Image Sensor Merging Image Capture and Illuminance Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image sensors require separate units for capturing images and measuring illuminance, leading to increased size and manufacturing costs, as they struggle to simultaneously capture images and measure ambient light without altering parameters.
Innovation Solution
An image sensor with a single sensing unit that generates both image and illuminance data based on pixel data from a pixel array, utilizing a spectrum response compensation unit, automatic exposure adjustment, and calculation unit to produce illuminance data proportional to luminance values and inversely proportional to exposure time, allowing simultaneous image capture and ambient light measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate units are used for capturing images and measuring illuminance, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the image capture function and illuminance measurement function into a single sensor unit. The pixel array simultaneously performs both functions by capturing incident light signals that contain both image information and ambient light information, eliminating the need for separate sensing units and reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The pixel array is designed to perform multiple functions: it captures images of objects and measures illuminance of ambient light simultaneously. This multi-functional design allows a single unit to replace what would traditionally require separate dedicated units, reducing overall sensor complexity while preserving both measurement precisions
2Reliability
If separate units are used for capturing images and measuring illuminance, then functional reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By combining image capture and illuminance measurement into a single pixel array, the patent reduces the number of components that need to be manufactured and assembled. This merging approach simplifies the manufacturing process and reduces costs while maintaining functional reliability through software-based separation of functions
Solution Approach 2:
The universal pixel array design allows a single component to serve multiple purposes, reducing the total bill of materials and manufacturing complexity. The same hardware infrastructure supports both image capture and illuminance measurement, improving ease of manufacture while maintaining reliable functionality through data processing separation
3Productivity
If the sensor captures both image and ambient light simultaneously, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to parameter interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the incident light signal into two distinct components: image information and ambient light information. By processing the pixel data through separate generation units (image data generation unit and illuminance data generation unit), the system simultaneously captures both types of information while maintaining measurement precision through functional separation in the data processing stage
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically processes pixel data to separate image and illuminance information based on the angle of view and exposure parameters. The illuminance data generation unit dynamically adjusts measurements based on the specific imaging conditions, allowing simultaneous capture while maintaining precision through adaptive processing
4Measurement precision
If full pixel data is processed for illuminance measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary pixel data for illuminance measurement from the full pixel array output. The illuminance data generation unit selectively processes relevant pixel values corresponding to ambient light, rather than processing all pixel data, thereby reducing computational load and power consumption while maintaining measurement precision through targeted data extraction
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
Enables the capture of images and measurement of ambient light without increasing sensor size or manufacturing costs, while reducing power consumption through effective pixel data processing and exposure control.
Implementation Method 1
The sensing unit includes a pixel array having a plurality of unit pixels, and generates a pixel data in response to an incident light signal
Data Source
AI summary
An image sensor includes a sensing device including a pixel array having a plurality of unit pixels, the sensing device being configured to generate pixel data in response to an incident light signal having information of an image of an object and information of an ambient light; an image data generation unit configured to generate image data corresponding to the object based on the pixel data; and an illuminance data generation unit configured to generate illuminance data corresponding to the ambient light based on the pixel data.