Method and apparatus for color compensation

• US 8,310,577 B1
• Filed: 02/02/2000
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gula Consulting Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Youliza Gehts BV LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Neter, Sarit
• Primary Examiner(s): Henn, Timothy J
• Application Number:
  US09/495,971
• Time in Patent Office: 4,668 Days
• Field of Search: 348/221.1, 348/223.1, 348/229.1, 348/266, 348/279, 348/280, 348/272
• US Class Current: 348/308
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/12 with one sensor only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/843 Demosaicing, e.g. interpolating colour pixel values
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/134 based on three different wavelength filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/67 applied to fixed-pattern noise, e.g. non-uniformity of response
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/68 applied to defects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/70 SSIS architectures; Circuits associated therewith
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/745 Circuitry for generating timing or clock signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/76 Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/767 Horizontal readout lines, multiplexers or registers

Abstract

An imaging method and system that flexibly accesses light sensor elements and processes imaging signals. The imaging system comprises an array of pixel sensor cells, an array controller and a readout control circuit. The imaging system provides color compensation.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

an array of sensors configured in a row-column format to capture image data through a color filter having different color filter components;

an array controller configured to select subsets of the sensors for readout, wherein a group of multiple sensors in a column of sensors are included in each of a plurality of the subsets of the sensors; and

a compensation system configured to compensate the image data readout from the subsets of the sensors based on the color filter components associated with the sensors in the subsets of sensors.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the compensation system further comprises:

a first amplifier configured to compensate the image data readout from sensors corresponding to a first color filer component of the color filter;

a second amplifier configured to compensate the image data readout from sensors corresponding to a second color filer component of the color filter; and

a third amplifier configured to compensate the image data readout from sensors corresponding to a third color filer component of the color filter.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the compensation system further comprises a summing amplifier configured to average the image data readout from sensors corresponding to the third color filer component, and wherein the third amplifier is configured to compensate the image data averaged by the summing amplifier.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the array controller is configured to direct a readout of the image data from a first subset of the sensors sequentially with a readout of a second subset of the sensors.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the image data is readout of the first subset of the sensors in parallel, and wherein the image data is readout of the second subset of the sensors in parallel.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the first subset of the sensors at least partially overlaps with the second subset of the sensors.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the array of the sensors includes at least one masked sensor blocked from light exposure, and wherein the compensation system is configured to determine a difference in color response between the image data readout from at least one sensor in the subsets of the sensors and the masked sensor, and wherein the compensation system is configured to compensate the difference in the color response.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the array controller is configured to direct readout of the masked sensor in parallel with at least one of the subsets of the sensors.

9. A method comprising:

capturing image data with an array of sensors through a color filter having different color filter components;

selecting subsets of the sensors for readout, wherein a plurality of the subsets of the sensors overlap by multiple sensors in a column of sensors; and

compensating the image data readout from the subsets of the sensors based on the color filter components associated with the sensors in the subsets of sensors.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein compensating the image data readout from the subsets of the sensors further comprises:

compensating, with a first amplifier, the image data readout from sensors corresponding to a first color filer component of the color filter;

compensating, with a second amplifier, the image data readout from sensors corresponding to a second color filer component of the color filter; and

compensating, with a third amplifier, the image data readout from sensors corresponding to a third color filer component of the color filter.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein compensating the image data readout from the subsets of the sensors further comprises:

averaging, with a summing amplifier, the image data readout from sensors corresponding to the third color filer component; and

compensating, with the third amplifier, the image data averaged by the summing amplifier.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising directing a readout of the image data from a first subset of the sensors sequentially with a readout of a second subset of the sensors.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the image data is readout of the first subset of the sensors in parallel, and wherein the image data is readout of the second subset of the sensors in parallel.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the first subset of the sensors at least partially overlaps with the second subset of the sensors.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the array of the sensors includes at least one masked sensor blocked from light exposure, and wherein compensating the image data readout from the subsets of the sensors further comprises determining a difference in color response between the image data readout from at least one sensor in the subsets of the sensors and the masked sensor, and compensating the difference in the color response.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising directing readout of the masked sensor in parallel with at least one of the subsets of the sensors.

17. A device comprising:

an array of sensors including a first group of sensors configured to sense light and a second group of sensors blocked from light exposure;

an array controller configured to select subsets of sensors from the first group of sensors for readout and to select at least one sensor in the second group of sensors for readout, wherein multiple sensors in a column of sensors are included in a plurality of the subsets of the sensors; and

a compensation system configured to reduce fixed pattern noise in light sensed the first group of sensors based on the readout from the at least one sensor in the second group of sensors.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the compensation system is configured to determine a difference between the light sensed by the at least one sensor in the first group of sensors and the at least one sensor in the second group of sensors, and to reduce fixed pattern noise in light sensed the first group of sensors based on the determined difference.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the compensation system is configured to clip the determined difference when the determined difference is negative.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein the compensation system is configured to average readouts from multiple sensors in the second group of sensors, to determine a difference between the light sensed by the at least one sensor in the first group of sensors and the average readout from multiple sensors in the second group of sensors, and to reduce fixed pattern noise in light sensed the first group of sensors based on the determined difference.

21. The device of claim 17, wherein the array controller configured to select subsets of sensors from multiple consecutive rows and multiple consecutive columns of the first group of sensors.

22. The device of claim 17, wherein the compensation system configured to compensate image data readout from the subsets of the sensors based on a color filter overlaying the subsets of sensors from the first group of sensors.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the compensation system further comprises:

a first amplifier configured to compensate the image data readout from sensors corresponding to a first color filer component of the color filter;

a second amplifier configured to compensate the image data readout from sensors corresponding to a second color filer component of the color filter; and

a third amplifier configured to compensate the image data readout from sensors corresponding to a third color filer component of the color filter.

24. A method comprising:

selecting subsets of sensors from a first group of sensors for readout, wherein multiple sensors in a column of sensors are included in a plurality of the subsets of the sensors;

prompting readout of light sensed from at least one of the subsets of sensors in the first group of sensors and from at least one sensor in a second group of sensors blocked from light exposure; and

reducing fixed pattern noise in light sensed the first group of sensors based on the readout from the at least one sensor in the second group of sensors.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

determining a difference between the light sensed by the at least one sensor in the first group of sensors and the at least one sensor in the second group of sensors; and

reducing fixed pattern noise in light sensed the first group of sensors based on the determined difference.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising clipping the determined difference when the determined difference is negative.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

averaging readouts from multiple sensors in the second group of sensors;

determining a difference between the light sensed by the at least one sensor in the first group of sensors and the average readout from multiple sensors in the second group of sensors; and

reducing fixed pattern noise in light sensed the first group of sensors based on the determined difference.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising selecting the subsets of sensors from multiple consecutive rows and multiple consecutive columns of the first group of sensors.

29. The method of claim 24, further comprising compensating image data readout from the subsets of the sensors based on a color filter overlaying the subsets of sensors from the first group of sensors.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein compensating image data readout from the subsets of the sensors further comprising:

compensating, with a first amplifier, the image data readout from sensors corresponding to a first color filer component of the color filter;

compensating, with a second amplifier, the image data readout from sensors corresponding to a second color filer component of the color filter; and

compensating, with a third amplifier, the image data readout from sensors corresponding to a third color filer component of the color filter.