Imagers having image processing circuitry with error detection capabilities
First Claim
1. A method of using image processing circuitry to detect imaging errors of a pixel array having a plurality of pixels, the method comprising:
- with the image processing circuitry, identifying a subset of the pixels of the pixel array that are characterized by noise; and
monitoring the identified subset of the pixels to detect imaging errors, wherein monitoring the identified subset of the pixels comprises maintaining a histogram of captured image values for a single given pixel of the subset of the pixels based on previously captured images, and wherein maintaining the histogram of captured image values comprises maintaining a count of a number of occurrences of each of the captured image values.
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Abstract
Image processing circuitry may be used to detect imaging errors of a pixel array, including imaging errors that would otherwise be difficult to detect visually. The image processing circuitry may identify a subset of the pixels that are characterized by burst noise such as RTS noise. The image processing circuitry may monitor the identified subset of the pixels to detect imaging errors. The circuitry may maintain histograms of image values for the subset of pixels from previously captured images. The image processing circuitry may update the histograms using each new captured image and determine whether the updated histograms have tri-modal distributions. In response to determining that the updated histograms do not have tri-modal distributions of values, the circuitry may identify that an imaging error has occurred. If desired, expected differences in dark current across multiple exposure settings may be used to help identify imaging errors.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of using image processing circuitry to detect imaging errors of a pixel array having a plurality of pixels, the method comprising:
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with the image processing circuitry, identifying a subset of the pixels of the pixel array that are characterized by noise; and monitoring the identified subset of the pixels to detect imaging errors, wherein monitoring the identified subset of the pixels comprises maintaining a histogram of captured image values for a single given pixel of the subset of the pixels based on previously captured images, and wherein maintaining the histogram of captured image values comprises maintaining a count of a number of occurrences of each of the captured image values. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of detecting imaging errors, the method comprising:
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with a pixel array, capturing a first image of a given scene with a first exposure length; with the pixel array, capturing a second image of the given scene with a second exposure length; identifying a current operating temperature of the pixel array; identifying a first expected dark current value for the first exposure length based on the current operating temperature; identifying a second expected dark current value for the second exposure length based on the current operating temperature; with image processing circuitry, calculating an expected dark current difference by subtracting the first expected dark current value from the second expected dark current value; and with the image processing circuitry, determining whether differences in the first and second captured images match the expected dark current difference. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A system, comprising:
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a central processing unit; memory; input-output circuitry; and an imaging device, wherein the imaging device comprises; a pixel array; a lens that focuses an image on the pixel array; and image processing circuitry that identifies a subset of the pixels of the pixel array that are characterized by noise and monitors the identified subset of the pixels to detect imaging errors, wherein monitoring the identified subset of the pixel to detect imaging errors comprises maintaining a first histogram of pixel values for only a first given pixel of the identified subset and maintaining a second histogram of pixel values for only a second given pixel of the identified subset, and wherein the pixel values comprise captured pixel image signals. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification