Fixed pattern noise (FPN) reduction techniques in image sensors operated with pulse illumination are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes, during a first sub-exposure period of a frame, (a) operating a first tap of a pixel to capture a first signal corresponding to first charge at a first floating diffusion, the first charge corresponding to first light incident on a photosensor, and (b) operating a second tap of the pixel to capture a first parasitic signal corresponding to FPN at a second floating diffusion. The method further includes, during a second sub-exposure period of the frame, (a) operating the second tap to capture a second signal corresponding to second charge at the second floating diffusion, the second charge corresponding to second light incident on the photosensor, and (b) operating the first tap to capture a second parasitic signal corresponding to FPN at the first floating diffusion.

An apparatus includes a body defining an aperture. The apparatus also includes an image sensor including an array of sensing elements. The apparatus further includes an ambient light sensor. The image sensor and the ambient light sensor are each arranged to receive radiation from the aperture.

An apparatus includes a body defining an aperture. The apparatus also includes an image sensor including an array of sensing elements. The apparatus further includes an ambient light sensor. The image sensor and the ambient light sensor are each arranged to receive radiation from the aperture.

An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor configured to set an exposure period and a gain individually for each of a plurality of pixel groups, a diaphragm or a neutral density filter configured to adjust a quantity of light incident on the image sensor, at least one processor, and a memory coupled to the at least one processor, the memory having instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, performs operations as a first control unit configured to control an exposure parameter including at least one of the exposure period and the gain for each of the plurality of pixel groups, and a second control unit configured to control the quantity of light incident on the image sensor by controlling the diaphragm or the neutral density filter based on the exposure parameter controlled by the first control unit.

An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor configured to set an exposure period and a gain individually for each of a plurality of pixel groups, a diaphragm or a neutral density filter configured to adjust a quantity of light incident on the image sensor, at least one processor, and a memory coupled to the at least one processor, the memory having instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, performs operations as a first control unit configured to control an exposure parameter including at least one of the exposure period and the gain for each of the plurality of pixel groups, and a second control unit configured to control the quantity of light incident on the image sensor by controlling the diaphragm or the neutral density filter based on the exposure parameter controlled by the first control unit.

Techniques are provided for x-ray onset detection for an intraoral dental sensor. A methodology implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes calculating a plurality of superpixel values for each of a plurality of rows of detector pixels of a sensor. Each of the superpixel values is based on a sum of pixel values of a set of pixels associated with the superpixel value, the set of pixels selected from the detection row of a current frame of the sensor. The method also includes calculating a difference between each of the superpixel values and a corresponding stored superpixel value generated from a previous sensor frame and determining if the differences exceed a superpixel threshold value. The method further includes incrementing a hit counter in response to the determination and generating a detection signal if the hit counter exceeds a hit count threshold, otherwise proceeding to process the next detection row.

An electronic device may include an image sensor, a processor, and a memory. The image sensor may include at least one photo diode, a transfer gate connecting the at least one photo diode to a first node (FD1 node), a first capacitor connected to the first node and having first capacitance, a dynamic range gate (DRG) connected between the first node and a second node (FD2 node), a second capacitor connected to the second node and having second capacitance, and a micro controller unit. Other various embodiments identified through the specification are possible.

An electronic device may include an image sensor, a processor, and a memory. The image sensor may include at least one photo diode, a transfer gate connecting the at least one photo diode to a first node (FD1 node), a first capacitor connected to the first node and having first capacitance, a dynamic range gate (DRG) connected between the first node and a second node (FD2 node), a second capacitor connected to the second node and having second capacitance, and a micro controller unit. Other various embodiments identified through the specification are possible.

An imaging element having a layered structure including a first chip having a pixel portion in which pixels for photoelectrically converting an optical image of an object and generating a pixel signal are arranged two-dimensionally and a second chip in which a drive means of the pixel portion is arranged, and having a first output path to output the pixel signals of at least a first pixel group in the pixel portion and a second output path to output the pixel signals of a second pixel group, comprises the a conversion means for converting the pixel signals of the first and second output paths into digital signals and a control information generation means for generating control information of a photographing operation of the object by using the digital signal converted by the conversion means, wherein at least a part of the conversion means is arranged in the first chip.

Provided is a time of flight (ToF) sensor and a method for controlling the ToF sensor. The ToF sensor includes a first light emitter configured to output first light of a first pattern, a second light emitter configured to output second light of a second pattern, an image sensor including a plurality of pixels, and at least one processor configured to control the first light emitter and the second light emitter to sequentially output the first light and the second light, obtain, based on the output first light and second light being received through the image sensor by being reflected by a plurality of objects, a first image frame corresponding to the received first light and a second image frame corresponding to the received second light, and identify distances between the ToF sensor and the plurality of objects based on the first image frame and the second image frame.