Method and apparatus providing pixel storage gate charge sensing for electronic stabilization in imagers
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An imaging device comprising:
- a plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising a photosensor and at least a first gate for storing charge from the photosensor when activated by a first control signal;
a plurality of first driver and sense circuits, each first driver and sense circuit being connected to and associated with a respective first set of pixels, each first driver and sense circuit for generating the first control signal on a first control line connected to all pixels in its respective first set, each first driver and sense circuit for sensing via the first control line an amount of charge stored under the first gates in the respective first set;
a buffer memory, at least a first portion of the buffer memory for storing first digitized values of the sensed charge from the first gates for a first image frame, and at least a second portion of the buffer memory for storing second digitized values of the sensed charge from the first gates for a second image frame; and
means for detecting motion of at least one object in the first and second image frames using the stored first and second digitized values.
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Abstract
An imaging device that stores charge from a photosensor under at least one storage gate. A driver used to operate the at least one storage gate, senses how much charge was transferred to the storage gate. The sensed charge is used to obtain at least one signature of the image scene. The at least one signature may then be used for processing such as e.g., motion detection, auto-exposure, and auto-white balancing.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An imaging device comprising:
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a plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising a photosensor and at least a first gate for storing charge from the photosensor when activated by a first control signal; a plurality of first driver and sense circuits, each first driver and sense circuit being connected to and associated with a respective first set of pixels, each first driver and sense circuit for generating the first control signal on a first control line connected to all pixels in its respective first set, each first driver and sense circuit for sensing via the first control line an amount of charge stored under the first gates in the respective first set; a buffer memory, at least a first portion of the buffer memory for storing first digitized values of the sensed charge from the first gates for a first image frame, and at least a second portion of the buffer memory for storing second digitized values of the sensed charge from the first gates for a second image frame; and means for detecting motion of at least one object in the first and second image frames using the stored first and second digitized values. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of operating an imaging device, the imaging device comprising a plurality of pixels, each comprising a photosensor and at least a first storage gate, said method comprising the acts of:
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for each pixel, storing first charge from the photosensor under the first storage gate by placing a first control signal on a first control line; for each pixel, sensing via the first control line the first charge stored under the first storage gate; using the sensed first charges to obtain a first signature of a first image scene obtained by the imaging device, for each pixel, storing second charge from the photosensor under the first storage gate by placing the first control signal on the first control line; for each pixel, sensing via the first control line the second charge stored under the first storage gate; using the sensed second charges to obtain a second signature of a second image scene obtained by the imaging device; and detecting motion of at least one object in the first and second image scenes using the first and second signatures. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification