Semiconductor Image Sensor with Adaptive Light Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Semiconductor devices with image pickup functions, such as solid-state image sensors and touch panels, face accuracy issues due to varying light intensities in their usage environments, leading to defects like false recognition and image blur.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a second photo sensor around the pixel to monitor outside light intensity and adjust the drive conditions, including sensitivity and voltage, of the primary photo sensor using a controller with a CPU, memory, and power supply circuit to optimize image capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the photo sensor operates with fixed sensitivity, then the device structure is simple, but image pickup accuracy deteriorates under varying light intensity
Solution Approach 1:
The photo sensor's sensitivity is made dynamically adjustable through a controller that modifies drive conditions (voltage, timing) based on detected outside light intensity. This allows the system to adapt to varying environmental conditions rather than operating with fixed parameters, resolving the contradiction between maintaining simple structure and achieving accurate image pickup under diverse lighting conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
A light detection mechanism provides feedback about outside light intensity to the controller, which then adjusts the photo sensor's drive conditions accordingly. This closed-loop feedback system enables the photo sensor to automatically compensate for environmental light variations, improving image pickup accuracy without requiring complex manual intervention or redesign.
2Measurement precision
If the photo sensor sensitivity is adjusted to compensate for outside light, then image pickup accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs multiple functions: it detects outside light intensity through a light detection mechanism, processes this information, and adjusts the photo sensor's drive conditions (voltage, timing signals) accordingly. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single controller unit, the system achieves accurate image pickup under varying conditions without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller adjusts physical parameters of the photo sensor operation, specifically drive voltage and timing signal characteristics, based on detected light intensity. By modifying these operational parameters dynamically, the system compensates for environmental variations and maintains image pickup accuracy without requiring fundamental structural changes to the photo sensor itself.
3Measurement precision
If fixed drive conditions are used, then power consumption is low, but image quality deteriorates in varying light environments
Solution Approach 1:
The drive conditions (voltage and timing) are made dynamically adjustable based on detected outside light intensity. The controller modifies these parameters in real-time to optimize image quality for current environmental conditions, allowing the system to consume additional power only when necessary to maintain image quality rather than operating with fixed, suboptimal parameters throughout.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (drive voltage, timing signal characteristics) of the photo sensor based on environmental light conditions. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system achieves improved image quality in varying light environments while managing power consumption by applying adjustments only when environmental conditions warrant them.
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 enables highly accurate image data acquisition regardless of light intensity, minimizing the impact of external light conditions and improving image quality.
Implementation Method 1
a second photo sensor provided around the pixel... for obtaining intensity of outside light
Data Source
AI summary
A semiconductor device obtains highly accurate image data regardless of the intensity of incident light. The semiconductor device includes a first photo sensor provided in a pixel, a second photo sensor provided around the pixel, and a controller for setting the drive condition of the first photo sensor in accordance with the intensity of outside light obtained by the second photo sensor. An image is taken after the sensitivity of the first photo sensor is changed in accordance with the drive condition set by the controller. Thus, in the semiconductor device, an image can be taken using the first photo sensor whose sensitivity is optimized in accordance with the intensity of incident light.