US5434619A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solid-state imaging device imaging device having noise cancellation and an output pixel signal
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1994-03-23
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Granted: 1995-07-18
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Expires: 2014-03-23
Abstract
Abstract In a solid-state imaging device, a fixed pattern noise (FPN) of each pixel can be accurately and reliably canceled without using an analog-to-digital converter and a memory having a large storage capacity. One end of each of first and second sample and hold circuits is connected to vertical signal lines. A subtracter is connected to outputs of the sample and hold circuits through a switching means to thereby subtract a noise signal output from one of the first and second sample and hold circuits from a pixel signal output from the other sample and hold circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazuya Yonemoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 10:36
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N25/00; H04N25/60; H04N25/67
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
300 words
A solid-state imaging device, comprising: a plurality of pixel devices each representing a pixel of an image for converting incident light into a pixel signal containing noise, said pixel devices basing arranged in a matrix of rows and columns; pixel devices in each row being connected to a corresponding vertical scanning line, and a vertical scanner connecting to each of the vertical scanning lines; pixel devices in each column connecting to a corresponding vertical signal line for outputting the pixel signals generated by the pixel devices; each vertical signal line connecting to an input of first and second sample-and-hold circuits, said first and second sample-and-hold circuits each respectively sampling and holding alternately a pixel signal containing noise and a noise signal; a subtracter having first and second inputs and outputting a pixel output signal having said noise signal subtracted therefrom; switching means connected between outputs of said first and second sample-and-hold circuits and said first and second inputs of said subtracter such that in a first position of the switching means the output of the first sample-and-hold circuit is connected to the first input of the subtracter and the output of the second sample-and-hold circuit is connected to the second input of the subtracter, and wherein in a second position of the switching means, the output of the first sample-and-hold circuit is connected to the second input of the subtracter and the output of the second sample-and-hold circuit is connected to the first input of the subtracter; and horizontal switching devices respectively connecting the outputs of the first and second sample-and-hold circuits to said switching means, and a horizontal scanner connected to the horizontal switching devices for controlling the horizontal switching devices for read-out of pixel signals and noise signals from the sample-and-hold circuits for pixel devices along a row.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
300 words
A solid-state imaging device, comprising: a plurality of pixel devices each representing a pixel of an image for converting incident light into a pixel signal containing noise, said pixel devices basing arranged in a matrix of rows and columns; pixel devices in each row being connected to a corresponding vertical scanning line, and a vertical scanner connecting to each of the vertical scanning lines; pixel devices in each column connecting to a corresponding vertical signal line for outputting the pixel signals generated by the pixel devices; each vertical signal line connecting to an input of first and second sample-and-hold circuits, said first and second sample-and-hold circuits each respectively sampling and holding alternately a pixel signal containing noise and a noise signal; a subtracter having first and second inputs and outputting a pixel output signal having said noise signal subtracted therefrom; switching means connected between outputs of said first and second sample-and-hold circuits and said first and second inputs of said subtracter such that in a first position of the switching means the output of the first sample-and-hold circuit is connected to the first input of the subtracter and the output of the second sample-and-hold circuit is connected to the second input of the subtracter, and wherein in a second position of the switching means, the output of the first sample-and-hold circuit is connected to the second input of the subtracter and the output of the second sample-and-hold circuit is connected to the first input of the subtracter; and horizontal switching devices respectively connecting the outputs of the first and second sample-and-hold circuits to said switching means, and a horizontal scanner connected to the horizontal switching devices for controlling the horizontal switching devices for read-out of pixel signals and noise signals from the sample-and-hold circuits for pixel devices along a row.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
90 words
A solid-state imaging device according to claim 1 wherein: a noise signal sampled and held by the second sample-and-hold circuit is from a pixel device which is different than a pixel device from which a pixel signal comes and which is sampled and held by the first sample-and-hold circuit; and a pixel signal sampled and held by the second sample-and-hold circuit is from a pixel device which is different than a pixel device from which a noise signal comes and which is sampled and held by the first sample-and-hold circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
A solid-state imaging device according to claim 1 wherein said first and second sample-and-hold circuits sample and hold said pixel signal and said noise signal alternately at every horizontal scanning period so that a pixel signal and a noise signal to be sampled and held during a same horizontal scanning period are generated from different pixel devices.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
79 words
A solid-state imaging device according to claim 1 wherein said switching means comprises a first amplifier connecting between said first sample-and-hold circuit and a first switch section, a second amplifier connected between the output of the second sample-and-hold circuit and a second switch section, the first and second switch sections having outputs connecting through a one horizontal line delay line to the first input of the subtracter and also having outputs connecting to the second input of the subtracter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
95 words
A solid-state imaging device according to claim 1 wherein said switching means comprises a first switch connecting to outputs of said sample-and-hold circuits, an output of said first switch connecting through an amplifier to a second switch, outputs of the second switch connecting to third and fourth switches, and a first set of outputs of the third and fourth switches connecting through a one horizontal line delay line to the first input of the subtracter and a second set of outputs of the third and fourth switches connecting to the second input of the subtracter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A solid-state imaging device according to claim 1 wherein said vertical signal lines are grounded through respective switchable load devices.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A solid-state imaging device according to claim 1 wherein said pixel devices each comprise a MOS transistor having a gate connected to a respective vertical scanning line, a source connected to a respective vertical signal line, and a drain connected to a power source.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A solid-state imaging device according to claim 1 wherein said MOS transistor has a channel current modulated based on a quantity of electric charges accumulated under the gate thereof by photoelectric conversion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A solid-state imaging device according to claim 1 wherein said switching means includes a one horizontal line delay line having its output connected to said first input of said subtracter and its input connected to at least two switch sections.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
280 words
A solid-state imaging device, comprising: a plurality of pixel devices each representing a pixel of an image for converting incident light into a pixel signal containing noise, said pixel devices being arranged in a matrix of rows and columns; pixel devices in each row being connected to a corresponding vertical scanning line, and a vertical scanner connecting to each of the vertical scanning lines; pixel devices in each column connecting to a corresponding vertical signal line for outputting the pixel signals generated by the pixel devices; each vertical signal line connecting to an input of first and second sample-and-hold circuits, said first sample-and-hold circuit sampling and holding a pixel signal containing noise and said second sample-and-hold circuit sampling and holding a noise signal after resetting the pixel device generating said pixel signal sampled and held by the first sample-and-hold circuit, so that the pixel signal and noise signal being sampled and held by the first and second sample-and-hold circuits at the same time are generated from the same pixel element; a subtracter having first and second inputs outputting a pixel output signal having said noise signal subtracted therefrom, said first input of the subtracter connecting to an output of said first sample-and-hold circuit and said second input of said subtracter connecting to an output of said second sample-and-hold circuit; and horizontal switching devices respectively connecting the outputs of the first and second sample-and-hold circuits to said first and second inputs of said subtracter, and a horizontal scanner connected to the horizontal switching devices for controlling the horizontal switching devices for read-out of pixel and noise signals from the first and second sample-and-hold circuits for respective pixel devices along a row.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
280 words
A solid-state imaging device, comprising: a plurality of pixel devices each representing a pixel of an image for converting incident light into a pixel signal containing noise, said pixel devices being arranged in a matrix of rows and columns; pixel devices in each row being connected to a corresponding vertical scanning line, and a vertical scanner connecting to each of the vertical scanning lines; pixel devices in each column connecting to a corresponding vertical signal line for outputting the pixel signals generated by the pixel devices; each vertical signal line connecting to an input of first and second sample-and-hold circuits, said first sample-and-hold circuit sampling and holding a pixel signal containing noise and said second sample-and-hold circuit sampling and holding a noise signal after resetting the pixel device generating said pixel signal sampled and held by the first sample-and-hold circuit, so that the pixel signal and noise signal being sampled and held by the first and second sample-and-hold circuits at the same time are generated from the same pixel element; a subtracter having first and second inputs outputting a pixel output signal having said noise signal subtracted therefrom, said first input of the subtracter connecting to an output of said first sample-and-hold circuit and said second input of said subtracter connecting to an output of said second sample-and-hold circuit; and horizontal switching devices respectively connecting the outputs of the first and second sample-and-hold circuits to said first and second inputs of said subtracter, and a horizontal scanner connected to the horizontal switching devices for controlling the horizontal switching devices for read-out of pixel and noise signals from the first and second sample-and-hold circuits for respective pixel devices along a row.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A solid-state imaging device according to claim 10 wherein load devices are connected to vertical signal lines for selectively grounding the vertical signal lines.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
A solid-state imaging device according to claim 10 wherein said pixel devices each comprise a MOS transistor having a gate connected to a respective vertical scanning line, a source connected to a respective vertical signal line, and a drain connected to a power source.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A solid-state imaging device according to claim 12 wherein load devices are connected to vertical signal lines for selectively grounding the vertical signal lines.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
A solid-state imaging device according to claim 10 wherein an amplifier is provided between the fourth subtracter input and the respective horizontal switching device and a second amplifier is provided between the subtracter second input and respective horizontal switching device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
65 words
A solid-state imaging device according to claim 10 wherein the first sample-and-hold circuit output is connected to the first input of the subtracter via a first switch section, an amplifier, and a second switch section, and wherein the output of the second sample-and-hold circuit is connected to the second input of the subtracter by said first switch section, said amplifier, and said second switch section.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
278 words
A solid-state imaging device, comprising; a plurality of pixel devices each representing a pixel of an image for converting incident light into a pixel signal containing noise, said pixel devices being arranged in a matrix of rows and columns; pixel devices in each row being connected to a corresponding vertical scanning line, and a vertical scanner connecting to each of the vertical scanning lines; pixel devices in each column connecting to a corresponding vertical signal line for outputting the pixel signals generated by the pixel devices; each vertical signal line connecting to an input of first and second sample-and-hold circuits, said first and second sample-and-hold circuits each respectively sampling and holding alternately a pixel signal containing noise and a noise signal, the noise signal being generated by a pixel element which is different than a pixel element which generated said pixel signal; a subtracter having first and second inputs and outputting a pixel output signal having said noise signal subtracted therefrom; means for delaying an output of the pixel signals from said first and second sample-and-hold circuits by one horizontal scanning period and for outputting the delayed pixel signal to said first input of said subtracter; switching means for connecting outputs of the first and second sample-and-hold circuits in alternate fashion to the means for delaying and to the second input of the subtracter; and horizontal switching devices respectively connected between the outputs of the first and second sample-and-hold circuits and said switching means, and a horizontal scanner connected to the horizontal switching devices for controlling the horizontal switching devices for read-out of pixel signals and noise signals from the sample-and-hold circuits for pixel devices along a row.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
278 words
A solid-state imaging device, comprising; a plurality of pixel devices each representing a pixel of an image for converting incident light into a pixel signal containing noise, said pixel devices being arranged in a matrix of rows and columns; pixel devices in each row being connected to a corresponding vertical scanning line, and a vertical scanner connecting to each of the vertical scanning lines; pixel devices in each column connecting to a corresponding vertical signal line for outputting the pixel signals generated by the pixel devices; each vertical signal line connecting to an input of first and second sample-and-hold circuits, said first and second sample-and-hold circuits each respectively sampling and holding alternately a pixel signal containing noise and a noise signal, the noise signal being generated by a pixel element which is different than a pixel element which generated said pixel signal; a subtracter having first and second inputs and outputting a pixel output signal having said noise signal subtracted therefrom; means for delaying an output of the pixel signals from said first and second sample-and-hold circuits by one horizontal scanning period and for outputting the delayed pixel signal to said first input of said subtracter; switching means for connecting outputs of the first and second sample-and-hold circuits in alternate fashion to the means for delaying and to the second input of the subtracter; and horizontal switching devices respectively connected between the outputs of the first and second sample-and-hold circuits and said switching means, and a horizontal scanner connected to the horizontal switching devices for controlling the horizontal switching devices for read-out of pixel signals and noise signals from the sample-and-hold circuits for pixel devices along a row.
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) | 1998-07-17 | 1999-01-16 | 1999-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-17 | 2003-01-16 | 2003-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-17 | 2007-01-16 | 2007-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |