Image Capturing Device Pixel Saturation Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image capturing devices face challenges in accurately capturing images due to false colors caused by nonlinearity in the response of photoelectric conversion devices, particularly when one photo diode becomes saturated before the other, leading to disparities in light reception and subsequent color imbalances in the image.
Innovation Solution
The device employs a pixel array with pairs of photoelectric conversion devices and an analog-to-digital converter to detect saturation currents, determining ratios of digital signals from adjacent pixels to perform corrections, ensuring accurate color representation by compensating for saturation in one photoelectric conversion device using signals from adjacent pixels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If photoelectric conversion devices are used to capture light signals, then image capture capability is improved, but false colors and nonlinearity occur when photo diodes become saturated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system detects saturation current from photoelectric conversion devices and automatically corrects digital signals by comparing with adjacent pixels. The correction process feeds back into the image processing pipeline to eliminate false colors caused by saturation, thereby maintaining measurement precision without sacrificing image capture capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary correction process that acts as a mediator between the raw digital signals from saturated photo diodes and the final image output. By using adjacent pixels as reference and applying correction algorithms, the system eliminates false colors while preserving the underlying image information, thus resolving the contradiction between capture capability and color accuracy.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If saturation current detection is implemented to correct false colors, then false color cancellation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a self-service approach where the image capturing device uses its own adjacent pixels as reference to correct saturation-induced false colors. Rather than requiring external calibration equipment or complex additional sensors, the system leverages the redundancy of adjacent pixel data to perform self-correction, thereby improving false color cancellation without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the processing parameters of existing digital signals by detecting saturation current levels and applying correction based on adjacent pixel values. This parameter-based correction approach modifies the digital signal characteristics to eliminate false colors without requiring fundamental changes to the hardware architecture, thus achieving effective false color cancellation with minimal 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 cancels false colors by correcting digital signals from saturated pixels, enhancing image accuracy and reducing nonlinearity issues, thereby improving the overall quality of captured images.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the pixels includes a pair of photoelectric conversion devices. The analog to digital converter converts a pair of pixel signals corresponding to charges accumulated in the pair of photoelectric conversion devices
Data Source
AI summary
An image capturing device includes a pixel array having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix form, wherein each of the pixels includes a pair of photoelectric conversion devices, an analog to digital converter that converts a pair of pixel signals corresponding to charges accumulated in the pair of photoelectric conversion devices included in each of the pixels into a pair of digital signals, and a circuit receiving the pair of digital signals being output from each of the pixels, detecting a pixel including a photoelectric conversion device outputting a saturation current based on the received pairs in the detected pixel to output a correction signal.