CMOS image sensors
US7801384B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 7, 2004 |
| Grant date | Sep 21, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 17, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N25/67
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An image sensor array of active pixel elements is arranged in rows and columns. Each column has an output circuit for reading out pixel image signals. The output circuit includes a pair of sample capacitors, a switching circuit operable based upon pixel switches for applying pixel voltages to the pair of sample capacitors. At least one optically masked pixel is provided so that output image signals obtained therefrom represent substantially only the column fixed pattern noise (FPN). An image processing circuit records the column FPN for each column from the optically masked pixels, records the image signal from the sensor array of active pixels, and subtracts the column FPN column-wise from the image signal.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.