Image Sensor Signal Line Defect Correction via Preliminary Action
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Image capturing apparatuses face challenges in handling defects caused by short-circuited signal lines, which can lead to mixed signals and affect the quality of parallax images, making it difficult to perform processes like focusing or generating virtual viewpoint images.
Innovation Solution
An image capturing apparatus that includes a reading unit for separate signal readout from photoelectric conversion elements, a correction unit to address defective signal lines, and a generation unit to create a corrected image file, allowing for the reduction of defects in parallax images and improved image processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If signals from multiple photoelectric conversion elements are read out separately via a common signal line, then individual signal quality is improved, but signal line defects cause mixing and reduce reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting defective signal lines before they affect image processing. The system performs a test reading operation to identify defective signal lines in advance, stores defect information, and then uses this information to exclude defective signals from subsequent parallax image generation and processing. This prevents defect propagation while maintaining the benefits of separate signal readout.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes defective signals from the image processing pipeline. By identifying signals from pixels with defective signal lines and excluding them from parallax image generation and processing, the system separates good signals from bad signals. This ensures that only reliable signals contribute to the final image quality and processing accuracy.
2Productivity
If defective signals are included in parallax image processing, then processing speed is maintained, but image quality and processing accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs defect detection in advance through a test reading operation before actual image processing. By pre-identifying defective signal lines and storing their locations, the system avoids the need for complex real-time defect detection during processing. This preliminary action maintains processing speed while ensuring accuracy by excluding known defective signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using defect detection results to guide subsequent image processing operations. The system feeds back the defect information to the image processing unit, which then adjusts its operations to exclude defective signals. This feedback mechanism ensures high processing accuracy without significantly impacting processing speed, as the defect information is reused across multiple processing stages.
3Device complexity
If a simple reading operation is performed without defect detection, then device complexity is reduced, but defect influence on images increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a preliminary defect detection step that identifies defective signal lines before they affect image quality. By performing this simple test reading operation and storing defect information, the system prevents defect propagation throughout the imaging process. The added complexity is minimal and focused solely on defect identification, while the benefit is significant reduction in defect influence on final images.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces defect information as an intermediary element between the signal reading operation and image processing. This intermediary data structure stores locations of defective signal lines and is used by subsequent processing stages to exclude defective signals. The intermediary approach adds minimal complexity while effectively blocking the transmission of defect influence from signal lines to final images.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces the influence of defects on recorded parallax images and enhances image processing quality by correcting defective signals and excluding them from calculations, thereby maintaining high accuracy and image quality.
Implementation Method 1
an image sensing device including a plurality of groups of pixels, each pixel of each group of pixels including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements
Data Source
AI summary
In an image capturing apparatus, an image sensing device includes a plurality of groups of pixels each including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, signals from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements being readable separately for each photoelectric conversion element via a signal line used in common by each group of pixels. A reading unit performs, on a plurality of groups of pixels, a reading-out operation to reading out a signal as a first signal from part of the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and a second reading-out operation to mix signals from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and read out a resultant mixed signal as an image signal. A generation unit generates one image file including the first signal, the image signal, and defect data indicating a group of pixels for which the first signal is defective while the image signal is not defective.