公开(公告)号：US20020051067A1

公开(公告)日：2002-05-02

申请号：US09932822

申请日：2001-08-17

Applicant: STMicroelectronics Ltd.

Inventor： Robert Henderson ,  Stewart Gresty Smith ,  Jonathan Ephriam David Hurwitz

IPC: H04N003/14

CPC classification number: H04N5/3658 ,  H04N5/3575 ,  H04N5/378

Abstract: Solid state image sensors, and methods of operation thereof, includes an array of photosensitive pixels arranged in rows and columns and in which pixel data signals are read out from the pixels via column circuits, which introduces column fixed pattern noise to the signals. The signals are selectively inverted at the inputs to the column circuits and the inversion is reversed following output from the column circuits. Each column circuit may include an analog-to-digital converter and a digital inverter for inverting digital output therefrom. The selective inversion may be applied to alternate rows or groups of rows of the pixel data, and may be applied differently to different frames of the pixel data. These techniques result in column fixed pattern noise being modulated in a manner which makes the noise less apparent to the eye, and which facilitates subsequent cancellation of the noise.

Abstract translation: 固态图像传感器及其操作方法包括以列和列排列的光敏像素的阵列，其中通过列电路从像素读出像素数据信号，该列电路将列固定图案噪声引入信号。 这些信号在列电路的输入端被选择性地反相，并且在从列电路输出之后反转反转。 每列电路可以包括模数转换器和用于反转数字输出的数字反相器。 选择性反转可以应用于像素数据的行的交替行或组，并且可以不同地应用于像素数据的不同帧。 这些技术导致列固定模式噪声以使噪声对眼睛不太明显的方式进行调制，并且有助于随后的噪声消除。