Image Sensor Integrity Monitoring Using Optically Dark Pixels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Avionic displays require high integrity monitoring to ensure safety-critical information is accurate, but existing methods are costly and time-consuming, and there is a need for efficient detection of image sensor data integrity to prevent misleading information.
Innovation Solution
An integrity monitor that utilizes optically dark pixels to analyze characteristics such as position and signal level to detect faults in image sensor data, allowing for mitigation of errors and ensuring high integrity of the image data before display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If optical stimulus injection methods are used to monitor integrity of image sensor data, then reliability of safety-critical information is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts a specific subset of pixels (optically dark pixels) from the complete image sensor data to serve as dedicated integrity monitoring elements. These extracted pixels are positioned at known locations and used exclusively for fault detection, separating the monitoring function from the main imaging function.
Solution Approach 2:
The optically dark pixels are pre-positioned in predetermined locations within the image sensor array before operation. Their positions and characteristics are known in advance, allowing the system to perform integrity checks without requiring real-time complex analysis or external test equipment.
2Device complexity
If optically dark pixels are cropped or discarded before transmission, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability of image sensor data integrity monitoring deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The optically dark pixels serve multiple functions: they are part of the image sensor data array and simultaneously function as dedicated integrity monitoring elements. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate test equipment while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The image sensor system performs its own integrity monitoring using the optically dark pixels that are already present in the sensor array. The system is self-sufficient, requiring no external optical stimulus injection or separate monitoring equipment, thereby maintaining both simplicity and reliability.
3Reliability
If comprehensive integrity testing is performed on all image sensor data, then reliability is improved, but processing time and productivity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of performing integrity testing on all pixels in the image sensor data, the system applies testing only to the specific optically dark pixels at predetermined positions. This partial action approach maintains reliability for the critical monitoring function while significantly reducing processing requirements compared to comprehensive testing.
Data Source
AI summary
An integrity monitor for monitoring integrity of image sensor data. The integrity monitor comprises an image sensor configured to generate image sensor data, wherein the image sensor data includes an image representative of a scene and a plurality of optically dark pixels in a predetermined position relative to the image. The integrity monitor further comprises a controller configured to: analyse (403) one or more characteristics of at least one of the plurality of optically dark pixels; and determine (405) a presence of a fault in the image sensor data based at least in part on the one or more characteristics of the at least one of the plurality of the optically dark pixels to be output to enable mitigation of the fault.