Image Sensor Circuit Flicker Compensation Mechanism

Solution Overview

Problem

Image sensor circuits operating at frequencies higher than incident light frequencies cause brightness fluctuations between frames, resulting in flicker when capturing video, which affects the quality of the captured images.

Innovation Solution

An image sensor circuit with a flicker detector and compensator that generates compensated frame data by calculating a gain and offset level to stabilize the brightness, using a flicker detection signal activated by periodic changes in frame data between minimum and maximum values, ensuring the frame data is adjusted to a predetermined reference value.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the image sensor circuit operates at a frequency higher than the incident light frequency to increase sampling rate, then the productivity is improved, but the brightness fluctuation between frames causes flicker that deteriorates the image quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesampling rateVSAvoidflicker

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by detecting flicker in advance through comparing representative values of current and previous frame data, and then preemptively applying compensation values to the current frame data before output. The flicker compensator calculates compensation values based on detected flicker patterns and applies them proactively to prevent flicker manifestation in the final image output.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the representative values of frame data, detecting periodic variations that indicate flicker, and using this detected information to dynamically adjust compensation values. The flicker detector provides feedback about flicker presence and characteristics to the flicker compensator, which then adjusts its compensation strategy accordingly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Duration of action of moving object

If the image sensor circuit operates at a frequency higher than the incident light frequency to capture more frames, then the duration of action is improved, but the brightness fluctuation creates flicker that worsens the reliability of image quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveframe capture durationVSAvoidimage quality consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by detecting flicker in advance through comparing representative values of current and previous frame data, and then preemptively applying compensation values to the current frame data before output. The flicker compensator calculates compensation values based on detected flicker patterns and applies them proactively to prevent flicker manifestation in the final image output.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the representative values of frame data, detecting periodic variations that indicate flicker, and using this detected information to dynamically adjust compensation values. The flicker detector provides feedback about flicker presence and characteristics to the flicker compensator, which then adjusts its compensation strategy accordingly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If no flicker compensation is applied to maintain simple circuit operation, then the device complexity is reduced, but the brightness fluctuation causes flicker that deteriorates the image quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecircuit structureVSAvoidflicker

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the image sensor circuit into distinct functional modules: a flicker detector that analyzes frame data for flicker patterns, a flicker compensator that calculates and applies compensation values, and the main sensor array. This modular segmentation allows flicker compensation functionality to be added without completely redesigning the circuit, maintaining relative simplicity while eliminating flicker.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary flicker compensator module that sits between the raw frame data output and the final image output. This intermediary component processes the frame data, applies necessary compensation based on detected flicker patterns, and outputs corrected image data, thereby eliminating flicker without requiring fundamental changes to the core sensor circuitry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10237492B2Image sensor circuit removing flicker and camera device including the same

Publication Date: 2019.03.19 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

An image sensor circuit includes an image sensor, a flicker detector and a flicker compensator. The image sensor generates frame data for a plurality of successive frames. The flicker detector determines a representative value of the frame data for each of the plurality of successive frames and generates a flicker detection signal that is activated when the determined representative values of the generated frame data show periodicity between a minimum value and a maximum value. The flicker compensator generates compensated frame data by compensating the frame data based on the determined representative values and a predetermined reference value when the flicker detection signal is activated.