Image capture and processing integrated circuit for a camera

• US 8,908,075 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2007
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): SPINKS, ANTOINETTE T
• Application Number:
  US11/737,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20070195175A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,791 Days
• Field of Search: 348/308, 348/301, 348/222.1
• US Class Current: 348/308
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/0005 Curl smoothing, i.e. smoothing down corrugated printing material, e.g. by pressing means acting on wrinkled printing material
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/70 cutting perpendicular to the direction of paper feed
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 15/04 Supporting, feeding, or guiding devices; Mountings for web rolls or spindles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1433 Structure of nozzle plates
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/155 for line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16505 Caps, spittoons or covers for cleaning or preventing drying out
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16517 Cleaning of print head nozzles B41J2/16505, B41J2/1707 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16585 for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 Ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17596 Ink pumps, ink valves
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14362 Assembling elements of heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14419 Manifold
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/19 Assembling head units
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/21 Line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/36 for portability , i.e. hand-held printers or laptop printers B41J3/4075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/445 Printers integrated in other types of apparatus, e.g. printers integrated in cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/53 for automatically delivering a finished picture after a signal causing exposure has been given, e.g. by pushing a button, by inserting a coin
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2219/045 : adapted for unloading the film in the processing laboratory, e.g. disposable, reusable or recyclable cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 : in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 : Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 : Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/121 : by printing code marks applying code marks to labels B65C9/46; marking or coding completed packages B65B61/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 : multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 : Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 : using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 : 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 : by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/086 : by passive credit-cards adapted therefor, e.g. constructive particularities to avoid counterfeiting, e.g. by inclusion of a physical or chemical security-layer for security documents G07D7/00; for the reading of record-carriers in general G06K7/00; for the design of coded credit-cards G06K19/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/12 : Card verification
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 11/56 : using storage elements with more than two stable states represented by steps, e.g. of voltage, current, phase, frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00965 : using a plug-in memory module, e.g. memory card, memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 : using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2154 : the still video camera incorporating a hardcopy reproducing device, e.g. a printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 : Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 : Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/02402 : Arrangements for positioning heads, e.g. with respect to other elements of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3222 : of processing required or performed, e.g. forwarding, urgent or confidential handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3261 : of multimedia information, e.g. a sound signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3264 : of sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3269 : of machine readable codes or marks, e.g. bar codes or glyphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3276 : of a customised additional information profile, e.g. a profile specific to a user ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/328 : Processing of the additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 : Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 : Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 : Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation

Abstract

An image capture and processing (ICP) integrated circuit (IC) is provided for a camera. The ICP IC includes an imaging array which, in turn, includes image pixel capture sensors arranged in rows and columns. A row decoder extends along a first edge of the imaging array and is configured to enable sensor rows in the imaging array. An analog signal processor (ASP) system extends along a second edge of the imaging array and is configured to amplify signals from enabled sensors in columns of the imaging array. A control circuit is configured to sequentially enable the rows so that the ASP can amplify signals from all of the sensors in the imaging array, one row at a time.

Claims

1. An image capture and processing integrated circuit for a camera, the integrated circuit comprising:

an imaging array that includes image pixel capture sensors arranged in rows and columns;

a row decoder extending along a first edge of the imaging array and configured to enable the sensor rows in the imaging array;

an analog signal processor system extending along a second edge of the imaging array and configured to amplify signals from each sensor in an enabled row, the analog signal processor system having an analog signal processor for each column of the imaging array, wherein a plurality of analog signal processors are configured to provide a dark current reference, wherein the analog signal processor system is configured to sample and hold the amplified signals and to suppress fixed pattern noise in the amplified signals;

an analog-to-digital conversion system extending along the second edge of the imaging array and provided adjacently downstream relative to the analog signal processor system, the analog-to-digital conversion system having a plurality of analog-to-digital converters each receiving inputs from the plurality of analog signal processors and each analog-to-digital converter including a digital-to-analog converter;

a column select logic extending along the second edge of the imaging array and provided adjacently downstream from the analog-to-digital conversion system, the column select logic for selecting outputs from the analog-to-digital conversion system; and

a control circuit for sequentially enabling each row of the imaging array, and thereby communicate signals from the sensors of the imaging array to the analog signal processor system one row at a time.

2. The integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit includes at least one shift register.

3. The integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein the first and second edges extend orthogonally with respect to each other.

4. The integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit is configured to operate using a 1.5V supply voltage.

5. The integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein the image array has a pixel resolution of at least 1,500 columns×

1,000 rows and occupies a sensory area of no more than 24 mm².

6. The integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein each sensor in the image array occupies an area of no more than 4 μ

m×

4 μ

m.

7. The integrated circuit according to claim 1, comprising random access memory extending parallel to the second edge of the imaging array.

8. The integrated circuit according to claim 1, comprising an adjusting system configured to adjust a reference voltage of the analog-to-digital conversion system, configured to receive a pixel signal from the enabled sensors and configured to generate the reference voltage in accordance therewith.

9. The integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein each digital-to-analog converter is configured to trim an offset and scale of a respective analog-to-digital converter, and wherein a fixed pattern noise variation between columns is reduced.

10. The integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein each analog-to digital converter includes a plurality of digital-to-analog converters, wherein the digital-to-analog converters of the respective analog-to-digital converter are configured to trim an offset or a scale of the respective analog-to-digital converter.

11. The integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein each analog-to-digital converter includes a plurality of digital-to-analog converters, wherein the digital-to-analog converters of the respective analog-to-digital converter are configured to reduce the fixed pattern noise between columns.

12. The integrated circuit according to claim 1, comprising a detector that is configured to receive the signal from the imaging array and to provide a peak value that is used to generate a reference voltage for the analog-to-digital converters.

13. The integrated circuit according to claim 1, comprising a processor that runs camera functions of the camera and printing functions of a printer that is integrated with the camera, wherein the printer includes a page-width printhead.

14. The integrated circuit according to claim 1, comprising a processor that runs camera functions of the camera and printing functions of a printer that is integrated with the camera, wherein running the printing functions of the integrated printer includes controlling a solenoid device that causes a printhead to be capped.