초록 ▼

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a generic solution for direct readout of the charge signals from the photodetectors in an image sensor to minimize possible signal distortions. The disclosed image sensor uses a time measurement circuit for each of the photodetectors. The time elaps

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a generic solution for direct readout of the charge signals from the photodetectors in an image sensor to minimize possible signal distortions. The disclosed image sensor uses a time measurement circuit for each of the photodetectors. The time elapsed for each of the photodetectors to reach a reference signal is measured and converted to a digital representation that is subsequently readout as the digital signals.

대표청구항 ▼

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a generic solution for direct readout of the charge signals from the photodetectors in an image sensor to minimize possible signal distortions. The disclosed image sensor uses a time measurement circuit for each of the photodetectors. The time elaps

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a generic solution for direct readout of the charge signals from the photodetectors in an image sensor to minimize possible signal distortions. The disclosed image sensor uses a time measurement circuit for each of the photodetectors. The time elapsed for each of the photodetectors to reach a reference signal is measured and converted to a digital representation that is subsequently readout as the digital signals. ure includes three-dimensional coordinates and the time as variables. 5. An image processing unit according to claim 2, wherein each of data areas of the dependent storing portions are logically or physically divided into an area for storing a hierarchical structure of a three-dimensional space and an area for storing the information of the three-dimensional object. 6. An image processing unit according to claim 2, wherein each of data areas of the dependent storing portions are physically divided into a first area for storing a hierarchical structure of a three-dimensional space and a second area for storing the information of the three-dimensional object, and the second area includes (a) a memory portion for holding the information of the three-dimensional object, (b) a table portion for indicating arrangement of the information of the three-dimensional object in the memory portion, and (c) a control portion for replacing a part of the memory portion with a part of the main memory unless the information of the three-dimensional object requested by the corresponding calculating portions do not exist in the memory portion, and then reading requested information of the three-dimensional object to the memory portion. 7. An image processing unit according to claim 6, wherein the control portion executes replacement of the memory portion every three-dimensional object. 8. An image processing unit according to claim 7, wherein the memory portion includes a plurality of lines, and each of the plurality of lines has (a) a first field for storing the information of the three-dimensional object, (b) a second field for indicating whether or not data stored in the first field are valid, and (c) a third field for specifying an entry of the table portion which corresponds to data stored in the first field. 9. An image processing unit according to claim 7, wherein the memory portion includes a plurality of entries, and each of the plurality of entries has (a) a first field for specifying a line of the memory portion which stores the information of the three-dimensional object, (b) a second field for specifying the three-dimensional object stored in the line, and (c) a third field for indicating whether or not the line specified in the first field are valid. 10. An image processing system comprising: (a) a plurality of image processing units, each comprising: (i) a main storing portion for storing information of three-dimensional objects; (ii) a plurality of calculating portions for processing images based on three-dimensional object information which are read from the main storing portion and (iii) a hierarchical storing portion having a plurality of hierarchies, and connected between the main storing portion and the plurality of calculating portions to store a part of information at a lower level into a higher level sequentially; and (b) communication media for connecting the plurality of image processing units mutually, wherein image processing by the plurality of calculating portions are performed in parallel, wherein a storing portion constituting an uppermost level of the hierarchical storing portion is a plurality of dependent storing portions which are dependent on corresponding calculating portions and can be quickly accessed, and wherein the main storing portion is shared with the plurality of calculating portions. 11. An image processing system according to claim 10, wherein the information of the three-dimensional object is stored in the main storing portion in a situation that a space containing the three-dimensional object is divided into a plurality of small spaces which are composed of the plurality of hierarchies. 12. An image processing system according to claim 11, wherein the three-dimensional object exists in a four-dimensional space which is defined by three-dimensional coordinate axes and a time axis, and is composed of at least one of a first plane figure defined by a plural ity of points, a first solid figure defined by a combination of a plurality of second plane figures defined by a plurality of points, and a second solid figure defined by at least one function. 13. An image processing system according to claim 12, wherein three-dimensional coordinate components of the plurality of points to define the first plane figure and the second plane figures are expressed by functions each includes a time as a variable, and the function which defines the second solid figure includes three-dimensional coordinates and the time as variables. 14. An image processing system according to claim 11, wherein each of data areas of the dependent storing portions are logically or physically divided into an area for storing a hierarchical structure of a three-dimension space and an area for storing the information of the three-dimensional object. 15. An image processing system according to claim 11, wherein each of data areas of the dependent storing portions are physically divided into a first area for storing a hierarchical structure of a three-dimensional space and a second area for storing the information of the three-dimensional object, and the second area includes (a) a memory portion for holding the information of the three-dimensional object, (b) a table portion for indicating arrangement of the information of the three-dimensional object in the memory portion, and (c) a control portion for replacing a part of the memory portion with a part of the main memory unless the information of the three-dimensional object requested by the corresponding calculating portions do not exist in the memory portion, and then reading requested information of the three-dimensional object to the memory portion. 16. An image processing system according to claim 11, wherein the control portion executes replacement of the memory portion every three-dimensional object. 17. An image processing unit according to claim 10, wherein communication media which connects the plurality of image processing units mutually includes a queue means for combining these access requests if the plurality of calculating portions issue access requests to a same or neighboring access area. 18. An image processing unit according to claim 17, wherein the queue means includes (a) an arbitrating portion for selecting at least one of the access requests from the plurality of calculating portions, (b) a queue portion for storing sequentially selected access requests and fetching the access requests in a previously stored order, and (c) a comparing portion for comparing an access request selected by the arbitrating portion with an access request stored in the queue portion, and then combining two access requests together if these access requests are issued to the same or neighboring access area. 19. An image processing unit according to claim 18, wherein the arbitrating portion includes a table indicating every calculating portion whether or not the access request is stored in the queue portion. 20. An image processing unit according to claim 19, wherein the table indicates at least one of a time and a number of times at which the access request is stored in the queue portion every calculating portion. 21. An image processing unit according to claim 18, wherein a plurality of comparing processes by the comparing portion are executed as a pipeline process. 22. An image processing unit according to claim 18, wherein the table includes a table for indicating contents of a plurality of access requests which are combined together by the comparing portion. 23. An image processing unit according to claim 18, wherein the queue portion includes a stacked structure storing portion for storing sequentially the data and fetching first the lastly stored data. 24. An image processing unit according to claim 18, wherein operation frequencies of the arbitrating portion and the comparing portion is multiple times of an operation frequency of the queue port