公开(公告)号：EP1351490B1

公开(公告)日：2009-12-23

申请号：EP02252385.6

申请日：2002-04-02

Applicant: STMicroelectronics Limited

Inventor： Henderson, Robert

IPC: H04N3/15

CPC classification number: H04N5/363 ,  H04N5/365 ,  H04N5/374 ,  H04N5/378

公开(公告)号：EP1605685A1

公开(公告)日：2005-12-14

申请号：EP04253371.1

申请日：2004-06-05

Applicant: STMicroelectronics Limited

Inventor： Henderson, Robert

IPC: H04N3/15

CPC classification number: H04N5/37457 ,  H04N5/3741

Abstract: An image sensor comprises an array of pixels (30). Each pixel (30) has a pinned photodiode which transfers charge via a transfer gate (M1) to a floating diffusion (FD), from which output is provided by a source follower (M2,M3). Each column has a voltage supply line (VRT) and a signal line (Vx). Each row has a transfer gate control line (TG), a read/reset control line (RD/RST), and a read/reset voltage line (VRST) which receives alternately zero volts and a predetermined positive voltage from a decoder circuit (32).

公开(公告)号：EP1596578B1

公开(公告)日：2007-09-12

申请号：EP04252834.9

申请日：2004-05-15

Applicant: STMicroelectronics Limited

Inventor： Purcell, Matthew ,  Henderson, Robert

IPC: H04N3/15

CPC classification number: H04N5/335

公开(公告)号：EP1351490A1

公开(公告)日：2003-10-08

申请号：EP02252385.6

申请日：2002-04-02

Applicant: STMicroelectronics Limited

Inventor： Henderson, Robert

IPC: H04N3/15

CPC classification number: H04N5/363 ,  H04N5/365 ,  H04N5/374 ,  H04N5/378

Abstract: An image sensor has an array of pixels (10). Each column has a first (16) and a second (20) column line connected to a read-reset amplifier/comparator (22) which acts in a first mode as a unity gain buffer amplifier to reset the pixels (10) via the first lines (16), and in a second mode acts as a comparator and AD converter to produce digitised reset and signal values. The reset and signal values are read out a line at a time in interleaved fashion. Reset values are stored in a memory (26) and subsequently subtracted from the corresponding signal values. The arrangement reduces both fixed pattern and kT/C noise.

Abstract translation: 图像传感器具有像素阵列（10）。 每列具有连接到以第一模式作用的单位增益缓冲放大器的读复位放大器/比较器（22）的第一（16）和第二（20）列线，其经由第一模式复位像素（10） 线路（16），第二模式用作比较器和AD转换器，以产生数字化的复位和信号值。 复位和信号值以交错方式一次读出一行。 复位值存储在存储器（26）中，并随后从对应的信号值中减去。 该装置减少固定模式和kT / C噪声。

公开(公告)号：EP1333661A1

公开(公告)日：2003-08-06

申请号：EP02250693.5

申请日：2002-02-01

Applicant: STMicroelectronics Limited

Inventor： Henderson, Robert

IPC: H04N3/15

CPC classification number: H04N5/3653 ,  H04N5/3745

Abstract: An image sensor has pixels of four-transistor, pinned-photodiode type. In each pixel, the charge on a photodiode (22) is transferred by transfer gate (14) to a sensing node (Vpix). Readout of reset and read voltages is via an amplifier (36). A gain capacitor (Ch) is connected in feedback across the amplifier (36) and the read and reset gates are controlled such that the pixel is reset to a virtual ground voltage controlled by Ch and independent of the pixel parasitic capacitance (Cp).

Abstract translation: 图像传感器具有四晶体管，钉扎 - 光电二极管类型的像素。 在每个像素中，光电二极管（22）上的电荷被传输门（14）传送到感测节点（Vpix）。 通过放大器（36）读出复位和读取电压。 增益电容器（Ch）被连接在放大器（36）上的反馈中，并且读取和复位门被控制，使得像素被复位到由Ch控制的虚拟接地电压并且独立于像素寄生电容（Cp）。

公开(公告)号：EP1635470A1

公开(公告)日：2006-03-15

申请号：EP04255476.6

申请日：2004-09-09

Applicant: STMicroelectronics Limited

Inventor： Henderson, Robert ,  Purcell, Matthew

IPC: H03M1/12 ,  H04N3/15

CPC classification number: H03M1/1023 ,  H03M1/123 ,  H03M1/56 ,  H04N5/3575 ,  H04N5/361 ,  H04N5/3651 ,  H04N5/374 ,  H04N5/378

Abstract: An image sensor is described, which makes use of a distributed amplifier (10). The distributed amplifier (10) has its non-inverting input (22) provided by a pixel amplifier transistor (18), and its inverting input (20) and output (30) provided in the pixel's column circuitry (58). The distributed amplifier (10) is directly integrated with the image sensor's ADC circuit, and sampling and autozero are performed in a single step, thus reducing the number of noise contributions made by the components of the image sensor's readout chain.

Abstract translation: 一种图像传感器进行了说明，其利用分布式放大器（10）的。 分布式放大器（10）具有在像素的列电路（58）提供由像素放大器晶体管（18）提供其非反相输入端（22），它的反相输入端（20）和输出（30）。 分布式放大器（10）直接与所述图像传感器的ADC电路集成，并且采样和自动调零在单一步骤中进行，从而降低了由图像传感器的读出电路的组分制得噪声贡献的数量。

公开(公告)号：EP1335587A1

公开(公告)日：2003-08-13

申请号：EP02425061.5

申请日：2002-02-08

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l. ,  STMicroelectronics Limited

Inventor： Findlater, Keith ,  Henderson, Robert ,  Smith, Stewart ,  Hurwitz, Jonathan ,  Guarnera, Mirko

IPC: H04N3/15

CPC classification number: H04N5/374 ,  H04N5/3456 ,  H04N5/3458 ,  H04N9/045

Abstract: A digital camera for capturing and processing images of different resolutions is described together with a method for down-scaling a digital image. The method comprises the steps of forming an image of a real scene on an image sensor (4) comprising a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, addressing and reading pixels in the matrix to obtain analogue quantities related with the pixels luminance values, converting (5) the analogue quantities from the pixels matrix into digital values and processing (6-13) the digital values to obtain a data file representing the image of the real scene. To reduce computation time and power consumption the step of addressing and reading pixels includes the steps of selecting a group of pixels from the matrix, storing the analogue quantities related with the pixels of the selected group of pixels into analogue storing means (14) and averaging the stored analogue quantities to obtain an analogue quantity corresponding to an average pixel luminance value.

Abstract translation: 用于捕获和处理不同分辨率的图像的数字照相机与用于比例缩小的数字图像的方法一起描述。 该方法包括在（图像传感器（4），包括以矩阵排列的像素的复数，寻址和在基体中，以获得与所述像素的亮度值相关的类似物的量读出诸像素形成真实场景的图像的步骤，转换 5）来自像素的模拟量矩阵成数字值和处理（6-13）的数字值，以获得表示所述真实场景的图像的数据文件。 为了减少计算时间和功耗寻址和读出的像素的步骤包括选择一组像素的从矩阵，存储与像素的选择的组的像素的相关成模拟存储装置（14）和平均模拟量的步骤 所存储的模拟量，以获得对模拟量对应于平均像素亮度值。

公开(公告)号：EP1605686B1

公开(公告)日：2007-04-11

申请号：EP04253372.9

申请日：2004-06-05

Applicant: STMicroelectronics Limited

Inventor： Henderson, Robert

IPC: H04N3/15 ,  H04N9/04

CPC classification number: H04N9/045 ,  H04N5/37457 ,  H04N5/376

公开(公告)号：EP1351492B1

公开(公告)日：2006-06-14

申请号：EP02252472.2

申请日：2002-04-05

Applicant: STMicroelectronics Limited

Inventor： Henderson, Robert ,  Hurwitz, Jed

IPC: H04N3/15

CPC classification number: H04N5/3653 ,  H04N5/3575

公开(公告)号：EP1641249A1

公开(公告)日：2006-03-29

申请号：EP04255878.3

申请日：2004-09-27

Applicant: STMicroelectronics Limited

Inventor： Henderson, Robert ,  Purcell, Matthew ,  Storm, Graeme

IPC: H04N5/235

CPC classification number: H04N5/35581 ,  H04N5/23245 ,  H04N5/343 ,  H04N5/3452 ,  H04N5/3532

Abstract: A rolling blade exposure system is disclosed where odd rows of a pixel array are read out with a short exposure time and even rows are read out at a long exposure time. Each pair of sampled rows are stitched together before to form a single output line. The resultant image is then formed from the output lines. The stitching process ensures that the resultant image has a wide dynamic range. This is achieved at the expense of a loss of resolution, but this loss is acceptable for certain applications.

Abstract translation: 公开了一种滚动刀片曝光系统，其中以较短的曝光时间读出奇数行的像素阵列，并且甚至在长曝光时间读出行。 每对采样行在之前缝合在一起以形成单个输出线。 然后从输出线形成所得到的图像。 缝合过程确保所得到的图像具有宽的动态范围。 这是以牺牲分辨率为代价的，但这种损失对某些应用是可以接受的。