Diagonal Green Pixel Binning for Image Sensor Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pixel binning methods in image sensors often result in false colors and zigzag-shaped noise due to differing gap distances between sampling points.
Innovation Solution
The method involves selecting specific green, red, blue, and white pixels arranged in diagonal or rhombus patterns, performing diagonal or rhombus pixel binning operations, and generating binning pixels to reduce data output and alleviate noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional Bayer binning process is used to combine pixel signals, then data output is reduced, but false colors and zigzag-shaped noise occur in output images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using different binning patterns for different color channels. Green pixels use a diamond pattern (selecting every other pixel in both row and column directions), while red and blue pixels use a different pattern (selecting every other pixel in row direction but all pixels in column direction). This localized differentiation optimizes each color channel's contribution to the luminance signal while avoiding the false colors and zigzag noise that result from uniform binning approaches.
2Productivity
If pixel binning is performed to reduce data amount, then data efficiency improves, but image quality deteriorates due to noise and false colors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pixel array into different binning groups based on color channel and spatial position. Green pixels are segmented into diamond-pattern groups, while red and blue pixels are segmented into different groups. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each group's binning strategy, reducing overall data量 while maintaining image quality by preserving important spatial and color information through targeted selection of pixels for binning.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating an image sensor, the image sensor including a pixel array of a plurality of red pixels, a plurality of green pixels, a plurality of blue pixels, and a plurality of white pixels, includes selecting a first green pixel and a second green pixel arranged on a first axis parallel to a first diagonal direction, selecting a third green pixel and a fourth green pixel arranged on a second axis parallel to a second diagonal direction, generating a first green binning pixel by performing a first diagonal binning operation on the first green pixel and the second green pixel, generating a second green binning pixel by performing a second diagonal binning operation on the third green pixel and the fourth green pixel, and generating image data corresponding to the first green binning pixel and the second green binning pixel.