Black level correcting device and electronic camera

• US 7,432,965 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2004
• Issued: 10/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Mori, Yoshizo
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Nhan T
• Application Number:
  US10/922,849
• Publication Number:
  US 20050094009A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,506 Days
• Field of Search: 348/245, 348/243, 348/248, 348/251, 348/257, 348/697, 358/461, 358/463, 382/270
• US Class Current: 348/243
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/63 applied to dark current
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/75 Circuitry for providing, modifying or processing image signals from the pixel array

Abstract

A black level correcting device includes: an A/D converting section converting a result of subtracting a feedback signal from an input pixel signal into a pixel value to be output; and a feedback controlling section generating the feedback signal and having a holding section, a feedback gain adjusting section, etc. The holding section clamps a maintaining level to the level of the feedback signal while pixel signals of OB pixels are output, and maintains and outputs the maintaining level while pixel signals of valid pixels are output. The feedback gain adjusting section multiplies the feedback signal by clamp accelerating gain in synchronization with starting readout of the pixel signals from the OB pixels. Accordingly, clamp time of the holding section is shortened, enabling stabilization of the maintaining level at a convergence level before starting readout of the pixel signals from the valid pixels. Consequently, a sag can be reduced.

Claims

1. A black level correcting device comprising an A/D converting section converting a result of subtracting a feedback signal from an analog pixel signal output from an image sensor into a digital signal, and outputting the digital signal as a pixel value, and a feedback controlling section generating said feedback signal, wherein

said feedback controlling section includes:

a comparator outputting a difference between a standard value and the pixel value output from said A/D converting section as a digital feedback signal;

a holding section having a maintaining section and carrying out clamp operation, which brings a maintaining level of said maintaining section near to a level of said feedback signal in response to said feedback signal output from said comparator, while a pixel signal from an optical black pixel of said image sensor is output, and said holding section maintaining and outputting the maintaining level of said maintaining section while a pixel signal from a valid pixel of said image sensor is output;

a subtracting section subtracting the maintaining level of said holding section from said analog pixel signal before said analog pixel signal is input into said A/D converting section; and

a feedback gain adjusting section inserted into a feedback loop of said feedback signal in series and starting to multiply said feedback signal by clamp accelerating gain which is larger than 1 in synchronization with starting readout of the pixel signal from said optical black pixel, and multiplying said feedback signal by gain which is smaller than said clamp accelerating gain before completion of said clamp operation.

2. The black level correcting device according to claim 1, further comprising a standard value subtracting section subtracting said standard value from the pixel value output from said A/D converting section, and outputting the pixel value after the subtraction as a black level-controlled pixel value.

3. An electronic camera comprising an image sensor, and a signal processing section taking an image of a subject using said image sensor to generate image data, wherein

said signal processing section includes the black level correcting device according to claim 1 for processing an analog pixel signal output from said image sensor.

4. An electronic camera comprising an image sensor, and a signal processing section taking an image of a subject using said image sensor to generate image data, wherein

said signal processing section includes the black level correcting device according to claim 2 for processing an analog pixel signal output from said image sensor.