Programmable TDI Image Sensor Row Charge Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing TDI imaging systems face challenges in achieving high spectral and spatial resolution while maintaining a good signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), often requiring flexible and adaptable spectral filtering, which is either inflexible, costly, or results in bulky devices with high computational loads.
Innovation Solution
A device with a programmable image sensor that allows alternating transfer of electric charges between rows, enabling selective contribution of rows to the accumulated charge, synchronized with object movement, and adaptable spectral content control through optical elements, reducing noise and computational requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a filter profile is fixed during camera production to meet specific application needs, then the spectral filtering is optimized for that application, but the device becomes inflexible and prohibitively expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic filter profiles by allowing different rows of pixels to be independently configured with different spectral filter characteristics through programmable control. This enables the filter profile to adapt to different applications without physical reconfiguration, resolving the contradiction between optimization precision and adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a filter is changed in front of an image sensor to achieve different spectral filtering, then spectral adaptability is improved, but the device becomes costly and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical filter changes with electronic/programmable control of pixel rows. Instead of mechanically changing filters in front of the sensor, the system uses programmable row selection and charge transfer control to achieve different spectral filtering effects, thereby reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining adaptability.
3Measurement precision
If substantial data rates are gathered to achieve high spectral and spatial resolution, then measurement precision is improved, but computational load increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and processes only the necessary spectral information by selectively reading out charge from specific pixel rows that correspond to relevant spectral bands. This selective extraction reduces the overall data rate that needs to be processed while maintaining the required spectral and spatial resolution for the application.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the image sensor into multiple independently controllable row segments, each potentially associated with different spectral filter characteristics. This segmentation allows selective processing and reading out of specific spectral bands, reducing the computational load compared to processing the entire spectral range at full resolution.
4Measurement precision
If TDI imaging is implemented with spectral filtering to achieve high spectral resolution, then measurement precision is improved, but the device becomes bulky and acquisition time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal TDI imaging architecture where the same sensor array and charge transfer mechanism serve multiple spectral filtering functions through programmable row selection. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate physical filtering subsystems, reducing device volume while maintaining spectral resolution capability.
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 solution provides flexible and adaptable spectral filtering, maintaining high SNR, reducing noise, and simplifying data processing, while maintaining device compactness and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
each pixel comprises a photo-active region, which is arranged to accumulate an electric charge proportional to intensity of electro-magnetic radiation incident on the photo-active region
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a
Figure 3b
AI summary
A device for imaging comprising an image sensor (14) is disclosed. The image sensor (14) comprises: pixels (20), in columns (18) and rows (16), a first control structure (26) for controlling transfer of accumulated electric charges from photo-active regions (22) to transmission regions (24) in pixels (20); and a second control structure (32) for controlling transfer of accumulated charge in the transmission region (24) of each row (16) to the adjacent row below, wherein the first and second control structures (26; 32) are configured to control the image sensor (14) to alternately transfer accumulated charges in photo-active regions (22) to the transmission regions (24) and transfer charges to the adjacent row below; wherein said first control structure (26) comprises a plurality of row structures (28) which are arranged to select whether the charge in the photo-active regions (22) of respective rows (16) are added to the transmission region (24); and wherein each row (16) of pixels (20) is controlled by one of the row structures (28) of the first control structure (26).