Imager row-wise noise correction
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An imaging device comprising:
- an array of imaging pixels, said array being organized into a plurality of rows and columns;
a plurality of optically black pixels being arranged into a plurality of rows, said optically black pixels for generating optically black signals used for a black level pedestal; and
a plurality of reference pixels, said plurality of reference pixels being arranged into a plurality of rows, each row of reference pixels corresponding to a respective row of imaging pixels within said array, each reference pixel including a circuit for causing said reference pixel to output electrically black signals to be used in row-wise noise correction of signals from the imaging pixels from its associated row, said reference pixels comprising a photosensor connected to a predetermined voltage for depleting any electrons from the photosensor.
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Abstract
An imager having optically and electrically black reference pixels in each row of the imager'"'"'s pixel array. Since the reference pixels of each row experience the same row-wise noise as active imaging pixels in the associated row, the signals from the reference pixels are used to cancel out row-wise noise from the row of imaging pixels. The reference pixels are designed such that their photosensors are physically or effectively removed from the row-wise noise correction, thus rendering them electrically black or dark. As such, the reference pixels can be used to provide row-wise noise correction without the adverse effects of warm and hot pixels.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An imaging device comprising:
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an array of imaging pixels, said array being organized into a plurality of rows and columns; a plurality of optically black pixels being arranged into a plurality of rows, said optically black pixels for generating optically black signals used for a black level pedestal; and a plurality of reference pixels, said plurality of reference pixels being arranged into a plurality of rows, each row of reference pixels corresponding to a respective row of imaging pixels within said array, each reference pixel including a circuit for causing said reference pixel to output electrically black signals to be used in row-wise noise correction of signals from the imaging pixels from its associated row, said reference pixels comprising a photosensor connected to a predetermined voltage for depleting any electrons from the photosensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A processor system comprising:
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a processor; and an imaging device coupled to said processor, said device comprising; an array of imaging pixels, said array being organized into a plurality of rows and columns, a plurality of optically black pixels being arranged into a plurality of rows, said optically black pixels for generating optically black signals used for a black level pedestal; and a plurality of reference pixels, said plurality of reference pixels being arranged into a plurality of rows, each row of reference pixels corresponding to a respective row of imaging pixels within said array, each reference pixel including a circuit for causing said reference pixel to output electrically black signals to be used in row-wise noise correction of signals from the imaging pixels from its associated row, said reference pixels comprising a photosensor connected to a predetermined voltage for depleting any electrons from the photosensor. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of operating an imaging device to provide row-wise noise correction, said method comprising the acts of:
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generating optically black signals from a plurality of optically black pixels; generating electrically black signals from a plurality of reference pixels in a row by connecting a photosensor of each reference pixel to a predetermined voltage and depleting any electrons from the photosensor; inputting signals from a plurality of active pixels in the row; applying a dark level pedestal offset based on the optically black signals to the signals from the active pixels; and using the electrically black signals from the reference pixels to substantially eliminate a row-wise noise component from the signals from the active pixels. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of manufacturing an imaging device comprising the acts of:
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fabricating an array of imaging pixels, said array being organized into a plurality of rows and columns; fabricating a plurality of optically black pixels being arranged into a plurality of rows, said optically black pixels for generating optically black signals used for a black level pedestal; and fabricating a plurality of reference pixels, said plurality of reference pixels being arranged into a plurality of rows, each row of reference pixels corresponding to a respective row of imaging pixels within said array, each reference pixel being configured to output electrically black signals to be used in row-wise noise correction of signals from the imaging pixels from its associated row, said reference pixels comprising a photosensor connected to a predetermined voltage for depleting any electrons from the photosensor. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification