Looking for breakthrough ideas for innovation challenges? Try Patsnap Eureka!

Architectures for imager arrays and array cameras

an array camera and imager technology, applied in the field of imagers, can solve problems such as inability, and achieve the effect of reducing the input referred noise of the pixel outpu

Inactive Publication Date: 2012-01-19
FOTONATION CAYMAN LTD
View PDF15 Cites 241 Cited by
  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0064]In another embodiment, the floating diffusion capacitors of the first and second arrays of adjacent pixels are configured to minimize the input referred noise of the pixel outputs.

Problems solved by technology

As such, the sensor does not possess the ability to independently control the pixels within the image circle of each lens in the lens array.

Method used

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View more

Image

Smart Image Click on the blue labels to locate them in the text.
Viewing Examples
Smart Image
  • Architectures for imager arrays and array cameras
  • Architectures for imager arrays and array cameras
  • Architectures for imager arrays and array cameras

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

Embodiment Construction

[0097]Turning now to the drawings, architectures for imager arrays configured for use in array cameras in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. In many embodiments, a centralized controller on an imager array enables fine control of the capture time of each focal plane in the array. The term focal plane describes a two dimensional arrangement of pixels. Focal planes in an imager array are typically non-overlapping (i.e. each focal plane is located within a separate region on the imager array). The term imager is used to describe the combination of a focal plane and the control circuitry that controls the capture of image information using the pixels within the focal plane. In a number of embodiments, the focal planes of the imager array can be separately triggered. In several embodiments, the focal planes of the imager array utilize different integration times tailored to the capture band of the pixels within each focal plane. The capture band of a pixel typi...

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

PUM

No PUM Login to View More

Abstract

Architectures for imager arrays configured for use in array cameras in accordance with embodiments of the invention are described. One embodiment of the invention includes a plurality of focal planes, where each focal plane comprises a two dimensional arrangement of pixels having at least two pixels in each dimension and each focal plane is contained within a region of the imager array that does not contain pixels from another focal plane, control circuitry configured to control the capture of image information by the pixels within the focal planes, where the control circuitry is configured so that the capture of image information by the pixels in at least two of the focal planes is separately controllable, and sampling circuitry configured to convert pixel outputs into digital pixel data.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61 / 334,011 filed on May 12, 2010, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to imagers and more specifically to imager arrays used in array cameras.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]A sensor used in a conventional single sensor camera, typically includes a row controller and one or more column read-out circuits. In the context of the array of pixels in an imager, the term “row” is typically used to refer to a group of pixels that share a common control line(s) and the term “column” is a group of pixels that share a common read-out line(s). A number of array camera designs have been proposed that use either an array of individual cameras / sensors or a lens array focused on a single focal plane sensor. When multiple separate cameras are used in the implementation of an array camera, each camera has a separate I / ...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

Application Information

Patent Timeline
no application Login to View More
Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): H01L27/146
CPCH04N9/045H04N5/345H04N5/3742H04N5/3653H04N5/3745H04N5/378H04N25/44H04N25/41H04N25/672H04N25/704H04N25/767H04N25/77H04N25/75H04N25/134H04N25/00H04N23/90H04N25/40H04N23/13H04N23/951H04N25/78H04N25/772
Inventor PAIN, BEDABRATOMCMAHON, ANDREW KENNETH JOHN
Owner FOTONATION CAYMAN LTD
Who we serve
  • R&D Engineer
  • R&D Manager
  • IP Professional
Why Patsnap Eureka
  • Industry Leading Data Capabilities
  • Powerful AI technology
  • Patent DNA Extraction
Social media
Patsnap Eureka Blog
Learn More
PatSnap group products

Browse by: Latest US Patents, China's latest patents, Technical Efficacy Thesaurus, Application Domain, Technology Topic, Popular Technical Reports.

© 2024 PatSnap. All rights reserved.Legal|Privacy policy|Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement|Sitemap|About US| Contact US: help@patsnap.com