Patent · US Expired

Circuit for correction of white pixel defects and an image sensor using the circuit for correction of white pixel defects

US7106912B2 · kind B2 · utility

5Cited by
5References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 5, 2003
Grant dateSep 12, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 6, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N25/683
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A circuit for correction of white pixel defects capable of complementing white pixel faults without using a storage device for holding white pixel fault spots, and an image sensor using the circuit for correction of white pixel defects. Pixels constituting a pixel section are sequentially subjected to white pixel fault complementation process. A nearby pixel data holding section acquires pixel data from a readout circuit and holds the data. A comparison-determination section compares lightness of a target pixel with that of a nearby pixel and determines, based on the comparison result, whether or not the target pixel is associated with a white pixel fault having a lightness higher than that of the nearby pixel by a predetermined value or more. When it is judged by the comparison-determination section that the target pixel is associated with a white pixel fault, a complementary calculation section performs a complementary calculation by using the pixel data of the target and nearby pixels held by the nearby pixel data holding section, to generate complemented data.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.