordance with the scheme selected by the selector, to read out the pixel signal from the area sensor;

an analog signal processor configured to subject the pixel signal to signal processing and to output a processed signal;

an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the processed signal into a first digital signal, and a digital signal processor configured to convert the first digital signal into the second digital video signal having a predetermined signal format; and

a motion vector detector configured to detect a motion vector of an image based on the second digital video signal and to output motion vector data to the interface;

a changing device configured to change an effective charge integration time for at least some of the pixels in accordance with the command signal,

wherein said area sensor, said selector, said scanner, said analog signal processor, said analog-to-digital converter, said motion vector detector, and said interface are mounted on a single chip.

3. A solid state image sensor controlled by a command signal, comprising:

an area sensor having pixels arranged two-dimensionally;

an interface configured to receive the command signal;

a selector configured to select one of a plurality of readout schemes of reading out a pixel signal from the area sensor in accordance with the command signal from the interface;

a scanner configured to scan the area sensor in accordance with the scheme selected by the selector, to read out the pixel signal from the area sensor;

an analog signal processor configured to subject the pixel signal to signal processing and to output a processed signal;

an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the processed signal into a first digital signal, and a digital signal processor configured to convert the first digital signal into the second digital video signal having a predetermined signal format; and

a motion vector detector configured to detect a motion vector of an image based on the second digital video signal and to output motion vector data to the interface,

wherein said area sensor, said selector, said scanner, said analog signal processor, said analog-to-digital converter, said motion vector detector, and said interface are mounted on a single chip,

wherein said interface has a common terminal configured to receive the command signal and to externally output a status signal indicating a state of said solid state image sensor.

4. A solid state image sensor controlled by a command signal, comprising:

an area sensor having pixels arranged two-dimensionally;

an interface configured to receive the command signal;

a selector configured to select one of a plurality of readout schemes of reading out a pixel signal from the area sensor in accordance with the command signal from the interface;

a scanner configured to scan the area sensor in accordance with the scheme selected by the selector, to read out the pixel signal from the area sensor;

an analog signal processor configured to subject the pixel signal to signal processing and to output a processed signal;

an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the processed signal into a first digital signal, and a digital signal processor configured to convert the first digital signal into the second digital video signal having a predetermined signal format; and

a motion vector detector configured to detect a motion vector of an image based on the second digital video signal and to output motion vector data to the interface,

wherein said area sensor, said selector, said scanner, said analog signal processor, said analog-to-digital converter, said motion vector detector, and said interface are mounted on a single chip,

wherein said interface has a common terminal configured to receive the command signal, to externally output the digital video signal, and to externally output a status signal indicating a state of said solid state image sensor.

5. A solid state image sensor controlled by a command signal, comprising:

an area sensor having pixels arranged two-dimensionally;

an interface configured to receive the command signal;

a selector configured to select one of a plurality of readout schemes of reading out a pixel signal from the area sensor in accordance with the command signal from the interface;

a scanner configured to scan the area sensor in accordance with the scheme selected by the selector, to read out the pixel signal from the area sensor;

an analog signal processor configured to subject the pixel signal to signal processing and to output a processed signal;

an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the processed signal into a first digital signal, and a digital signal processor configured to convert the first digital signal into the second digital video signal having a predetermined signal format; and

a motion vector detector configured to detect a motion vector of an image based on the second digital video signal and to output motion vector data to the interface,

wherein said area sensor, said selector, said scanner, said analog signal processor, said analog-to-digital converter, said motion vector detector, and said interface are mounted on a single chip,

wherein said interface holds information indicating characteristics of said sensor, and allows the information to be read out in accordance with the command signal.

6. A video system comprising:

a solid state image sensor controlled by a command signal, the solid state image sensor comprising;

an area sensor having pixels arranged two-dimensionally;

an interface configured to receive the command signal;

a selector configured to select one of a plurality of readout schemes of reading out a pixel signal from the area sensor in accordance with the command signal from the interface;

a scanner configured to scan the area sensor in accordance with the scheme selected by the selector, to read out the pixel signal from the area sensor;

an analog signal processor configured to subject the pixel signal to signal processing and output a processed signal;

an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the processed signal into a digital signal, and a digital signal processor configured to convert the digital signal into the digital video signal having a predetermined signal format; and

a motion vector detector configured to detect a motion vector of an image based on the digital video signal and output motion vector data to the interface, wherein said area sensor, said selector, said scanner, said analog signal processor, said analog-to-digital converter, said motion vector detector, and said interface are mounted on a single chip; and

a visual processing unit configured to perform visual information processing by using at least one of the digital video signal, the analog video signal, a status signal, and characteristic information of said solid state image sensor.

7. A video system comprising:

a solid state image sensor controlled by a command signal, the solid state image sensor comprising;

an area sensor having pixels arranged two-dimensionally;

an interface configured to receive the command signal;

a selector configured to select one of a plurality of readout schemes of reading out a pixel signal from the area sensor in accordance with the command signal from the interface;

a scanner configured to scan the area sensor in accordance with the scheme selected by the selector, to read out the pixel signal from the area sensor;

an analog signal processor configured to subject the pixel signal to signal processing and output a processed signal;

an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the processed signal into a digital signal, and a digital signal processor configured to convert the digital signal into the digital video signal having a predetermined signal format; and

a motion vector detector configured to detect a motion vector of an image based on the digital video signal and output motion vector data to the interface,

wherein said area sensor, said selector, said scanner, said analog signal processor, said analog-to-digital converter, said motion vector detector, and said interface are mounted on a single chip; and

a visual processing unit configured to perform visual information processing by using at least one of the digital video signal, the pixel signal, a status signal of said solid state image sensor, and characteristic information of said solid state image sensor.