Imaging Element Power Stabilization via Blanking Period Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
In imaging devices, particularly in endoscopes, power consumption fluctuations during the imaging signal period cause voltage fluctuations, leading to image distortion, and existing solutions like load circuits generate excessive heat, degrading image quality.
Innovation Solution
An imaging element with a reference voltage generator and phase adjusting signal generator stabilizes power source voltage by transmitting phase adjusting signals and reference signals during blanking periods, ensuring consistent power consumption and reducing heat generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a load circuit is provided to supply current during low power consumption periods, then power source voltage fluctuation is suppressed, but heat generation increases degrading image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the load circuit function from the imaging element chip and relocates it to an external device. The imaging element transmits phase adjusting signals and reference signals during blanking periods to an external device, which then generates the load current. This separation removes the heat-generating load circuit from the imaging element, solving the contradiction between voltage stability and heat generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an external device as an intermediary between the imaging element and the load circuit. The imaging element communicates timing and reference information to the external device, which then generates and supplies the load current. This intermediary approach allows the imaging element to control power consumption stabilization without directly generating heat.
2Use of energy by moving object
If power consumption is reduced during blanking period, then energy efficiency is improved, but power source voltage fluctuates causing image distortion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by transmitting phase adjusting signals and reference signals during blanking periods at specific intervals. This periodic transmission ensures that the external device can generate load current at appropriate times to counteract power consumption drops, maintaining voltage stability without continuous energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by transmitting phase adjusting signals and reference signals before the imaging signal period begins. This allows the external device to prepare and generate the necessary load current in advance, ensuring power source voltage stability is maintained when imaging starts, preventing image distortion.
3Reliability
If phase adjusting signals and reference signals are transmitted during blanking period, then power source voltage is stabilized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by using the existing signal transmission infrastructure for multiple purposes. The phase adjusting signals and reference signals transmitted during blanking periods serve both timing synchronization functions and power consumption stabilization functions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated circuits, minimizing the increase in device complexity.
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 effectively suppresses power source voltage fluctuations and improves image quality by maintaining stable power consumption and reducing heat-related degradation, making it suitable for endoscope applications.
Implementation Method 1
a signal charge corresponding to the light amount is accumulated in a charge converter of each pixel unit cell... each unit pixel includes a photodiode
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging element includes: a plurality of pixels; first vertical transfer lines; a second vertical transfer line; a reference voltage generator configured to generate a first reference voltage for a column-black reference signal, a second reference voltage for a line-black reference signal and a third reference voltage for phase adjustment; a phase adjusting signal generator configured to output a phase adjusting signal corresponding to the third reference voltage; a first reference signal generator configured to generate a column-black reference signal corresponding to the first reference voltage; a second reference signal generator configured to generate a line-black reference signal corresponding to the second reference voltage; and a timing generator configured to drive the phase adjusting signal generator, the first reference signal generator and the second reference signal generator to transmit the phase adjusting signal, the column-black reference signal and the line-black reference signal, respectively.