Imaging Device Drive Mode Switching with Overlapping Scans
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging devices lack the ability to switch to a drive mode with a different readout period when continuously acquiring images, leading to ineffective data due to uneven charge accumulation periods across rows.
Innovation Solution
An imaging device with a scanning unit that controls pixels to perform shutter and readout scans based on synchronization signals, allowing switching between drive modes with different readout periods, ensuring the shutter scan in the second drive mode starts before the readout scan in the first drive mode ends.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the readout scan cycle is kept constant regardless of drive mode, then the charge accumulation period remains even across rows, but the device cannot switch to drive modes with different readout periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the readout scan cycle dynamic by allowing it to change according to the drive mode. The control unit adjusts the cycle length of readout scans based on whether the device is in a first drive mode or a second drive mode, enabling adaptation to different operational requirements while maintaining proper charge accumulation timing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temporal parameter (cycle length) of the readout scan operation to accommodate different drive modes. By varying the cycle length according to the selected drive mode, the system achieves versatility in operational modes while preventing ineffective data through proper synchronization of charge accumulation periods.
2Productivity
If the shutter scan is started before the previous readout scan ends during drive mode switching, then continuous image acquisition is maintained, but charge accumulation periods may become uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary adjustment of the readout scan cycle length before switching drive modes. By pre-calculating and setting the appropriate cycle length for the target drive mode, the system ensures that charge accumulation periods remain even when the shutter scan overlaps with the previous readout scan, maintaining both continuity and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit monitors the timing relationship between shutter scan and readout scan operations, and adjusts the readout scan cycle length accordingly to maintain proper charge accumulation timing. This feedback mechanism ensures that even during drive mode transitions with overlapping operations, the charge accumulation periods remain uniform across all rows.
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 approach maintains even charge accumulation periods across rows, preventing ineffective data and reducing the risk of delays or reduced accumulation periods when switching drive modes, thereby enhancing image acquisition efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
each of the plurality of pixels including a photoelectric conversion unit configured to generate and accumulate charges by photoelectric conversion
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an imaging device including a scanning unit configured to control a plurality of pixels so as to perform a shutter scan and a readout scan, and the scanning unit is further configured to switch a drive mode between a first drive mode and a second drive mode having periods of different lengths of the readout scan in control of the plurality of pixels and start the shutter scan performed in the second drive mode before the readout scan performed in the first drive mode ends when switching a drive mode from the first drive mode to the second drive mode.