Rod and cone response sensor
First Claim
1. A pixel array comprising:
- a plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising a photosensor that produces photo-generated charges during an integration period,wherein said plurality of pixels are organized into groups of pixels, each group of pixels including at least two color filtered pixels and at least one non-color filtered pixel, wherein each said group of pixels comprises four pixels arranged on two rows, andwherein at least two of said color filtered pixels and said at least one non-color filtered pixel of each said group each have integration periods that start and end at different times, and said integration period of said at least one non-color filtered pixel occurs during at least a portion of said integration periods of said color filtered pixels.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An imager having color sensitivity in any lighting condition is provided by replacing at least one of the green color filtered pixels in a Bayer pattern array with an non-color filtered pixel and providing a different integration period for each color channel. When replacing a color filtered pixel with a non-color filtered pixel, the benefits of both color sensitivity and light sensitivity may be harnessed by providing the color filtered pixels with a longer integration period than the non-color filtered pixels. Color information may be interpolated by performing subtraction logic using non-color and color filter information from adjacent pixels in back-end processing. Integration times for each color channel can be adapted to minimize filter transmission and sensor absorption differences within each frame of data. Temporal displacement of colors of moving objects by having different integration periods may be corrected in back-end processing. Back-end processing may also correct motion blur.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A pixel array comprising:
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a plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising a photosensor that produces photo-generated charges during an integration period, wherein said plurality of pixels are organized into groups of pixels, each group of pixels including at least two color filtered pixels and at least one non-color filtered pixel, wherein each said group of pixels comprises four pixels arranged on two rows, and wherein at least two of said color filtered pixels and said at least one non-color filtered pixel of each said group each have integration periods that start and end at different times, and said integration period of said at least one non-color filtered pixel occurs during at least a portion of said integration periods of said color filtered pixels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A pixel array comprising:
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a plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising a photosensor that produces photo-generated charges during an integration period, wherein a first subset of said plurality of pixels are red color filtered pixels having a first integration period, a second subset of said plurality of pixels are blue color filtered pixels having a second integration period, and a third subset of said plurality of pixels are non-color filtered pixels having a third integration period, wherein said first, second, and third integration periods all start and end at different times, and said first and second integration periods at least partially overlap said third integration period, and wherein said plurality of pixels are organized into groups of pixels with each group of pixels including at least one pixel from each of said first, second, and third subsets, and wherein each said group of pixels comprises four pixels arranged on two rows. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An imaging device comprising:
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a pixel array including a plurality of pixels, each pixel having a photosensor that produces photo-generated charges during an integration period, wherein a first subset of said plurality of pixels are pixels having a first integration period of a first duration, a second subset of said plurality of pixels are pixels having a second integration period of a second duration, and a third subset of said plurality of filtered pixels are pixels having a third integration period of a third duration, and wherein the pixels of said first subset are non-color filtered and the pixels of said second and third subsets are each color filtered, said plurality of pixels being organized into groups of pixels with each group of pixels including at least one pixel from each of said first, second, and third subsets, and wherein each said group of pixels comprises four pixels arranged on two rows; a timing and control unit for controlling said first, second, and third durations such that said first duration is shorter than said second and third durations and said first duration occurs during at least a portion of said second and third durations, wherein said first, second, and third integration periods all start and end at different times; and an image processor that corrects effects that result from said different integration periods of said first, second, and third subsets using signals read out from said first subset. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A method of operating a pixel array comprising:
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generating charges with a first plurality of photosensors during a first integration period; generating charges with a second plurality of photosensors during a second integration period; generating charges with a third plurality of photosensors during a third integration period; transferring charges from said first plurality of photosensors to readout circuitry after said first integration period; transferring charges from said second plurality of photosensors to readout circuitry after said second integration period; and transferring charges from said third plurality of photosensors to readout circuitry after said third integration period, wherein photosensors of said third plurality of photosensors receive non-color filtered incident light, wherein said third integration period occurs during at least a portion of said first and second integration periods and said first, second, and third integration periods start and end at different times, and wherein said first, second, and third pluralities of photosensors are organized into groups of photosensors with each group of photosensors including at least one pixel from each of said first, second, and third pluralities, and wherein each said group of photosensors comprises four photosensors arranged on two rows. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of operating an imaging device comprising:
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generating charges from color filtered incident light of a first color with a first plurality of photosensors in a row of a pixel array during a first integration period; transferring charges from said first plurality of photosensors to readout circuitry after said first integration period; generating charges from non-color filtered incident light with a second plurality of photosensors in said row of said pixel array during a second integration period, said first and second integration periods starting and ending at different times; transferring charges from said second plurality of photosensors to said readout circuitry after said second integration period; generating charges from color filtered incident light of a second color with a third plurality of photosensors in another row of a pixel array during a third integration period; transferring charges from said third plurality of photosensors to said readout circuitry after said third integration period; controlling said first, second, and third integration periods such that said second integration period is shorter than said first and third integration periods and occurs during at least a portion of said first and third integration periods; and correcting effects resulting from said different integration periods of said first, second, and third pluralities of photosensors using signals read out from said second plurality of photosensors. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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Specification