Image sensors having non-uniform light shields
US8059180B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 25, 2008 |
| Grant date | Nov 15, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 11, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N25/71
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An image sensor includes a pixel array divided into two or more corresponding sub-arrays. The pixel array includes an imaging area having a plurality of pixels and one or more reference areas each having a plurality of reference pixels. A continuous non-uniform light shield overlies, or individual non-uniform light shields overlie, each reference pixel in a row or column of reference pixels. An image sensor can include one or more rows or columns of reference pixels. An output channel is electrically connected to each sub-array for receiving the signals generated by the plurality of pixels and reference pixels in each sub-array. The pixel signals generated by the reference pixel pairs in one or more rows or columns in corresponding sub-arrays are used to determine one or more correction factors that compensate for the differences or mismatches between the output channels.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.