High dynamic range image sensor data output method and device

Abstract

The invention relates to a high dynamic range image sensor data output method and a device for realizing the method. The method realizes high and low gain channel judgment through an analog domain or digital domain threshold judgment unit and an identification bit unit integrated in the image sensor chip , when the high-gain data is less than or equal to the threshold, the high-gain data is valid; when the high-gain data is greater than the threshold, the low-gain data is valid; then the effective high-gain and low-gain digital data are added to the identification bit, and the effective high-gain and low-gain digital data are distinguished according to the identification bit , the effective low-gain digital data is multiplied by the synthesis coefficient to synthesize the HDR response curve together with the effective high-gain digital data. The invention reduces the image sensor data processing amount and transmission amount, improves output efficiency, reduces power consumption, reduces system complexity, and saves system resources. It can be widely used in image sensor designs utilizing high and low gain channels to achieve high dynamic range.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of semiconductor image sensing, and in particular relates to a high dynamic range image sensor data output method and device. Background technique [0002] Dynamic range (Dynamic Range, DR) is an important index to characterize the performance of image sensors. For traditional high dynamic range (High Dynamic Range, HDR) image sensors, the high and low gain raw analog data output by photosensitive pixels are directly input into the signal processing unit , the high-gain digital data (D_HG) and low-gain digital data (D_LG) are obtained through the process of signal amplification and analog-to-digital conversion, such as figure 1 shown. [0003] The output response diagram of the above two sets of data with different gains is shown in Figure 1. The high-gain digital data can record the details of the dark part of the scene well because of its high gain, but it is easy to reach saturation; while the low-gain d...

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Problems solved by technology

[0011] The disadvantage of this method of synthesizing high dynamic range images is that it is necessary to output all the high and low gain digital data on the chip, and the output data is not all valid, which reduces the sensor data transmission efficiency and increases the system power consumption; at the same time, it needs to be in the external system Judging and processing the data increases the complexity of the system and occupies system resources

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