HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE PIXEL HAVING A PLURALITY OF AMPLIFIER TRANSISTORS
Granted: August 28, 2014
Application Number:
20140239154
A pixel cell for use in a high dynamic range image sensor includes a photodiode disposed in semiconductor material to accumulate charge in response to light incident upon the photodiode. A transfer transistor is disposed in the semiconductor material and is coupled between a floating diffusion and the photodiode. A first amplifier transistor is disposed in the semiconductor material having a gate terminal coupled to the floating diffusion and a source terminal coupled to generate a first…
IMAGE SENSOR WITH PIXEL UNITS HAVING MIRRORED TRANSISTOR LAYOUT
Granted: August 28, 2014
Application Number:
20140239152
An image sensor includes a first pixel unit horizontally adjacent to a second pixel unit. Each pixel unit includes plurality of photodiodes and a shared floating diffusion region. A first pixel transistor region of the first pixel unit has a plurality of pixel transistors. A second pixel transistor region of the second pixel unit is horizontally adjacent to the first pixel transistor region and also has a plurality of pixel transistors. A transistor layout of the second pixel transistor…
IMAGE SENSOR AND COLOR FILTER ARRAY INCLUDING MULTIPLE SELECTABLE MESHED FILTER SETS
Granted: August 21, 2014
Application Number:
20140231621
An apparatus including a pixel array including a plurality of pixels and a filter array positioned over the pixel array, the color filter array comprising a plurality of tiled minimal repeating units, each minimal repeating unit including a plurality of enmeshed filter sets, each filter set including a different set of colors than any other filter set in the filter array. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SENSOR FAILURE DETECTION
Granted: August 14, 2014
Application Number:
20140226027
A novel image sensor includes a pixel array, a row control circuit, a test signal injection circuit, a sampling circuit, an image processing circuit, a comparison circuit, and a control circuit. In a particular embodiment, the test signal injection circuit injects test signals into the pixel array, the sampling circuit acquires pixel data from the pixel array, and the comparison circuit compares the pixel data with the test signals. If the pixel data does not correspond to the test…
SYNCHRONIZATION OF IMAGE ACQUISITION IN MULTIPLE IMAGE SENSORS WITH A SYNCHRONIZATION CLOCK SIGNAL
Granted: August 14, 2014
Application Number:
20140225998
A multiple image sensor image acquisition system includes a clock control unit to generate a synchronization clock signal. The synchronization clock signal has a prolonged constant cycle during which the synchronization clock signal is held at a constant level for a period of time corresponding to multiple clock cycles. A first image sensor is coupled with the clock control unit to receive the synchronization clock signal and has a first synchronization unit that is operable to…
ADAPTIVE MULTIPLE CONVERSION RAMP ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER
Granted: August 14, 2014
Application Number:
20140225760
An example ramp analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for generating at least one bit of a digital signal includes a modified ramp signal generator, a comparator, and a control circuit. The modified ramp signal generator receives a ramp signal and generates a modified ramp signal in response thereto. The comparator compares an analog input with the modified ramp signal. The control circuit controls the modified ramp signal generator, such that the analog input is converted a variable M…
BANDGAP REFERENCE CIRCUIT WITH OFFSET VOLTAGE REMOVAL
Granted: August 14, 2014
Application Number:
20140224962
An example bandgap reference circuit includes an amplifier, a first, a second, and a third switch, and a capacitor. The first switch is coupled between an inverting input and an output of the amplifier to provide a negative feedback loop around the amplifier when the first switch is closed. The capacitor has a first end coupled to the inverting input, and a second end coupled to the second switch, where the capacitor is charged to a voltage substantially equal to an offset voltage of the…
Integrated Die-Level Cameras And Methods Of Manufacturing The Same
Granted: August 7, 2014
Application Number:
20140220725
An integrated die-level camera system and method of making the camera system include a first die-level camera formed at least partially in a die. A second die level camera is also formed at least partially in the die. Baffling is formed to block stray light between the first and second die-level cameras.
ARRAYED IMAGING SYSTEMS HAVING IMPROVED ALIGNMENT AND ASSOCIATED METHODS
Granted: August 7, 2014
Application Number:
20140220713
Arrayed imaging systems include an array of detectors formed with a common base and a first array of layered optical elements, each one of the layered optical elements being optically connected with a detector in the array of detectors.
FLUORESCENCE IMAGING MODULE
Granted: July 31, 2014
Application Number:
20140209815
A fluorescence imaging module includes an image sensor and a lens disposed between a fluorescence sample and the image sensor to focus a fluorescence image of the fluorescence sample onto the image sensor. The fluorescence sample is to be positioned an object distance away from the lens. The lens is positioned an image distance away from the image sensor. The image distance is greater than the object distance. An illuminating device is disposed between the fluorescence sample and the…
COLOR FILTER INCLUDING CLEAR PIXEL AND HARD MASK
Granted: July 31, 2014
Application Number:
20140210028
Embodiments of an apparatus including a color filter arrangement formed on a substrate having a pixel array formed therein. The color filter arrangement includes a clear filter having a first clear hard mask layer and a second clear hard mask layer formed thereon, a first color filter having the first clear hard mask layer and the second hard mask layer formed thereon, a second color filter having the first clear hard mask layer formed thereon, and a third color filter having no clear…
MOBILE COMPUTING DEVICE HAVING VIDEO-IN-VIDEO REAL-TIME BROADCASTING CAPABILITY
Granted: July 10, 2014
Application Number:
20140192199
A mobile computing device includes a first video camera on a first side of the mobile computing device producing a first camera video stream. A second video camera is on a second side of the mobile computing device producing a second camera video stream. A video processor is coupled to the first video camera and the second video camera to receive the first camera video stream and the second camera video stream, respectively. The video processor is coupled to merge the first camera video…
VIDEO-IN-VIDEO VIDEO STREAM HAVING A THREE LAYER VIDEO SCENE
Granted: July 10, 2014
Application Number:
20140192198
A mobile computing device includes first, second and third cameras coupled to produce first, second and third camera video streams, respectively. The first camera is on a first side of the mobile computing device, and the second and third cameras are included in a stereo camera on a second side of the mobile computing device. A video processor is coupled to generate an output video stream including a first video layer generated from the first camera video stream. The video processor is…
CONVERSION CIRCUITRY FOR REDUCING PIXEL ARRAY READOUT TIME
Granted: July 3, 2014
Application Number:
20140183333
An image sensor includes a pixel array having pixels arranged in rows and columns, a first successive-approximation-register (“SAR”) analog-to-digital-converter (“ADC”), a second SAR ADC, and first and second control circuitry. The first SAR ADC includes a first capacitor array (“FCA”) that shares a first common terminal coupled to a first comparator and coupled to receive first analog pixel signals. The second SAR ADC includes a second capacitor array (“SCA”) that shares…
System And Method For Randomly Accessing Compressed Data From Memory
Granted: May 29, 2014
Application Number:
20140146872
A method facilitating random access to segments of compressed data stored in memory includes the steps of receiving a series of data segments, encoding the series of data segments into a series of compressed data segments of variable segment sizes, storing the series of compressed data segments in a memory, and generating a locator for each of the compressed data segments. Each locator is indicative of the location of an associated compressed data segment in the memory. A method for…
BALL GRID ARRAY AND LAND GRID ARRAY HAVING MODIFIED FOOTPRINT
Granted: May 29, 2014
Application Number:
20140146505
An apparatus includes a substrate having a surface and a plurality of solder balls arranged on the surface to form a ball grid array. A portion of the plurality of solder balls is arranged to have a pitch between adjacent solder balls. The adjacent solder balls having the pitch have a shape of a truncated sphere. At least one solder ball of the plurality of solder balls is included in a solder island on the surface having a shape that is different than the shape of the truncated sphere.
ACOUSTIC CONFIGURATION OF A WIRELESS CAMERA
Granted: May 29, 2014
Application Number:
20140146192
An example wireless camera system includes a camera, a wireless network adapter, an acoustic receiver, and a processor. The camera is configured to acquire image data and the wireless network adapter wirelessly communicates the image data over a wireless network. The acoustic receiver is configured to receive an acoustic signal containing configuration data and the processor configures the network adapter to communicate over the wireless network using the received configuration data of…
Two-Stage Optical Object Molding Using Pre-Final Form
Granted: May 22, 2014
Application Number:
20140139934
A lens, such as a lens for use in a wafer-level camera, is made by forming a polymeric material with at least one master to form a pre-final lens. The pre-final lens forms a majority of a final volume of the lens. The pre-final lens is allowed to harden, during which it may sag or shrink. An aliquot of polymeric material is added to the lens and formed with the same master with a spacer, or with a second master, to form a first surface layer that provides correction between the pre-final…
Camera Array Systems Including At Least One Bayer Type Camera And Associated Methods
Granted: May 22, 2014
Application Number:
20140139642
A method for processing a plurality of images of a scene recorded from different vantage points, where the plurality of images includes a color reference image captured by a Bayer type camera and at least one additional image, the method including (a) registering at least a portion of the plurality of images, and (b) generating a unitary color image from the plurality of images, wherein color information of the unitary color image is determined exclusively from the color reference image.
Apparatus And Method For Three-Dimensional Image Capture With Extended Depth Of Field
Granted: May 15, 2014
Application Number:
20140132731
An optical system for capturing three-dimensional images of a three-dimensional object is provided. The optical system includes a projector for structured illumination of the object. The projector includes a light source, a grid mask positioned between the light source and the object for structured illumination of the object, and a first Wavefront Coding (WFC) element having a phase modulating mask positioned between the grid mask and the object to receive patterned light from the light…
