US4589028A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Defect concealing image sensing device
Assignee: Fujifilm Holdings Corp
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Filing: 1983-11-29
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Granted: 1986-05-13
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Expires: 2003-11-29
Abstract
Abstract A method for concealing defects in a video output signal from a photosensor array and an image sensing device operating in accordance with such a method in which positions of output lines from the array having an associated defect are marked by blowing respective fuses. Prior to scanning the normal photosensitive elements of the array, a line of dummy photosensing elements is activated and the resulting data patterns stored in a shift register. Subsequently, while the active photosensing elements are being read out, the shift register is operated to circulate the data stored therein. The output of the shift register is used to control connections to a video output terminal. Specifically, in the case that the respective output line from the array has no associated defect, the then-present output from the array is applied to the video output terminal, and in the case that the respective output line has an associated defect, the output from an adjacent line is applied to the video output terminal. Defects in the video output are thereby concealed.
Inventors
- 👤 Shige Ochi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 21:20
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N25/00; H04N25/60; H04N25/68; H04N25/69
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
A method for concealing defects in a video output signal produced by scanning a photosensor array, comprising the steps of: scanning said array sequentially to produce said video output signal; if any array line being scanned is defective, substituting in said uncorrected video output signal for a segment of said output signal corresponding to said defective line an output signal segment produced by scanning an adjacent line to said defective line to thereby produce a corrected video output signal; disconnecting, prior to scanning said array, said defective line from an output terminal at which said uncorrected video output signal is produced; and wherein said step of disconnecting comprises blowing a fuse connecting said defective line to said output terminal; wherein said step of substituting further comprises detecting which, if any, fuses connecting respective lines of said array to said output terminal are blown; storing information indicative of which of said fuses are blown in response to said step of detecting; and, for scanning of each line of said array and in response to said stored information, replacing said segment of said output signal corresponding to said defective line with an output signal segment produced by scanning an adjacent line to said defective line.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
203 words
A method for concealing defects in a video output signal produced by scanning a photosensor array, comprising the steps of: scanning said array sequentially to produce said video output signal; if any array line being scanned is defective, substituting in said uncorrected video output signal for a segment of said output signal corresponding to said defective line an output signal segment produced by scanning an adjacent line to said defective line to thereby produce a corrected video output signal; disconnecting, prior to scanning said array, said defective line from an output terminal at which said uncorrected video output signal is produced; and wherein said step of disconnecting comprises blowing a fuse connecting said defective line to said output terminal; wherein said step of substituting further comprises detecting which, if any, fuses connecting respective lines of said array to said output terminal are blown; storing information indicative of which of said fuses are blown in response to said step of detecting; and, for scanning of each line of said array and in response to said stored information, replacing said segment of said output signal corresponding to said defective line with an output signal segment produced by scanning an adjacent line to said defective line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of detecting comprises scanning a set of dummy photosensing elements in said array, one of said dummy elements being provided for each of said lines connected to said output terminal through a fuse, and wherein said step of storing comprises storing a representation of said uncorrected output signal during said scanning of said dummy elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
229 words
An image sensing device comprising: a photosensor array comprising first and second sets of conductors, conductors of said first and second sets being parallel within said sets and perpendicular between said sets, and photosensing elements arranged in lines at intersections between said conductors of said first and second sets; means for sequentially activating said conductors of said first set to read out image information sensed by said photosensing elements onto said conductors of said second set one line of said photosensing elements at a time; means for sequentially coupling said conductors of said second set to at least one array output terminal to produce an uncorrected video output signal; means for storing information indicative of which, if any, of said conductors of said second set have an associated defect; and means, operating in response to said storing means, for substituting for segments of said video output signal corresponding to conductors of said second set having an associated defect a signal segment corresponding to an adjacent conductor of said second set to thereby produce a corrected video signal; and wherein said photosensor array further comprises a line of dummy photosensing elements, one of said dummy photosensing elements being provided for each conductor of said second set, said line of dummy photosensing elements being coupled to said activating means to be activated in sequence with said conductors of said first set.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
229 words
An image sensing device comprising: a photosensor array comprising first and second sets of conductors, conductors of said first and second sets being parallel within said sets and perpendicular between said sets, and photosensing elements arranged in lines at intersections between said conductors of said first and second sets; means for sequentially activating said conductors of said first set to read out image information sensed by said photosensing elements onto said conductors of said second set one line of said photosensing elements at a time; means for sequentially coupling said conductors of said second set to at least one array output terminal to produce an uncorrected video output signal; means for storing information indicative of which, if any, of said conductors of said second set have an associated defect; and means, operating in response to said storing means, for substituting for segments of said video output signal corresponding to conductors of said second set having an associated defect a signal segment corresponding to an adjacent conductor of said second set to thereby produce a corrected video signal; and wherein said photosensor array further comprises a line of dummy photosensing elements, one of said dummy photosensing elements being provided for each conductor of said second set, said line of dummy photosensing elements being coupled to said activating means to be activated in sequence with said conductors of said first set.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The image sensing device of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of fuse means, one said fuse means being coupled between each conductor of said second set and said array output terminal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The image sensing device of claim 4, wherein said storing means comprises a shift register and first switch means for coupling an input of said shift register to said array output terminal when said line of dummy photosensing elements is being read out and to an output of said shift register otherwise.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
99 words
The image sensing device of claim 5, further comprising delaying means having an input coupled to said array output terminal and second switch means operating in response to said output of said shift register for coupling said array output terminal to a device output terminal when a state of said output of said shift register is indicative of a good conductor of said second set, and an output of said delaying means to said device output terminal when a state of said output of said shift is indicative of a conductor of said second set having an associated defect.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-05-12 | 1989-11-11 | 1990-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-05-12 | 1993-11-11 | 1994-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-05-12 | 1997-11-11 | 1998-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |