公开(公告)号：US20170272708A1

公开(公告)日：2017-09-21

申请号：US15071934

申请日：2016-03-16

Applicant: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Chengming Liu ,  Jizhang Shan

IPC: H04N9/04 ,  H01L27/146 ,  H04N5/232 ,  H04N9/73 ,  H04N5/235

CPC classification number: H04N9/045 ,  H01L27/14621 ,  H01L27/14627 ,  H04N5/23212 ,  H04N5/2351 ,  H04N5/3696 ,  H04N9/735

Abstract: An imaging system includes a primary imager and plurality of 3A-control sensors. The primary imager has a first field of view and includes a primary image sensor and a primary imaging lens with a first optical axis. The primary image sensor has a primary pixel array and control circuitry communicatively coupled thereto. The plurality of 3A-control sensors includes at least one of a peripheral imager and a 3A-control sensor. The peripheral imager, if included, has a second field of view including (i) at least part of the first field of view and (ii) a phase-difference auto-focus (PDAF) sensor and a peripheral imaging lens, the PDAF sensor being separate from the primary image sensor. The 3A-control sensor, if included, is separate from the primary pixel array and communicatively connected to the control circuitry to provide one of auto-white balance and exposure control for the primary pixel array.

公开(公告)号：US10964744B1

公开(公告)日：2021-03-30

申请号：US16570920

申请日：2019-09-13

Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Cheng Zhao ,  Chen-Wei Lu ,  Cunyu Yang ,  Ping-Hsu Chen ,  Zhiqiang Lin ,  Chengming Liu

IPC: G01J5/20 ,  H01L27/14 ,  H01L27/146

Abstract: Light control for improved near infrared sensitivity and channel separation for an image sensor. In one embodiment, an image sensor includes: a plurality of photodiodes arranged in rows and columns of a pixel array; and a light filter layer having a plurality of light filters configured over the plurality of photodiodes. The light filter layer has a first side facing the plurality of photodiodes and a second side facing away from the first side. The image sensor also includes a color filter layer having a plurality of color filters configured over the plurality of photodiodes. The color filter layer has a first surface facing the second side of the light filter layer and a second surface facing away from the first layer. Individual micro-lenses are configured to direct incoming light through corresponding light filter and color filter onto the respective photodiode.

公开(公告)号：US10546369B2

公开(公告)日：2020-01-28

申请号：US15865880

申请日：2018-01-09

Applicant: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Fanbo Deng ,  Chengming Liu ,  Sarvesh Swami

IPC: G06K9/38 ,  G06T5/00 ,  H04N5/235 ,  H04N1/407 ,  H04N5/341

Abstract: A method for determining exposure levels of an image-sensor pixel array includes (a) storing a first plurality of pixel values representing a first captured image, captured with the image sensor in an applied exposure configuration, each distinct region of the pixel array having a respective first exposure level, (b) determining pixel-value global statistics, (c) estimating, from the global statistics, a global pixel value of the first captured image, (d) determining, for each distinct region, a respective local statistics of the first pixel values, (e) assigning, to each distinct region, a respective scale factor based on the local statistics of the distinct region, (f) determining a refined exposure configuration including, for each distinct region, a second exposure level proportional to a product of its respective first exposure level and its respective scale factor, and (g) capturing second pixel values with the image sensor configured in the refined exposure configuration.

公开(公告)号：US10154234B2

公开(公告)日：2018-12-11

申请号：US15071934

申请日：2016-03-16

Applicant: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Chengming Liu ,  Jizhang Shan

IPC: H04N5/235 ,  H04N9/04 ,  H04N9/73 ,  H04N5/232 ,  H01L27/146

Abstract: An imaging system includes a primary imager and plurality of 3A-control sensors. The primary imager has a first field of view and includes a primary image sensor and a primary imaging lens with a first optical axis. The primary image sensor has a primary pixel array and control circuitry communicatively coupled thereto. The plurality of 3A-control sensors includes at least one of a peripheral imager and a 3A-control sensor. The peripheral imager, if included, has a second field of view including (i) at least part of the first field of view and (ii) a phase-difference auto-focus (PDAF) sensor and a peripheral imaging lens, the PDAF sensor being separate from the primary image sensor. The 3A-control sensor, if included, is separate from the primary pixel array and communicatively connected to the control circuitry to provide one of auto-white balance and exposure control for the primary pixel array.

公开(公告)号：US09307215B1

公开(公告)日：2016-04-05

申请号：US14577313

申请日：2014-12-19

Applicant: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Changmeng Liu ,  Chengming Liu ,  Jizhang Shan

IPC: H04N9/73 ,  G06T7/40

CPC classification number: H04N9/735

Abstract: A system for brightness-sensitive automatic white balancing of an electronic color image includes a processor and a memory with (a) brightness-specific color-weighting maps each specifying illuminant-specific auto white balance parameters, (b) brightness range definitions respectively indicating applicability range of the brightness-specific color-weighting maps, and (c) instructions for white balancing the electronic color image according to scene brightness and based upon the brightness-specific color-weighting maps. A system for adaptive automatic white balancing of an electronic color image includes a processor and a memory having (a) a color-weighting map specifying a probability distribution of color ratios defining auto white balance parameters, the probability distribution composed of a plurality of illuminant-specific probability distributions respectively associated with a plurality of different spectral types of illuminant, and (b) instructions for processing one or more electronic color images to refine at least one of the plurality of illuminant-specific probability distributions.

Abstract translation: 用于电子彩色图像的亮度自动白平衡的系统包括处理器和存储器，其具有（a）亮度特定的颜色加权，每个指定特定照明特定的自动白平衡参数，（b）分别指示适用性的亮度范围定义 亮度特定颜色加权映射的范围，以及（c）根据场景亮度和基于亮度特定颜色加权映射来平衡电子彩色图像的指令。 一种用于电子彩色图像的自适应自动白平衡的系统包括处理器和存储器，所述存储器具有（a）颜色加权映射，其指定定义自动白平衡参数的颜色比率的概率分布，所述概率分布由多个光源 - 分别与多个不同光谱类型的光源相关联的特定概率分布，以及（b）用于处理一个或多个电子彩色图像以提炼多个光源特定概率分布中的至少一个的指令。

公开(公告)号：US20150009361A1

公开(公告)日：2015-01-08

申请号：US13933674

申请日：2013-07-02

Applicant: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Chengming Liu ,  Jizhang Shan ,  Donghui Wu

IPC: H04N5/235

CPC classification number: H04N5/2352 ,  H04N5/2356

Abstract: An example method of multi-target automatic exposure and gain control based on pixel intensity distribution includes capturing a series of digital images with an image sensor. As the series of digital images are captured, exposure time and/or gain are adjusted to adjust a mean intensity value of the digital images until a target mean intensity value is reached. The method includes dynamically selecting the target mean intensity value from a plurality of target mean intensity values based on a relative number of pixels, in each captured digital image, that have an intensity value that falls outside a range of intensity values.

Abstract translation: 基于像素强度分布的多目标自动曝光和增益控制的示例方法包括用图像传感器捕获一系列数字图像。 当捕获一系列数字图像时，调整曝光时间和/或增益以调整数字图像的平均强度值，直到达到目标平均强度值。 该方法包括基于在每个捕获的数字图像中具有落在强度值范围之外的强度值的像素的相对数目，从多个目标平均强度值中动态地选择目标平均强度值。

公开(公告)号：US20230395627A1

公开(公告)日：2023-12-07

申请号：US17832395

申请日：2022-06-03

Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Xiaodong Yang ,  Sylvia Shuoyu Zhang ,  John Li ,  Chengming Liu ,  Guansong Liu

IPC: H01L27/146

CPC classification number: H01L27/14627 ,  H01L27/14645

Abstract: Quad photodiode microlens arrangements, and associated systems and methods. In one embodiment, a plurality of pixels are arranged in rows and columns of a pixel array disposed in a semiconductor material. The plurality of pixels includes green (G) pixels, red (R) pixels, blue (B) pixels and clear (C) pixels. Each pixel comprises a plurality of photodiodes that are configured to receive incoming light through an illuminated surface of the semiconductor material. A plurality of small microlenses are distributed over individual photodiodes of clear (C) pixels. A plurality of large microlenses are distributed over individual green (G) pixels. A diameter of the small microlenses is smaller than a diameter of the large microlenses.

公开(公告)号：US20230010935A1

公开(公告)日：2023-01-12

申请号：US17373080

申请日：2021-07-12

Applicant: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Takeo Azuma ,  Chengming Liu

IPC: H01L27/146 ,  H04N9/04 ,  H04N5/355

Abstract: An image sensor has a plurality of pixels arranged in a row direction and in a column direction. Each pixel comprises a color filter that has a portion with a low transmissivity and a portion with a high transmissivity, and a photoelectric conversion element that includes a first photoelectric conversion cell which receives light transmitting through the portion with the low transmissivity of the color filter, and a second photoelectric conversion cell which receives light transmitting through the portion with the high transmissivity of the color filter. The plurality of pixels are arranged such that positions of the portions with the low transmissivity for pixels of one color are identical among the plurality of pixels, and the portions with the low transmissivity are positioned adjacent to each other between adjacent pixels of different colors in the row direction only.

公开(公告)号：US20210082990A1

公开(公告)日：2021-03-18

申请号：US16570920

申请日：2019-09-13

Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Cheng Zhao ,  Chen-Wei Lu ,  Cunyu Yang ,  Ping-Hsu Chen ,  Zhiqiang Lin ,  Chengming Liu

IPC: H01L27/146

Abstract: Light control for improved near infrared sensitivity and channel separation for an image sensor. In one embodiment, an image sensor includes: a plurality of photodiodes arranged in rows and columns of a pixel array; and a light filter layer having a plurality of light filters configured over the plurality of photodiodes. The light filter layer has a first side facing the plurality of photodiodes and a second side facing away from the first side. The image sensor also includes a color filter layer having a plurality of color filters configured over the plurality of photodiodes. The color filter layer has a first surface facing the second side of the light filter layer and a second surface facing away from the first layer. Individual micro-lenses are configured to direct incoming light through corresponding light filter and color filter onto the respective photodiode.

公开(公告)号：US20190318451A1

公开(公告)日：2019-10-17

申请号：US15950845

申请日：2018-04-11

Applicant: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Sarvesh Swami ,  Yubo Duan ,  Chengming Liu

IPC: G06T3/40 ,  G06T7/90 ,  G06T5/50

Abstract: A method for demosaicing a raw image includes: (1) horizontally-interpolating a green channel formed of primary pixel-values Bg(x,y)g to yield a horizontally-interpolated green channel that includes both Bg(x,y)g and non-primary pixel-values Igh(x,y)r,b; (2) modifying each Igh(x,y)r,b, by horizontally-neighboring pixel-values, to yield a refined horizontally-interpolated green channel; (3) vertically-interpolating the green channel to yield a vertically-interpolated green channel that includes pixel-values Igv(x,y)r,b; (4) modifying each Igv(x,y)r,b by vertically-neighboring pixel-values, to yield a refined vertically-interpolated green channel; (5) generating a full-resolution green channel from the refined interpolated green channels and gradients thereof; (6) generating a full-resolution red channel by determining red pixel-values from a local-red mean value of neighboring pixel-values and the full-resolution green channel; (7) generating a full-resolution blue channel by determining pixel-values from a local-blue mean value of neighboring pixel-values and the full-resolution green channel; and (8) combining the full-resolution channels to yield a demosaiced raw image.