Image sensor noise reduction
US8279306B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 28, 2007 |
| Grant date | Oct 2, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 6, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N25/63
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An imaging system includes a plurality of pixels. A pixel readout circuit produces a plurality of first image frames from those pixels. An image output circuit produces a plurality of second image frames and operates to produce a second image frame from more than one of the first image frames. The pixel readout circuit is enabled to produce the first images frames at a rate faster than the image output circuit produces the second image frames. Through combining first image frames, by averaging or other statistical combinations, the photon shot noise of second image frames is reduced. Photon shot noise affects images with high light levels more than those with low light levels and, as such, the system processing alters the rate of first image frames dependent on the current light levels.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.