An image sensor for electronic cameras has a plurality of pixels for generating exposure-dependent signals, wherein a respective pixel at least comprises: a light-sensitive element to generate electrical charge from incident light; a readout node; a transfer gate to selectively couple the light-sensitive element to the readout node; a converter transistor to convert the charge present at the readout node into a voltage signal at a signal output; and a selection switch that is connected to the signal output of the converter transistor to selectively couple the signal output of the converter transistor to an associated readout line of the image sensor. The respective pixel has an electrically conductive shielding structure that at least partly surrounds the readout node and that is set or can be set to an electrical potential that depends on the voltage signal of the converter transistor.

An image sensor includes a pixel configured to generate a pixel signal, using an analog signal processing voltage, a ramp signal generator configured to generate a ramp signal, using the analog signal processing voltage, a bias voltage generator configured to generate a bias voltage, using the analog signal processing voltage, and a noise compensator configured to generate a noise component, using a digital signal processing voltage and the analog signal processing voltage, and add the generated noise component to the generated bias voltage. The image sensor further includes a conversion circuit configured to generate a reference voltage, based on the generated ramp signal and the bias voltage to which the noise component is added, and generate an image signal by performing analog-to-digital conversion on the generated pixel signal, based on the generated reference voltage.

An image sensor includes a pixel configured to generate a pixel signal, using an analog signal processing voltage, a ramp signal generator configured to generate a ramp signal, using the analog signal processing voltage, a bias voltage generator configured to generate a bias voltage, using the analog signal processing voltage, and a noise compensator configured to generate a noise component, using a digital signal processing voltage and the analog signal processing voltage, and add the generated noise component to the generated bias voltage. The image sensor further includes a conversion circuit configured to generate a reference voltage, based on the generated ramp signal and the bias voltage to which the noise component is added, and generate an image signal by performing analog-to-digital conversion on the generated pixel signal, based on the generated reference voltage.

A solid-state image sensor includes a first semiconductor, and a second semiconductor having a composition different from that of the first composition and electrically connected to the first semiconductor. The first semiconductor includes a photodiode that converts light incident on the photodiode into charge carriers, first carrier storages that store the charge carriers, and a transfer gate that controls transfer the charge carriers to a selected one of the first carrier storages. The second semiconductor includes second carrier storages and a potential detection node. The second carrier storages each store charge carriers based on the charge carriers stored in a corresponding one of the first carrier storages. The potential detection node detects the electric potential of each of the second carrier storages. The solid-state image sensor further includes a reset transistor that resets the electric potential of each of the first carrier storages to a predetermined electric potential.

A non-uniformity correction (NUC) calibration method comprises obtaining image data for a plurality of images with an image sensor, wherein each image in the plurality of images is obtained at a different respective global pixel gain setting and global expose in the image sensor; and using the image data for non-uniformity correction calibration to compute pixel NUC values for the pixels in the image sensor. The method can further include storing the pixel NUC values and obtaining further image data corrected by the stored pixel NUC values. In embodiments, the method can include moving a platform based on the further image data. In certain embodiments, the platform can be a guided munition.

The present technology relates to an imaging element that can reduce noise. The imaging element includes: a photoelectric conversion element; a first amplification element that amplifies a signal from the photoelectric conversion element; a second amplification element that amplifies an output from the first amplification element; an offset element provided between the first amplification element and the second amplification element; a first reset element that resets the first amplification element; and a second reset element that resets the second amplification element. The offset element is a capacitor. A charge is accumulated in the offset element via a feedback loop of an output from the second amplification element, and an offset bias is generated. The present technology can be applied to an imaging element.

A solid-state imaging device includes a photoelectric converter, a transfer gate transistor, and an overflow gate transistor. The photoelectric converter is provided in a semiconductor substrate and generates photocharge. The transfer gate transistor is provided at a surface of the semiconductor substrate as a vertical transistor and reads the photocharge stored in the photoelectric converter. The overflow gate transistor is provided at the surface of the semiconductor substrate as a planar transistor and transfers the photocharge overflowing from the photoelectric converter.

A method of controlling parameters for image sensors includes; receiving a first image and a second image, calculating first feature values related to the first image and second feature values related to the second image; generating comparison results by comparing the first feature values of fixed regions and first variable regions of the first image with the second feature values of fixed regions and first variable regions of the second image, and controlling at least one parameter on the basis of the comparison results.

A method of controlling parameters for image sensors includes; receiving a first image and a second image, calculating first feature values related to the first image and second feature values related to the second image; generating comparison results by comparing the first feature values of fixed regions and first variable regions of the first image with the second feature values of fixed regions and first variable regions of the second image, and controlling at least one parameter on the basis of the comparison results.

Disclosed are improved methods, systems and devices for color night vision that reduce the number of intensifiers and/or decrease noise. In some embodiments, color night vision is provided in system in which multiple spectral bands are maintained, filtered separately, and then recombined in a unique three-lens-filtering setup. An illustrative four-camera night vision system is unique in that its first three cameras separately filter different bands using a subtractive Cyan, Magenta and Yellow (CMY) color filtering-process, while its fourth camera is used to sense either additional IR illuminators or a luminance channel to increase brightness. In some embodiments, the color night vision is implemented to distinguish details of an image in low light. The unique application of the three-lens subtractive CMY filtering allows for better photon scavenging and preservation of important color information.