← Back to Patent Explorer
US4488178A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

CCD Defect correction without defect location memory

Assignee: RCA Corp
•
Filing: 1982-11-24
•
Granted: 1984-12-11
•
Expires: 2002-11-24
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A TV camera comprises a pair of CCD imagers subject to defects. Defect detection is done by comparing signals from the imagers, thus saving the expense of a defect location memory and also detecting more kinds of defects than one would detect by just comparing one signal to a fixed reference. As a result, CCD imagers with defects can be used thus increasing production yield of such imagers.

Inventors

  • 👤 Joshua L. Koslov
  • 👤 Theodor M. Wagner

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 22:57
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N25/00; H04N25/60; H04N25/68

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 76 words
An imaging method comprising imaging a scene onto a plurality of imagers, said imagers being subject to defects, comparing signals from said imagers to determine which are not representative of the scene due to said defects, and adding said signals together to form an output signal except when a signal from a defect is present and when said signal from a defect is present blocking said signal derived from a defect from forming said output signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 76 words
An imaging method comprising imaging a scene onto a plurality of imagers, said imagers being subject to defects, comparing signals from said imagers to determine which are not representative of the scene due to said defects, and adding said signals together to form an output signal except when a signal from a defect is present and when said signal from a defect is present blocking said signal derived from a defect from forming said output signal.
Claim 3
Independent Claim 85 words
An apparatus comprising a plurality of imagers subject to defects, imaging means for imaging a scene onto said plurality of imagers, comparing means for comparing signals from said imagers to determine which are not representative of the scene due to said defects, and adding means for adding said signals together to form an output signal except when a signal from a defect is present and when said signal from a defect is present blocking said signal derived from a defect from forming said output signal.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 85 words
An apparatus comprising a plurality of imagers subject to defects, imaging means for imaging a scene onto said plurality of imagers, comparing means for comparing signals from said imagers to determine which are not representative of the scene due to said defects, and adding means for adding said signals together to form an output signal except when a signal from a defect is present and when said signal from a defect is present blocking said signal derived from a defect from forming said output signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 11 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said plurality is two.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 43 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said comparing means comprises means for determining that the greater of the two imager signals is a bright defect unless the lesser signal is black wherein the lesser signal is determined to be a black defect.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 34 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said imagers have a covered portion, and further comprising clamping means for clamping the signals derived from said covered portions to a selected black level.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 141 words
Apparatus comprising a pair of CCD imagers subject to defects and having covered portions, a lens and a beam splitter disposed in front of said imagers for imaging a scene thereon, a pair of clamps respectively coupled to the outputs of said imagers for clamping the imager signals to a selected black level during said covered portion, comparing means for comparing said imager signals including means for determining that the greater of the two imager signals is a bright defect unless the lesser signal is black wherein the lesser signal is determined to be a black defect, and adding means for adding said imager signals together to form an output signal except when a signal from a defect is present and when a signal from a defect is present blocking said signal derived from a defect from forming said output signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 141 words
Apparatus comprising a pair of CCD imagers subject to defects and having covered portions, a lens and a beam splitter disposed in front of said imagers for imaging a scene thereon, a pair of clamps respectively coupled to the outputs of said imagers for clamping the imager signals to a selected black level during said covered portion, comparing means for comparing said imager signals including means for determining that the greater of the two imager signals is a bright defect unless the lesser signal is black wherein the lesser signal is determined to be a black defect, and adding means for adding said imager signals together to form an output signal except when a signal from a defect is present and when a signal from a defect is present blocking said signal derived from a defect from forming said output signal.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3904818A Cited
US4189751A Cited
US4167755A Cited
JPS5456722A Cited
US4193093A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1987-12-11 1988-06-11 1988-12-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1991-12-11 1992-06-11 1992-12-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1995-12-11 1996-06-11 1996-12-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag