H04N25/62

Pixel circuit with constant voltage biased photodiode and related imaging method

An imaging system includes a plurality of pixel circuits each having a photodiode, a biasing circuit and a charge-to-voltage converter. The photodiode is configured to generate charges in response to light or radiation. The biasing circuit is configured to provide a constant bias voltage across the photodiode so as to drain the charges generated by the photodiode. The charge-to-voltage converter is configured to accumulate the charges drained by the biasing circuit and convert the accumulated charges into a corresponding output voltage.

SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, DRIVING METHOD, AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE
20220060643 · 2022-02-24 ·

In a pixel array unit 11, pixels that generate pixel signals are arranged in a matrix. A control unit 17 performs reading of pixel signals in a first mode in which reading of the pixel signals is performed by thinning out lines from the pixel array unit 11, and reading of pixel signals in a second mode in which reading of the pixel signals is performed by including the lines thinned out in the first mode after the reading in the first mode. A signal processing unit 16 uses a pixel signal read in the first mode and a pixel signal read in the second mode, to set an amount of correction for a pixel of the lines thinned out in the first mode, on the basis of the pixel signal read in the second mode from a pixel in which reading of the pixel signal is performed in the first mode and the second mode, and corrects the pixel signal read in the second mode from the pixel of the lines thinned out in the first mode with the set amount of correction to reduce an influence of leakage light.

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SIGNAL COMPENSATION IN MEDICAL X-RAY IMAGES
20170325774 · 2017-11-16 · ·

The present invention relates to a device for signal compensation in medical X-ray images. The device (100) comprises a generation module (10) configured to generate an X-ray ghosting image based on an X-ray detector read-out subsequent to a last X- ray exposure of a plurality of X-ray exposures; a scaling module (20) configured to scale the X-ray ghosting image into a scaled X-ray ghosting image; and a subtraction module (30) configured to subtract the scaled X-ray ghosting image from any subsequent X-ray image recorded during a respective subsequent X-ray exposure of the plurality of X-ray exposures.

Image pickup element for detecting saturation and outputting the result of saturation detection in association with pixel signal, method for controlling image pickup element, and image pickup apparatus
09781328 · 2017-10-03 · ·

An image pickup element including an image pickup unit including an array of a plurality of unit pixels, each of the plurality of unit pixels including a plurality of pixels; a saturation detection unit configured to detect a saturated pixel based on a plurality of pixel signals of a subject image output from the plurality of pixels of each of the plurality of unit pixels; a first image signal generation unit configured to generate a first image signal of the subject image by combining the plurality of pixel signals output from each of ones of the plurality of pixels; and an output unit configured to output information indicating a result of detection of the saturated pixel conducted by the saturation detection unit and the first image signal.

3D IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD

A 3D imaging system includes an optical modulator for modulating a returned portion of a light pulse as a function of time. The returned light pulse portion is reflected or scattered from a scene for which a 3D image or video is desired. The 3D imaging system also includes an element array receiving the modulated light pulse portion and a sensor array of pixels, corresponding to the element array. The pixel array is positioned to receive light output from the element array. The element array may include an array of polarizing elements, each corresponding to one or more pixels. The polarization states of the polarizing elements can be configured so that time-of-flight information of the returned light pulse can be measured from signals produced by the pixel array, in response to the returned modulated portion of the light pulse.

Solid-state imaging device and control system
09749505 · 2017-08-29 · ·

A solid-state imaging device is provided. The solid-state imaging device includes an imaging region having a plurality of pixels arranged on a semiconductor substrate, in which each of the pixels includes a photoelectric converting portion and a charge converting portion for converting a charge generated by photoelectric conversion into a pixel signal and blooming is suppressed by controlling a substrate voltage of the semiconductor substrate.

SOLID-STATE IMAGE-CAPTURING ELEMENT AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE

The present disclosure relates to a solid-state image-capturing element and an electronic device capable of reducing the capacitance by using a hollow region. At least a part of a region between an FD wiring connected to a floating diffusion and a wiring other than the FD wiring is a hollow region. The present disclosure can be applied to a CMOS image sensor having, for example, a floating diffusion, a transfer transistor, an amplifying transistor, a selection transistor, a reset transistor, and a photodiode.

IMAGE SENSOR HAVING IMPROVED SPECTRAL CHARACTERISTICS
20170237911 · 2017-08-17 ·

The present invention relates to an image sensor sensor having improved spectral characteristics, and improves a color characteristic and sensitivity of an image sensor by implementing an image sensor sensor using a stacked substrate structure having photodiodes formed on each of two substrates, and generating a color signal having improved spectral characteristics based on an electrical signal outputted from each of the photodiodes formed on two substrates.

Image sensors having high dynamic range imaging pixels

A high dynamic range imaging pixel may include a photodiode that generates charge in response to incident light. When the generated charge exceeds a first charge level, the charge may overflow through a first transistor to a first storage capacitor. When the generated charge exceeds a second charge level that is higher than the first charge level, the charge may overflow through a second transistor. The charge that overflows through the second transistor may alternately be coupled to a voltage supply and drained or transferred to a second storage capacitor for subsequent readout. Diverting more overflow charge to the voltage supply may increase the dynamic range of the pixel. The amount of charge diverted to the voltage supply may therefore be updated to control the dynamic range of the imaging pixel.

X-ray detecting method, photographing method using the X-ray detecting method, and X-ray detector using the methods

Provided are methods of detecting X-rays, a photographing methods using the X-ray detecting method and/or an X-ray detector using the methods. For example, one method of detecting X-rays includes radiating a first X-ray, removing, by a first X-ray detection unit, a first electric charge generated by the radiated first X-ray, and outputting, by a second X-ray detection unit adjacent to the first X-ray detection unit, a voltage corresponding to the first X-ray.