Image Sensor Pulse Generator Circuit for Synchronized Timing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image sensors face challenges in synchronizing timing control for flash and optical systems due to independent design and manufacturing of semiconductor devices, leading to potential noise in control signals and degraded image quality.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a pulse generator circuit within the solid-state image pickup device to generate reference timing for control signals, including electronic shutter, optical system movement, and flash pulses, thereby reducing noise and ensuring synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If reference timing is generated by DSP in accordance with image signal from solid-state image pickup device, then control signals can be generated for lens movement, flash emission timing, electronic shutter function, and mechanical shutter operation, but timing noises are likely to be generated on the reference timing due to noises in the image signal
Solution Approach 1:
A pulse generator circuit is introduced as an intermediary component between the solid-state image pickup device and the DSP. This pulse generator circuit generates reference timing signals based on clock signals rather than image signals, thereby mediating the timing generation process to eliminate noise propagation while maintaining synchronized control of lens movement, flash emission, electronic shutter, and mechanical shutter operations.
2Reliability
If image sensor is incorporated into electronic shutter for controlling accumulation time of signal charges, then imaging result without blur can be obtained for fast moving objects, but synchronization of timing control for flash and optical system becomes difficult due to independent design and manufacturing of semiconductor devices
Solution Approach 1:
The pulse generator circuit merges multiple timing control functions (electronic shutter control, optical system movement control, and flash pulse control) into a single integrated component within the solid-state image pickup device. This consolidation enables synchronized timing control for all functions while maintaining the electronic shutter capability for capturing fast moving objects without blur, effectively reducing the complexity of coordinating independently designed semiconductor devices.
Data Source
AI summary
An image sensor includes a solid-state image pickup device, an optical system, and a flash. The solid-state image pickup device has an electronic shutter function of outputting accumulated signal charges at a timing corresponding to a shutter speed. The optical system collects incident light to an image pickup area of the solid-state image pickup device. The flash irradiates light to an object to be photographed by the solid-state image pickup device. The solid-state image pickup device includes a pulse generator circuit for generating one or more of an electronic shutter pulse for controlling an accumulation time of signal charges by using the electronic shutter function, an optical system movement pulse for controlling movement of the optical system, and a flash pulse for controlling an emission timing of the flash.