초록 ▼

A method to reduce the effect of noise on a pixel sensor element includes accumulating charge during an image capture operation (the accumulated charge representing a combination of noise and image), and discharging the accumulated charge for a predetermined time to generate a pixel sensor signal. T

A method to reduce the effect of noise on a pixel sensor element includes accumulating charge during an image capture operation (the accumulated charge representing a combination of noise and image), and discharging the accumulated charge for a predetermined time to generate a pixel sensor signal. The act of discharging may be passive or active.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method to reduce the effect of noise in an imaging system comprising: accumulating charge during image capture, the accumulated charge comprising a noise charge and an image charge; discharging, for a time, a portion of the noise charge to generate a pixel sensor signal, wh

What is claimed is: 1. A method to reduce the effect of noise in an imaging system comprising: accumulating charge during image capture, the accumulated charge comprising a noise charge and an image charge; discharging, for a time, a portion of the noise charge to generate a pixel sensor signal, wherein the time is determined in accordance with the following: specifying a value for each of a plurality of parameters; acquiring the plurality of dark images, each dark image represented by a dark image signal and having an associated signal output value; solving a specified relation using the associated signal output values; specifying a target offset signal value; and solving the specified relation for the time; and digitizing the pixel sensor signal. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the discharging comprises passively delaying the act of digitizing following the act of accumulating. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the time is between approximately 0.001 milliseconds and approximately 10 milliseconds. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein discharging comprises actively bleeding a portion of the accumulated charge. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein actively bleeding a portion of the accumulated charge comprises activating a transistor. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the specified relation is described in accordance with the following equation: description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"X=[α1+(β1Tint G)]+τ[α2+(β2Tint G)],description="In-line Formulae" end="tail" wherein Tint represents a sensor signal integration time value, G represents a sensor signal amplification value, τ represents a delay period value, α1, α2, β1, and β2 are constants, and X represents an associated signal output value. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein at least four dark images are acquired and, using the four associated signal output values, solving the specified relation to determine values for α1, α2, β1, and β2. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the time is determined in accordance with the specified relation and in light of the determined values for α1, α2, β1, and β2 and the specified target offset signal value.