Local Exposure Sensor for Ghost Image Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
High dynamic range imaging sensors face challenges in maintaining image quality when objects or image sensors transition from dark to bright environments, leading to ghost image artifacts due to the miniaturization of electronic products.
Innovation Solution
A high dynamic range imaging sensor system with a pixel array, readout circuitry, function logic, and control circuitry, including normal and base pixels, uses an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) to convert analog signals to digital data and employs a ghost image remover to adjust exposure levels and eliminate ghost images by comparing pixel values to reference values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If high dynamic range imaging is implemented to capture images with a greater range of luminance levels, then the dynamic range performance is improved, but ghost image artifacts appear when objects transition from dark to bright environments
Solution Approach 1:
The pixel array is segmented into multiple pixel subarrays, with each subarray containing both normal pixels and base pixels. This segmentation allows different exposure levels to be applied to different segments simultaneously, enabling the system to capture both bright and dark regions without generating ghost images.
Solution Approach 2:
Different exposure levels are applied locally to different pixel subarrays based on their specific luminance conditions. Base pixels in darker regions use longer exposure times while normal pixels in brighter regions use shorter exposure times, optimizing image quality for each local area without affecting the entire array uniformly.
2Volume of moving object
If miniaturization of electronic products is pursued to improve portability, then device size is reduced, but maintaining high dynamic range imaging performance becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple pixel subarrays with different exposure characteristics are merged within a single compact pixel array. The integration of base pixels and normal pixels in specific patterns allows the miniaturized device to maintain high dynamic range capabilities by combining the advantages of both long and short exposure pixels in one compact structure.
3Measurement precision
If multiple exposure levels are applied to different pixel subarrays to improve dynamic range, then image quality across varying luminance levels is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pixel array structure inherently provides multiple exposure levels through its built-in base and normal pixels, eliminating the need for separate external imaging devices or complex post-processing systems. The dual-pixel architecture automatically captures images at different exposure levels simultaneously, reducing overall system complexity while improving image quality.
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
The system effectively removes ghost images by reconstructing pixel values, improving image quality across varying luminance levels and environments, thereby enhancing dynamic range performance.
Implementation Method 1
The readout circuitry has an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) associated to respective readout column to convert the analog image signal to digital image data
Implementation Method 2
The imaging lens directs light beams onto the image sensor. The light beams converted into electric signals by the image sensor to form an image
Data Source
AI summary
A high dynamic range imaging sensor includes a pixel array of pixel cells, a readout circuitry, a function logic and a control circuitry. Each pixel cell comprises one of a normal pixel and a base pixel, and each M rows by N columns pixels defines a pixel subarray. Each pixel subarray includes at least three normal pixels and at least one base pixel. The readout circuitry is coupled to read image data out from a plurality of pixels of the pixel array. The readout circuitry includes an Analog-to-Digital Converter associated to respective readout column. The function logic is coupled to receive the digital image data from the readout circuitry. The control circuitry is coupled to receive exposure levels from the function logic and to output each applied exposure level assigned to respective pixel subarray of the pixel array to control an exposure time of each pixel.