Pixel-Line Sensitivity Setting for Wide-Dynamic-Range Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Imaging devices often lack a wide dynamic range, necessitating improved sensitivity settings to capture a broader range of light intensities effectively.
Innovation Solution
An imaging device with a pixel array divided into multiple pixel lines, where the sensitivity of each pixel is adjustable based on the accumulation results of adjacent pixels, allowing for variable light-receiving sensitivity settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If variable conversion efficiency is used to convert electric charge into voltage signal, then dynamic range is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pixel array is divided into multiple pixel lines, with different conversion efficiency settings for each pixel line. This segmentation allows the system to achieve wide dynamic range by assigning high conversion efficiency to pixel lines capturing dark regions and low conversion efficiency to pixel lines capturing bright regions, without requiring each individual pixel to have complex variable conversion efficiency circuitry.
Solution Approach 2:
Different pixel lines are assigned different fixed conversion efficiency values based on their expected light reception characteristics. The first pixel line uses high conversion efficiency while the second pixel line uses low conversion efficiency, optimizing each region's performance for its specific lighting conditions without requiring global or per-pixel variable conversion efficiency mechanisms.
2Reliability
If sensitivity settings are adjusted for each pixel based on accumulation results, then dynamic range is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensitivity setting is applied at the pixel line level rather than the individual pixel level. Each pixel line is assigned a uniform conversion efficiency based on its position and expected light characteristics, simplifying the control architecture while still achieving differential sensitivity optimization across the array.
Solution Approach 2:
The conversion efficiency for each pixel line is predetermined based on its spatial position and expected light reception characteristics, rather than dynamically adjusting each pixel's sensitivity in real-time based on accumulation results. This preliminary assignment simplifies the control mechanism while maintaining optimal performance.
3Reliability
If multiple pixel lines with different sensitivities are used, then dynamic range is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each pixel line is designed with a specific fixed conversion efficiency tailored to its expected operating conditions. The first pixel line is optimized for high sensitivity in low-light conditions while the second pixel line is optimized for low sensitivity in high-light conditions, with each line's characteristics carefully controlled during manufacturing to match its designated function.
Solution Approach 2:
The conversion efficiency parameter is varied across different pixel lines to optimize performance for different light conditions. By fixing the conversion efficiency at different values for different pixel lines rather than using a single uniform value, the system achieves wide dynamic range while maintaining manufacturability through clear parameter differentiation.
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 device achieves a widened dynamic range by optimizing sensitivity settings for different light conditions, enhancing image quality in both bright and dark areas without increasing circuit complexity or imaging intervals.
Implementation Method 1
a photodiode PD that accumulates electric charge corresponding to an amount of received light in an accumulation period
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a pixel array; and a sensitivity setting section. The pixel array includes a plurality of light-receiving pixels that is divided into a plurality of pixel lines. The plurality of pixel lines includes a first pixel line and a second pixel line that extend in a first direction and are provided side by side in a second direction. The plurality of light-receiving pixels each accumulates electric charge corresponding to an amount of received light and each has light-receiving sensitivity which is variable. The sensitivity setting section sets the light-receiving sensitivity of a second light-receiving pixel in a first period on the basis of a first pixel value corresponding to a result of accumulation in a first light-receiving pixel disposed at a first position in the first pixel line in the first direction. The second light-receiving pixel is disposed at the first position in the second pixel line in the first direction.