Imaging Apparatus Nondestructive Readout Amplifier Settling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Imaging apparatuses that nondestructively read electric signals from pixels in a row multiple times face challenges in ensuring sufficient settling time for the output amplifier, leading to potential image artifacts, especially at high scanning speeds.
Innovation Solution
The imaging apparatus includes a control unit that executes nondestructive readout processing multiple times for pixels in one row and resets the output amplifier during these processes, ensuring sufficient settling time to inhibit image artifacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple nondestructive readout processing is performed for pixels in one row during a period when pixels in the row are being selected, then image quality and dynamic range are improved, but the settling time of the output amplifier becomes insufficient, causing image artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit executes nondestructive readout processing a plurality of times for pixels of a first row before executing the same for pixels of a second row. This preliminary completion of readout for one row ensures the output amplifier is properly reset and settled before switching to the next row, preventing image artifacts while maintaining multiple readout capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the readout process into separate segments for different rows. By completing multiple nondestructive readouts for pixels of a first row before moving to a second row, the system segments the readout operations temporally and spatially, ensuring adequate settling time for each segment while maintaining overall efficiency
2Productivity
If scanning speed is increased to improve productivity, then processing time is reduced, but the output amplifier does not have sufficient settling time, leading to image artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs nondestructive readout processing a plurality of times for pixels of a first row before transitioning to the second row. This preliminary completion ensures the output amplifier is fully reset and settled before the next scanning cycle begins, allowing high scanning speeds without compromising signal accuracy or introducing artifacts
3Reliability
If requested reference voltage is supplied continuously to reset the output amplifier, then image artifacts are reduced, but the settling time becomes significantly insufficient at high scanning speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit executes nondestructive readout processing a plurality of times for pixels of a first row before moving to the second row. This preliminary action completes the reset and settling process for the output amplifier before the next scanning cycle, eliminating the need for continuous reference voltage supply while maintaining adequate settling time even at high scanning speeds
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging apparatus includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix form, each pixel being configured to generate an electric signal, and each being configured such that the electric signal can be read out nondestructively, an output amplifier configured to sequentially output electric signals read out nondestructively from the plurality of pixels, and a control unit configured to, in a period when electric signals for one frame of image data are being read out nondestructively from the plurality of pixels, execute nondestructive readout processing a plurality of times for reading out electric signals nondestructively from pixels in a first row, and execute nondestructive readout processing a plurality of times for reading out electric signals nondestructively from pixels in a second row adjacent to the first row. In this case, the control unit resets the output amplifier in a period when the nondestructive readout processing is performed a plurality of times on the pixels of the first row.