APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR COMPUTATIONALLY EFFICIENT INTRA PREDICTION IN A VIDEO CODER
Granted: November 5, 2009
Application Number:
20090274213
A computer readable storage medium has executable instructions to select a plurality of blocks in a video sequence to be coded as intra-coded blocks. Intra prediction modes are selected for all intra-coded blocks in a macroblock based on original pixels of neighboring blocks. The mode selection of all intra-coded blocks can be conducted in parallel. The intra-coded blocks in the macroblock are predicted with the selected intra prediction modes based on reconstructed pixels of neighboring…
Multilayer image sensor structure for reducing crosstalk
Granted: October 29, 2009
Application Number:
20090267070
An image sensor pixel includes a substrate, an epitaxial layer, and a light collection region. The substrate is doped to have a first conductivity type. The epitaxial layer is disposed over the substrate and doped to have a second conductivity type opposite of the first conductivity type. The light collection region is disposed within the epitaxial layer for collecting photo-generated charge carriers. The light collection region is doped to have the first conductivity type as well.
Apparatus and Method For Using Spacer Paste to Package an Image Sensor
Granted: October 29, 2009
Application Number:
20090267170
A packaged image sensor assembly utilizes a spacer paste to control the height of a transparent window above an image sensor die to provide safe wire bond clearance. A dam structure is used to control the height of the transparent window. The dam may be formed either entirely from spacer paste or by depositing the spacer paste on an underlying patterned mesa. An additional encapsulant is provided outside of the dam to encapsulate wirebonds and provide additional protection from moisture…
System and Method For Lens Shading Correction Of An Image Sensor Using Splines
Granted: October 29, 2009
Application Number:
20090268053
An image sensing system provides for accurate lens shading correction even when there is significant lens shading asymmetry and non-uniformity. A two-dimensional B-spline technique is used to determine lens shading correction surfaces. The number of zones is selected to achieve accurate correction of center, edge, and corner regions of an image. Separate lens shading correction surfaces are calculated for a set of standard illuminants to permit lens shading correction to be adapted based…
APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR SKIN TONE DETECTION IN A CMOS IMAGE SENSOR
Granted: October 22, 2009
Application Number:
20090263013
An image sensing system provide feature tone detection. A feature tone detection module receives illumination compensated pixel data. To perform feature tone identification the illumination compensated pixel data is transformed to a color space having hue and saturation and then compared against pre-selected ranges of hue and saturation. Noise filtering is performed using an erosion-dilation process. A bit code is used to identify pixels having a specified feature tone, such as a skin…
System and method for adaptive local white balance adjustment
Granted: October 8, 2009
Application Number:
20090251561
The disclosure describes embodiments of an apparatus comprising an image sensor including a pixel array having a plurality of pixels and an automatic white balance (AWB) circuit coupled to the pixel array. The AWB circuit is used to determine a local white balance component for each pixel, determine a global white balance component for each pixel, and apply a white balance adjustment to each pixel, the applied white balance adjustment comprising a combination of the local white balance…
FREQUENCY DIVIDER SPEED BOOSTER
Granted: October 1, 2009
Application Number:
20090243668
Embodiments of the present invention synthesize a core frequency divider by adding a switching feedback shell and using multiple clock edges to trigger the frequency divider. Feedback logic is used to determine which edge will be used. Embodiments allow multiple recursive use, which boosts the overall speed resulting frequency divider circuit 2N times faster than the core frequency divider.
VARIABLE TRANSFER GATE OXIDE THICKNESS FOR IMAGE SENSOR
Granted: September 24, 2009
Application Number:
20090236498
A light sensor cell includes a photosensitive element, a floating diffusion region, and a gate oxide disposed between the photosensitive element and the floating diffusion region. The gate oxide has a non-uniform thickness, with a greater thickness near the photosensitive element and a lesser thickness near the floating diffusion region. A transfer gate is disposed on the gate oxide. The transfer gate has a non-uniform threshold voltage, with a greater threshold voltage near the…
Image sensor array with conformal color filters
Granted: September 17, 2009
Application Number:
20090230394
An image sensor pixel includes a photo-sensor region, a microlens, a first color filter layer, and a second color filter layer. The photo-sensor region is disposed within a semiconductor die. The microlens is disposed on the semiconductor die in optical alignment with the photo-sensor region. The first color filter layer is disposed between the photo-sensor region and the microlens. The second color filter layer is disposed on an opposite side of the microlens as the first color filter…
IMAGE SENSOR APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR EMBEDDING RECOVERABLE DATA ON IMAGE SENSOR PIXEL ARRAYS
Granted: September 17, 2009
Application Number:
20090231455
An image sensor apparatus is disclosed. The image sensor apparatus includes an image sensor for generating image data in a pixel array corresponding to an optical image. A processor alters the image data to embed a feature-dependent code associated with a feature of the image data in a feature-dependent location in the pixel array and generate a digital image from the altered image data.
Tracking System With User-Definable Private ID For Improved Privacy Protection
Granted: September 10, 2009
Application Number:
20090224970
A location tracking service includes a location tracking server and individual tracking modules. An individual tracking module can be attached or embedded in a consumer product. Each tracking module is programmable by an end-user to include a private ID that is sent along with tracking data to the location tracking server. The end-user can define and edit the private ID in the tracking module independent of the location tracking service to improve privacy protection. The tracking data…
System and Method For Independent Image Sensor Parameter Control in Regions of Interest
Granted: September 10, 2009
Application Number:
20090225189
An image sensing systems supports independently setting sensor parameters in two or more different regions of interest. In one implementation resolution, exposure time, and gain are independently selectable in each region of interest. Independently setting exposure time and gain in different regions of interest improves image recognition when there are large difference in the illumination of objects within an image. Independently setting resolution permits the resolution to be…
IMAGE SENSOR WITH BURIED SELF ALIGNED FOCUSING ELEMENT
Granted: August 13, 2009
Application Number:
20090200452
An image sensor includes an optical sensor region, a stack of dielectric and metal layers, and a buried focusing layer. The optical sensor is disposed within a semiconductor substrate. The stack of dielectric and metal layers are disposed on the semiconductor substrate above the optical sensor region. The metal layers include optical pass-throughs aligned to expose an optical path through the stack form a top dielectric layer through to the optical sensor region. The buried focusing…
ALTERNATING ROW INFRARED FILTER FOR AN IMAGE SENSOR
Granted: August 13, 2009
Application Number:
20090200469
An image sensor includes near-infrared cut filters formed over an array of photosensitive elements in a predetermined pattern. The near-infrared cut filters may be formed over one half of a photosensitive element in a split pixel arrangement, over one half the photosensitive elements in the array, over every other photosensitive element in the array, and/or in a checkerboard pattern.
Image sensor and pixel including a deep photodetector
Granted: August 13, 2009
Application Number:
20090200580
What is disclosed is an apparatus comprising a transfer gate formed on a substrate and a photodiode formed in the substrate next to the transfer gate. The photodiode comprises a shallow N-type collector formed in the substrate, a deep N-type collector formed in the substrate, wherein a lateral side of the deep N-type collector extends at least under the transfer gate, and a connecting N-type collector formed in the substrate between the deep N-type collector and the shallow N-type…
BACKSIDE ILLUMINATED IMAGING SENSOR WITH BACKSIDE P+ DOPED LAYER
Granted: August 13, 2009
Application Number:
20090200585
A backside illuminated imaging sensor includes a semiconductor layer having a P-type region. A frontside and backside P+ doped layers are formed within the semiconductor layer. An imaging pixel having a photodiode is formed within the semiconductor layer, where the photodiode is an N- region formed within the P-type region of the semiconductor layer between the frontside P+ doped layer and the backside P+ doped layer.
BACKSIDE ILLUMINATED IMAGING SENSOR WITH SILICIDE LIGHT REFLECTING LAYER
Granted: August 13, 2009
Application Number:
20090200586
A backside illuminated imaging sensor includes a semiconductor layer, a metal interconnect layer and a silicide light reflecting layer. The semiconductor layer has a front surface and a back surface. An imaging pixel that includes a photodiode region is formed within the semiconductor layer. The metal interconnect layer is electrically coupled to the photodiode region and the silicide light reflecting layer is coupled between the metal interconnect layer and the front surface of the…
Masked laser anneal during fabrication of backside illuminated image sensors
Granted: August 13, 2009
Application Number:
20090200587
A technique for fabricating an array of imaging pixels includes fabricating front side components on a front side of the array. After fabricating the front side components, a dopant layer is implanted on a backside of the array. A mask is formed over the dopant layer to selectively expose portions of the dopant layer. Next, the exposed portions of the dopant layer are laser annealed. Alternatively, the mask may be disposed over the backside prior to the formation of the dopant layer and…
BACKSIDE ILLUMINATED IMAGING SENSOR WITH LIGHT REFLECTING TRANSFER GATE
Granted: August 13, 2009
Application Number:
20090200588
A backside illuminated imaging sensor includes a semiconductor having an imaging pixel that can include a photodiode region, an insulation layer, and a reflective layer. The photodiode is typically formed in the frontside of the semiconductor substrate. A surface shield layer can be formed on the frontside of the photodiode region. A light reflecting layer can be formed using silicided polysilicon on the frontside of the sensor. The photodiode region receives light from the back surface…
BACKSIDE ILLUMINATED IMAGING SENSOR WITH IMPROVED INFRARED SENSITIVITY
Granted: August 13, 2009
Application Number:
20090200589
A backside illuminated imaging sensor includes a semiconductor layer and an infrared detecting layer. The semiconductor layer has a front surface and a back surface. An imaging pixel includes a photodiode region formed within the semiconductor layer. The infrared detecting layer is disposed above the front surface of the semiconductor layer to receive infrared light that propagates through the imaging sensor from the back surface of the semiconductor layer.
