Pixel Determination Circuit for High-Speed Motion Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
CMOS cameras face limitations in high-speed motion capture due to high frame rates and resolution requirements, leading to inefficiencies in data processing and storage, as they produce intensity-based images with high redundancy, requiring significant computational power and bandwidth.
Innovation Solution
The image sensor outputs a stream of 'fast enough' pixels by filtering out redundant information and only transmitting pre-specified features of interest, using a pixel determination circuit to identify pixels meeting a pre-determined criterion, such as high-pass filtering and comparator thresholds, enabling high-speed pixel-parallel motion detection at the focal plane.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If CMOS cameras use sequential scanning with fixed integration interval to capture images, then image storage in matrix form is simplified and practical, but image processing efficiency deteriorates due to high redundancy in intensity-based images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential motion information from the full image data by using pixel-level circuits to detect and output only changing pixels. The pixel determination circuit identifies pixels that meet motion criteria (e.g., intensity change exceeding threshold) and outputs only those pixels along with their coordinates, eliminating redundant static information while preserving motion dynamics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the image processing task at the pixel level by implementing independent pixel-level circuits that operate in parallel. Each pixel cell has its own circuit to detect motion, allowing simultaneous processing of all pixels without sequential scanning. This segmentation enables efficient motion detection while reducing data volume for further processing.
2Speed
If CMOS cameras increase frame rate and resolution to capture high-speed motion, then motion capture capability is improved, but data processing cost and bandwidth requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary motion detection at the pixel level during the image capture process. Pixel-level circuits continuously monitor intensity changes and immediately identify pixels that meet motion criteria before the complete frame is processed. This preliminary action filters out redundant data early, reducing the amount of data that requires subsequent processing and transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only motion-relevant information from each pixel and outputs only those pixels that change between frames. By removing static pixels and keeping only dynamic ones, the system maintains high-speed motion capture capability while dramatically reducing data processing cost and bandwidth requirements compared to processing entire high-resolution frames.
3Loss of information
If CMOS cameras process entire frames sequentially before feature extraction, then complete image data is available, but computational power and processing time are consumed excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the computational task by implementing independent pixel-level circuits that process each pixel autonomously in parallel. Instead of processing entire frames sequentially, each pixel cell independently detects motion and outputs only when changes occur. This segmentation maintains complete image data availability for analysis while reducing computational power consumption through parallel processing and data reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The pixel-level circuits perform self-service by automatically detecting motion and generating output signals without requiring external processing. Each pixel cell monitors its own intensity changes and autonomously outputs when motion criteria are met, eliminating the need for centralized frame-by-frame processing and significantly reducing overall computational power consumption while preserving complete motion information.
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 reduces signal processing costs and eliminates the need for expensive hardware, allowing for real-time processing and wireless communication, while capturing high-speed motion with reduced data transmission, thus overcoming the trade-offs between frame-rate and image resolution.
Implementation Method 1
each pixel cell configured to convert incident light to an electric signal indicating the intensity of the incident light
Data Source
AI summary
According to various embodiments, an image sensor may be provided. The image sensor may include: a plurality of pixel cells, each pixel cell configured to convert incident light to an electric signal indicating the intensity of the incident light; a pixel determination circuit configured to determine a pixel cell of the plurality of pixel cells based on light incident to the plurality of pixel cells; and an output circuit configured to output the electrical signal of the determined cell.