Image Sensor Defect Detection Excluding Focusing Pixels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image capture apparatuses fail to detect and correct temperature-characteristic-dependent defective pixels effectively, as methods for production and growth flaws do not account for temperature-dependent changes, leading to inaccurate pixel defect detection and decreased focusing calculation accuracy.
Innovation Solution
An image capture apparatus with a detection unit that identifies defective pixels by comparing pixel values and uses pre-set pixel position information to exclude specific focusing pixels from defect detection and correction, ensuring accurate flaw correction without affecting focusing calculation accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If defective pixels are detected by comparing luminance of each pixel with surrounding pixels, then production flaws and growth flaws can be corrected, but focusing pixels are mistakenly recognized as defective pixels due to large output value differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pixel array into focusing pixels and imaging pixels based on their functional differences. By identifying which pixels are dedicated to focusing measurements versus image capture, the system applies different detection criteria to each segment, preventing focusing pixels from being misclassified as defective while maintaining accurate defect detection in imaging pixels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by treating focusing pixels and imaging pixels differently in the defect detection process. Instead of using a uniform detection threshold across all pixels, the system adjusts the detection methodology based on the local functional characteristics of each pixel type, thereby avoiding false positives in focusing pixels while maintaining sensitivity in imaging pixels.
2Device complexity
If all pixels are subjected to the same defect detection method, then processing is simplified, but focusing pixels with different output characteristics are incorrectly identified as defective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the pixel population into distinct groups (focusing pixels and imaging pixels) and applies appropriate detection methods to each group. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simplicity in the overall process while improving accuracy by tailoring the detection approach to the specific characteristics of each pixel type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic adaptation in the defect detection process by adjusting the detection parameters and criteria based on the pixel type being evaluated. The system dynamically switches between different detection methodologies depending on whether the pixel in question is a focusing pixel or an imaging pixel, thereby optimizing both accuracy and computational efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
An image capture apparatus includes an image sensor in which a plurality of types of pixels including a specific pixel is arranged, and a detection unit configured to detect a defective pixel based on a pixel value of each pixel in the image sensor, wherein the detection unit is configured to exclude the specific pixel from a target of the defective pixel based on information indicating a position of the specific pixel in the image sensor.