초록 ▼

A control system for an image sensor that has an array of pixels and a fetching circuit. During a charge accumulation interval each pixel generates a corresponding instantaneous pixel signal cumulatively responsive to the light the pixel has received from an incident image. At the end of the accumul

A control system for an image sensor that has an array of pixels and a fetching circuit. During a charge accumulation interval each pixel generates a corresponding instantaneous pixel signal cumulatively responsive to the light the pixel has received from an incident image. At the end of the accumulation interval, the fetching circuit composes an image signal from the values attained by the array\s various instantaneous pixel signals. The control system has a drive control circuit and a contrast detector. The contrast detector is coupled to the array for deriving an instantaneous image contrast signal from the instantaneous pixel signals. The drive control circuit then uses the instantaneous image contrast signal for adjusting the array\s accumulation interval so the image signal will have good contrast.

대표청구항 ▼

A control apparatus for an image sensor having an array of pixels, comprising light detector means for deriving instantaneous maximum and minimum light detection signals from respective amounts of stored charge at pixels upon which the most intense and weakest components of the whole incident light

A control apparatus for an image sensor having an array of pixels, comprising light detector means for deriving instantaneous maximum and minimum light detection signals from respective amounts of stored charge at pixels upon which the most intense and weakest components of the whole incident light upon said image sensor are respectively incident, first stopping control means for stopping a charge accumulation of said image sensor based on a signal representing a difference between said instantaneous maximum and minimum light detection signals, and second stopping control means responsive to said instantaneous maximum light detection signal increasing close to saturation for stopping further charge accumulation of said image sensor prior to said first stopping control means.