WO2006085464A1 - 撮像装置 - Google Patents
撮像装置 Download PDFInfo
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- WO2006085464A1 WO2006085464A1 PCT/JP2006/301728 JP2006301728W WO2006085464A1 WO 2006085464 A1 WO2006085464 A1 WO 2006085464A1 JP 2006301728 W JP2006301728 W JP 2006301728W WO 2006085464 A1 WO2006085464 A1 WO 2006085464A1
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- electrical signal
- imaging device
- signal
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- 238000003384 imaging method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 66
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 135
- 238000012937 correction Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 79
- 238000009795 derivation Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 230000009466 transformation Effects 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000003702 image correction Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 abstract description 45
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 9
- 238000011156 evaluation Methods 0.000 description 9
- 238000004364 calculation method Methods 0.000 description 7
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 6
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 6
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000007274 generation of a signal involved in cell-cell signaling Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000011159 matrix material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000013643 reference control Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000003086 colorant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002474 experimental method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005070 sampling Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N23/00—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
- H04N23/70—Circuitry for compensating brightness variation in the scene
- H04N23/741—Circuitry for compensating brightness variation in the scene by increasing the dynamic range of the image compared to the dynamic range of the electronic image sensors
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N25/00—Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N25/00—Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof
- H04N25/50—Control of the SSIS exposure
- H04N25/57—Control of the dynamic range
- H04N25/571—Control of the dynamic range involving a non-linear response
- H04N25/573—Control of the dynamic range involving a non-linear response the logarithmic type
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N3/00—Scanning details of television systems; Combination thereof with generation of supply voltages
- H04N3/10—Scanning details of television systems; Combination thereof with generation of supply voltages by means not exclusively optical-mechanical
- H04N3/14—Scanning details of television systems; Combination thereof with generation of supply voltages by means not exclusively optical-mechanical by means of electrically scanned solid-state devices
- H04N3/15—Scanning details of television systems; Combination thereof with generation of supply voltages by means not exclusively optical-mechanical by means of electrically scanned solid-state devices for picture signal generation
- H04N3/155—Control of the image-sensor operation, e.g. image processing within the image-sensor
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an imaging apparatus having an imaging element that converts incident light into an electrical signal.
- an imaging device such as a digital camera
- an imaging device having a plurality of pixels that convert incident light into an electrical signal.
- the plurality of pixels are configured to switch the conversion mode to an electric signal based on the amount of incident light. More specifically, the linear conversion mode for linearly converting incident light into an electric signal and the logarithmic conversion mode for logarithmic conversion are used. And can be switched.
- the electrical signal derived from the logarithmic conversion mode is converted into a state derived from the linear conversion mode, or the characteristic conversion is performed to convert the electrical signal derived from the linear conversion mode into a state derived from the logarithmic conversion mode
- a signal processing unit is provided to facilitate the processing of electrical signals by integrating the entire electrical signal into a state derived from the linear conversion mode or logarithmic conversion mode.
- the dynamic range of the electrical signal is wide compared to an image sensor that performs only the linear conversion mode, so even if a subject with a wide luminance range is photographed, ⁇
- the degree information can be expressed by an electrical signal.
- Patent Document 1 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-298799
- Patent Document 2 JP-A-5-30350
- An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus capable of unifying electric signals accurately into a state derived from linear transformation or logarithmic transformation.
- the invention described in claim 1 is an imaging apparatus
- An imaging element having a plurality of pixels that switches between a linear conversion mode for linearly converting incident light into an electrical signal and a logarithmic conversion mode for logarithmically converting incident light into an electrical signal based on the amount of incident light;
- a conversion unit that converts and outputs a reference electric signal logarithmically converted from an image sensor into an electric signal obtained by linearly converting the electric signal before logarithmic conversion;
- a correction unit that corrects the electrical signal to match the reference electrical signal
- the invention according to claim 8 is an imaging device
- An imaging device having a plurality of pixels that are linearly converted into an electrical signal based on the incident light amount and output logarithmically converted into an electrical signal based on the incident light amount until a predetermined light amount;
- a conversion unit that converts and outputs a reference electric signal logarithmically converted from an image sensor into an electric signal obtained by linearly converting the electric signal before logarithmic conversion;
- a correction unit that corrects the electrical signal to match the reference electrical signal
- the invention according to claim 12 is an imaging apparatus
- Imaging having a plurality of pixels that are linearly converted into an electrical signal based on the incident light amount and output after being logarithmically converted to an electrical signal based on the incident light amount until a predetermined light amount.
- a derivation unit for deriving an inflection point signal at a point at which the linear transformation switches to a logarithmic transformation
- a comparison unit for comparing the inflection point signal derived by the derivation unit and the electrical signal output by the imaging device force
- the reference electrical signal output by logarithmic conversion of the image sensor force is converted to an electrical signal obtained by linear conversion of the electrical signal before logarithmic conversion, and output And
- a correction unit that corrects the electrical signal to match the reference electrical signal
- the logarithmically transformed electrical signal can be accurately integrated into a state derived from linear transformation. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the logarithmically converted electric signal can be unified into a state derived from linear conversion without using a complicated circuit.
- FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an imaging apparatus according to the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image sensor.
- FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of a pixel and a linear key section.
- FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between exposure time and inflection point.
- FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the control voltage and the inflection point.
- FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a pixel.
- FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a signal processing unit and an inflection signal deriving unit.
- FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a correction coefficient a.
- FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing processing for fluctuation correction and characteristic conversion.
- FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an imaging apparatus 1 according to the present invention.
- the imaging apparatus 1 includes an imaging element 2 that receives incident light through a lens group 10 and a diaphragm 11.
- the lens group 10 and the diaphragm 11 conventionally known lenses are used.
- the imaging device 2 has a plurality of pixels G11 to Gmn (where n and m are integers of 1 or more) arranged in a matrix (matrix arrangement).
- Each of the pixels Gll to Gmn photoelectrically converts incident light and outputs an electrical signal. These pixels Gll to Gmn are configured to switch the conversion mode to an electric signal based on the amount of incident light.
- the amount of incident light is less than th.
- the linear conversion mode for linearly converting the incident light is performed for the incident light amount
- the logarithmic conversion mode for logarithmically converting the incident light is performed for the incident light amount equal to or greater than the predetermined incident light amount th.
- the boundary at which the linear conversion mode and the logarithmic conversion mode are switched, the so-called inflection point varies depending on the driving conditions of the pixels Gll to Gmn in the image sensor 2, for example, the exposure time and the control voltage at the time of photographing. It is like that.
- the output signal value at the inflection point (hereinafter referred to as inflection output) decreases as the exposure time decreases in the order of ⁇ tl '' to ⁇ t3 ''.
- Signal value H) and the predetermined incident light quantity th increase in the order of “I” to “III”. Further, as shown in FIG.
- the transformed output signal values H of the pixels Gll to Gmn increase in the order of “IV” to “VI”. 4 and 5, “al” to “a3”, “b” to “d”, “a”, and “dl” to “d3” are constants.
- the slopes al to a3 of the input / output characteristics in the linear conversion mode under the driving conditions of the exposure times tl to t3 are proportional to the exposure times tl to t3.
- the intercepts dl to d3 of the input / output characteristics in the logarithmic conversion mode under the driving conditions of the control voltages V1 to V3 are proportional to the control voltages V1 to V3.
- the exposure time tl when the predetermined incident light amount th is the smallest, that is, when the ratio of the logarithmic conversion mode in which the linear conversion mode is performed is the smallest is the reference exposure time.
- a filter (not shown) of any one of red, green and blue is arranged on the lens group 10 side of these pixels Gll to Gmn.
- a power line 20 signal application lines LA1 to LAn, LB1 to: LBn, LCl to LCn, and signal readout lines LD1 to LDm are connected to the pixels Gll to Gmn.
- lines Gll to Gmn are also connected to clock lines, bias supply lines, and the like. These are not shown in FIG.
- Signal application lines LAl to LAn, LB1 to: LBn, LCI to LCn give signals ⁇ V and ⁇ VPS (see FIG. 6) to pixels Gll to Gmn!
- a vertical scanning circuit 21 is connected to these signal application lines LA1 to LAn, LB1 to LBn, and LCl to LCn.
- the vertical scanning circuit 21 applies signals to the signal application lines LAl to LAn, LB1 to LBn, and LCl to LCn based on signals from a signal generation unit 48 (see FIG. 1) described later.
- the target signal application lines LAl to LAn, LBl to LBn, and LCl to LCn are sequentially switched in the X direction.
- the electrical signals generated by the pixels Gll to Gmn are derived from the signal readout lines LDl to LDm. Constant current sources Dl to Dm and selection circuits Sl to Sm are connected to these signal readout lines LDl to LDm.
- a DC voltage VPS is applied to one end (lower end in the figure) of the constant current sources Dl to Dm.
- the selection circuits Sl to Sm sample-hold the noise signals given from the pixels Gll to Gmn and the electrical signals at the time of imaging through the signal readout lines LD1 to LDm.
- a horizontal scanning circuit 22 and a correction circuit 23 are connected to these selection circuits Sl to Sm.
- the horizontal scanning circuit 22 sequentially switches the selection circuits Sl to Sm for sampling and holding the electric signal and transmitting it to the correction circuit 23 in the Y direction. Further, the correction circuit 23 removes the electric signal force noise signal based on the noise signal transmitted from the selection circuits Sl to Sm and the electric signal at the time of imaging.
- the selection circuits Sl to Sm and the correction circuit 23 those disclosed in the publication of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-223948 can be used. Further, in the present embodiment, one correction circuit 23 is provided for each of the force selection circuits Sl to Sm, which is described as providing only one correction circuit 23 for the entire selection circuits S1 to Sm. It's also good.
- a black reference setting unit 14 and a signal processing unit 3 are connected to the above image pickup device 2 via an amplifier 12 and an AD converter 13 in this order.
- the black reference setting unit 14 sets a minimum level of the digital signal.
- the signal processing unit 3 performs signal processing on the electrical signal output from the image sensor 2 in the logarithmic conversion mode, and includes a linearity unit 31 and a fluctuation correction unit 30.
- the linearizer 31 is a characteristic converter in the present invention, and unifies the output signal from the image sensor 2 into a state derived from the linear conversion mode.
- the linear input unit 31 includes a selector 31b, a reference conversion table 3la, and an output unit 31c.
- the AD converter 13 and the control device 46 are not shown.
- the selector 31b determines the magnitude of the electric signal from the image sensor 2 and the inflection output signal value H, and if the electric signal from the image sensor 2 is greater than the inflection output signal value H, that is, When the electrical signal derived from the logarithmic conversion mode is output from the image sensor 2, the output signal from the image sensor 2 is output to the reference conversion table 31a. When the inflection output signal value is H or less, the output section Output to 31c.
- the electric signal derived from the logarithmic conversion mode among the electric signals output from the image sensor 2 is linearly converted from the incident light. That is, the characteristic is converted to a state derived from the linear conversion mode.
- This standard conversion table When the driving condition of the image sensor 2 is a predetermined reference condition, in the present embodiment, the conversion characteristics of the image sensor 2 when the exposure time of the pixels Gll to Gmn is the reference exposure time tl. Is set so that the electrical signal output in the logarithmic conversion mode is exactly derived from the linear conversion mode.
- the output unit 31c outputs an electrical signal input from the selector 31b or the reference conversion table 31a.
- the fluctuation correction unit 30 is used when the input / output characteristics of the image sensor 2 fluctuate due to the driving conditions of the image sensor 2 and, in the present embodiment, the exposure times of the pixels G11 to G ⁇ . The fluctuation correction of the electric signal output from the image sensor 2 is performed.
- the fluctuation correcting unit 30 includes a coefficient deriving unit 32 and an arithmetic processing unit 33.
- the coefficient deriving unit 32 determines the pixel Gll to Gmn based on the exposure time information about the exposure times of the pixels Gll to Gmn and the pixel information about the pixels Gll to Gmn!
- the correction coefficients ⁇ 11 to a mn are derived, and in the present embodiment, a lookup table 32a for calculating the correction coefficients a 11 to a mn by inputting exposure time information and pixel information is provided.
- pixel information unique information such as ID numbers of the pixels Gll to Gmn, position information in the image sensor, and the like are used.
- the arithmetic processing unit 33 is based on the correction coefficients a 11 to a mn derived by the coefficient deriving unit 32. , The variation correction is performed for each of the pixels Gl 1 to Gmn.
- the correction coefficients a 11 to ⁇ are calculated from the electrical signals output from the pixels Gl 1 to Gmn in the logarithmic conversion mode. It is designed to subtract. As a result, the fluctuation-corrected electrical signal derived from the logarithmic conversion mode can be accurately converted into an electrical signal derived from the linear conversion mode by the reference conversion table 31a.
- an electrical signal in which the pixels Gl 1 to Gmn force are also output in the logarithmic conversion mode under the driving condition of the exposure time t2 (see FIG. 4).
- the signal value of is X2.
- the signal value X2 derived from the logarithmic conversion mode is accurately converted into an electric signal derived from the linear conversion mode, that is, when the signal value X2 is subjected to characteristic conversion using the virtual conversion table.
- the output signal value after characteristic conversion is Y2.
- the signal value after characteristic conversion is Y1
- an inflection signal deriving unit 34 and an image processing unit 4 are connected to the signal processing unit 3.
- the inflection signal deriving unit 34 derives the inflection output signal value H based on the exposure time information and the pixel information.
- the inflection signal deriving unit 34 includes a Rukkua Pputeburu 34 a to derive the inflection output signal value H by the input of the exposure time information and pixel information, Ru.
- the image processing unit 4 performs image processing on image data constituted by the entire electrical signals from the pixels Gll to Gmn.
- the AWB (Auto White Balance) processing unit 40, A color interpolation unit 41, a color correction unit 42, a gradation conversion unit 43, and a color space conversion unit 44 are provided.
- the AWB processing unit 40, the color interpolation unit 41, the color correction unit 42, the gradation conversion unit 43, and the color space conversion unit 44 are connected to the signal processing unit 3 in this order.
- the AWB processing unit 40 performs white balance processing on the image data. Based on the electrical signals from a plurality of neighboring pixels provided with the same color filter, the intervening section 41 interpolates the electrical signals of this color for the pixels located between these neighboring pixels.
- the color correction unit 42 corrects the hue of the image data. More specifically, the color correction unit 42 corrects the electrical signal of each color for each of the pixels Gll to Gmn based on the electrical signals of other colors.
- the gradation conversion unit 43 performs gradation conversion of image data, and the color space conversion unit 44 converts RGB signals into YCbCr signals.
- the signal processing unit 3 is connected to the evaluation value calculating unit 5 and the control device 46 in this order.
- the evaluation value calculation unit 5 uses an AWB evaluation value used for white balance processing (AWB processing) in the AWB processing unit 40 and an AE used for exposure control processing (AE processing) in the exposure control processing unit 47. An evaluation value is calculated.
- ABB processing white balance processing
- AE processing exposure control processing
- the control device 46 controls each part of the imaging device 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the amplifier 12, the black reference setting unit 14, the signal processing unit 3, the inflection signal deriving unit 34, The AWB processing unit 40, the color interpolation unit 41, the color correction unit 42, the gradation conversion unit 43, and the color space conversion unit 44 are connected.
- the control device 46 is connected to the diaphragm 11 via the exposure control processing unit 47 and is connected to the image sensor 2 and the AD converter 13 via the signal generation unit 48.
- each of the pixels Gll to Gmn includes a photodiode P and transistors T1 to T3.
- the transistors ⁇ 1 to ⁇ 3 are ⁇ -channel MOS transistors whose back gates are grounded.
- a signal application line LC (corresponding to LCl to LCn in Fig. 2) is connected to the source T1S of the transistor T1, and the signal ⁇ VPS is also input to this signal application line LC force.
- the signal ⁇ VPS is a binary voltage signal, and more specifically, the voltage value VH for operating the transistor T1 in the subthreshold region when the incident light intensity exceeds a predetermined value, and It takes two values, the voltage value VL that turns on the transistor Tl.
- a DC voltage VPD is applied to the drain T2D of the transistor T2, and the source T2S of the transistor T2 is connected to the drain T3D of the row selection transistor T3.
- a signal application line LA (corresponding to LAI to LAn in FIG. 2) is connected to the gate T3G of the transistor T3, and the signal ⁇ V is also input to the signal marking caroline LA force.
- the source T3S of the transistor T3 is connected to the signal readout line LD (corresponding to LD1 to LDm in FIG. 2).
- pixels Gll to Gmn as described above those disclosed in JP-A-2002-77733 can be used.
- the proportion of the linear conversion mode increases as the exposure time decreases.
- the potential between the gate T2G and the source T2S of the transistor T2 decreases as the exposure time decreases. This is because the ratio of the subject brightness at which the transistor T2 operates in the cutoff state, that is, the ratio of the subject brightness to be linearly converted, increases.
- the subject to be linearly converted when the control voltage for the image sensor 2 that is, the difference between the voltage values VL and VH of the signal ⁇ VPS is large or the temperature is low. The ratio of luminance increases.
- the dynamic range of the image signal, the predetermined incident light quantity th at the inflection point, and the inflection output signal value H can be controlled by changing the control voltage, exposure time, temperature, and the like. Specifically, for example, when the luminance range of the subject is narrow, the voltage value VL is lowered to widen the luminance range for linear conversion, and when the subject luminance range is wide, the voltage value VL is increased. By expanding the luminance range for logarithmic conversion, the photoelectric conversion characteristics of the pixels Gll to Gmn can be matched to the characteristics of the subject. Further, when the voltage value VL is minimized, the pixels Gll to Gmn are always linearly converted, and when the voltage value VL is maximized, the pixels Gll to Gmn are always logarithmically converted.
- the image sensor 2 photoelectrically converts incident light to the pixels Gll to Gmn, and outputs an electrical signal derived from the linear conversion mode or logarithmic conversion mode as an analog signal. Specifically, as described above, when each of the pixels Gll to Gmn outputs an electrical signal to the signal readout line LD, this occurs.
- the constant current source D amplifies the electric signal, and the selection circuit S samples and holds the signal sequentially. Then, when the sampled and held electric signal is sent from the selection circuit S to the correction circuit 23, the correction circuit 23 removes noise and outputs the electric signal.
- the amplifier 12 amplifies the analog signal output from the image sensor 2, and the AD comparator 13 converts the analog signal into a digital signal.
- the digital signal is transmitted to the linearization unit 31 and the fluctuation correction unit 30 of the signal processing unit 3 as shown in FIG. T1, step Ul).
- the control device 46 transmits the exposure time information and pixel information of each pixel Gll to Gmn of the image sensor 2 to the fluctuation correction unit 30 and the inflection signal deriving unit 34 (Step U1, Step Sl).
- the inflection signal deriving unit 34 derives the inflection output signal value H by the lookup table 34a (step S2), and linearizes with the variation correcting unit 30.
- the data is transmitted to the selector 31b of the unit 31 (step S3).
- the lookup table 34a derives the inflection output signal value H based on the exposure time and the pixel information, so that the inflection output signal value H is accurately derived.
- the configuration of the inflection signal deriving unit 34 is simplified and the derivation process is speeded up as compared with the case of deriving by calculation.
- the variation correction unit 30 Upon receiving the inflection output signal value H from the inflection signal deriving unit 34 (step U2), the variation correction unit 30 receives the signal value of the output signal from the pixels Gll to Gmn and the inflection output signal value H. If the signal value of the output signal of the pixel Gll to Gmn force is less than or equal to the inflection output signal value H, that is, the output signal of the pixel Gll to Gmn force is an electrical signal derived from the linear conversion mode. If (step U3; Yes), the fluctuation correction unit 30 ends the process.
- the fluctuation correction unit 30 uses the look-up table 32a for each of the pixels Gll to Gmn.
- the correction coefficients ⁇ 11 to ⁇ ⁇ are derived from (Step U4), the fluctuation correction is performed for each pixel Gll to Gmn by the arithmetic processing unit 33 (Step U5), and the electric signal after the fluctuation correction is linearized. Send to 31 selectors 3 lb (step U6).
- the fluctuation correction unit 30 performs, even when the input / output characteristics fluctuate depending on the driving conditions, the deviation between the output value at the reference exposure time tl and the actual output value of the pixels Gll to Gmn is corrected. Further, since the coefficient deriving unit 32 derives the correction coefficients ⁇ 11 to mn based on the exposure time and pixel information at the time of imaging, the arithmetic processing unit 33 uses the derived correction coefficients a 11 to a mn.
- the selector 31b of the linear shape unit 31 changes the signal values of the output signals from the pixels Gll to Gmn.
- the output signal from the pixels Gll to Gmn is less than or equal to the inflection output signal value H (step T3; Yes)
- the magnitude is compared with the music output signal value H (step T3).
- the output signals from the pixels Gll to Gmn are output as they are (step T4).
- the selector 31b receives the electric signal after fluctuation correction from the fluctuation correction unit 30 (step T5 Then, after the characteristic conversion is performed on the electric signal in the reference conversion table 31a (step T6), the electric signal is output via the output unit 3lc (step T7).
- the characteristic conversion is performed only when the output signal of the pixels Gll to Gmn is an electric signal derived from the logarithmic conversion mode. Therefore, when the output signal is an electric signal derived from the linear conversion mode, that is, When it is not necessary to convert the electrical signal derived from the logarithmic conversion mode to the state derived from the other conversion mode, characteristic conversion is not performed wastefully, and as a result, the signal processing is speeded up.
- the evaluation value calculation unit 5 performs the AW Calculate B evaluation value and AE evaluation value.
- control device 46 controls the exposure control processing unit 47 to adjust the exposure amount for the image sensor 2.
- control device 46 controls the AWB processing unit 40 based on the AWB evaluation value, the minimum level set by the black reference setting unit 14, and the image output from the signal processing unit 3. White balance processing is performed on the data.
- the imaging apparatus 1 described above even when the input / output characteristics fluctuate depending on the driving conditions, unlike the conventional case, the deviation between the output value at the reference exposure time tl and the actual output value is corrected. Therefore, it is possible to unify the electric signal accurately to the state derived from the linear conversion mode by the characteristic conversion in the linear key section 31.
- the variation correction unit 30 in the present modification example is configured to output the electric power output from the pixels Gll to Gmn when the input / output characteristics of the pixels Gll to Gmn vary due to the control voltages of the pixels Gll to Gmn. It is now possible to compensate for signal fluctuations!
- the coefficient deriving unit 32 of the fluctuation correcting unit 30 uses the control voltage VI when the predetermined incident light amount th is the smallest as the reference control voltage, as shown in FIGS.
- the control voltage VI On the input axis (X axis in Fig. 8 (b)) of the virtual conversion table corresponding to the drive condition of the control voltage V2 (variable) and the reference conversion table 3 la corresponding to the drive condition of the reference control voltage VI
- the fluctuation correcting unit 30 is disposed in the subsequent stage of the force described as being disposed in the preceding stage of the linearizing unit 31.
- the coefficient deriving unit 30 may be provided before the linearizing unit 31, and the arithmetic processing unit 33 may be provided after the linearizing unit 31.
- the exposure time and the control voltage have been described as the driving conditions for the image sensor 2, but the temperature may be used.
- the fluctuation correction unit 30 has been described as including the arithmetic processing unit 33 for deriving the electric signal after fluctuation correction.
- the driving condition, the pixel information, the electric signal output from the image sensor 2, and the like It is also possible to provide a lookup table for deriving the electric signal after fluctuation correction by input. In this case, the same effect as that of the above embodiment can be obtained, and the configuration of the fluctuation correction unit 30 can be simplified as compared with the case where the electric signal after fluctuation correction is derived by calculation. it can.
- the coefficient deriving unit 32 is common to the pixels Gll Gmn based only on the force driving conditions described as deriving the correction coefficient ⁇ 11 for each pixel Gll Gmn based on the driving conditions and pixel information.
- the correction coefficient ⁇ may be derived.
- the coefficient deriving unit 32 may include an arithmetic unit that derives the correction coefficient based on an input such as a driving condition.
- the characteristic conversion unit performs linear conversion of an electrical signal derived from the logarithmic conversion mode.
- the linear key 31 is used to convert the characteristic to the state generated by the above, but the electric signal derived from the linear conversion mode may be converted to the characteristic derived from the logarithmic conversion mode.
- the inflection signal deriving unit 34 has been described as deriving the inflection output signal value H based on the driving condition and the pixel information, it may be derived based only on the driving condition. .
- the inflection signal deriving unit 34 has been described as including the lookup table 34a for deriving the inflection output signal value H.
- the inflection signal deriving unit 34 may include an arithmetic unit for deriving the inflection output signal value H.
- linearization units 31 and 36 have been described as performing characteristic conversion using the reference conversion table 31a, but may be performed by calculation such as exponential conversion.
- pixels Gll to Gmn can be switched between the power linear conversion mode and the logarithmic conversion mode described as having the configuration shown in FIG. 6, for example, the configuration shown in Patent Document 1 described above It is good also as having.
- RGB filters such as cyan, magenta, and yellow described as providing RGB filters for each of the pixels Gll to Gmn may be provided.
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US11/883,898 US7916197B2 (en) | 2005-02-10 | 2006-02-02 | Imaging device |
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US5047861A (en) * | 1990-07-31 | 1991-09-10 | Eastman Kodak Company | Method and apparatus for pixel non-uniformity correction |
JPH0530350A (ja) | 1991-07-18 | 1993-02-05 | Minolta Camera Co Ltd | 固体撮像装置 |
US6697112B2 (en) * | 1998-11-18 | 2004-02-24 | Intel Corporation | Imaging system having multiple image capture modes |
US7667760B2 (en) * | 2002-05-02 | 2010-02-23 | Honda Giken Kogyp Kabushiki Kaisha | Image sensor output correction device |
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JP4185771B2 (ja) * | 2002-12-27 | 2008-11-26 | シャープ株式会社 | 固体撮像装置 |
EP1475961B1 (en) * | 2003-05-06 | 2010-07-07 | STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited | Combined linear-logarithmic image sensor |
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2006
- 2006-02-02 US US11/883,898 patent/US7916197B2/en active Active
- 2006-02-02 JP JP2007502572A patent/JPWO2006085464A1/ja active Pending
- 2006-02-02 CN CN200680003816A patent/CN100579178C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2006-02-02 WO PCT/JP2006/301728 patent/WO2006085464A1/ja not_active Application Discontinuation
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JPH11211565A (ja) * | 1998-01-20 | 1999-08-06 | Honda Motor Co Ltd | 信号処理機能付き光センサ |
JPH11298799A (ja) * | 1998-04-15 | 1999-10-29 | Honda Motor Co Ltd | 光センサ信号処理装置 |
JP2000175108A (ja) * | 1998-12-04 | 2000-06-23 | Honda Motor Co Ltd | イメ―ジセンサの出力補正回路 |
WO2002045414A1 (fr) * | 2000-12-01 | 2002-06-06 | Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Dispositif permettant de corriger la sortie d'un capteur d'images |
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WO2003026282A1 (fr) * | 2001-09-13 | 2003-03-27 | Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Dispositif d'imagerie d'evenement haute vitesse |
JP2004088312A (ja) * | 2002-08-26 | 2004-03-18 | Minolta Co Ltd | 撮像装置 |
JP2004356866A (ja) * | 2003-05-28 | 2004-12-16 | Minolta Co Ltd | 撮像装置 |
Also Published As
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US20090153713A1 (en) | 2009-06-18 |
CN101112081A (zh) | 2008-01-23 |
US7916197B2 (en) | 2011-03-29 |
CN100579178C (zh) | 2010-01-06 |
JPWO2006085464A1 (ja) | 2008-06-26 |
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