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, each reference pixel has a different configuration than the optically black pixels and comprises a photosensor directly coupled to a floating diffusion region, said reference pixel being operable to output electrically black signals by resetting the photosensor and floating diffusion region prior to readout.
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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.
32 Citations
10 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, each reference pixel has a different configuration than the optically black pixels and comprises a photosensor directly coupled to a floating diffusion region, said reference pixel being operable to output electrically black signals by resetting the photosensor and floating diffusion region prior to readout. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. 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, each reference pixel has a different configuration than the optically black pixels and comprises a photosensor directly coupled to a floating diffusion region, said reference pixel being operable to output electrically black signals by resetting the photosensor and floating diffusion region prior to readout. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. 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, each reference pixel has a different configuration than the optically black pixels and comprises a photosensor that does not have an accumulation region.
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Specification