SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE

摘要

An imaging sensor comprises a pixel array having an active imaging portion and a shielded portion. The active imaging portion provides an image signal corresponding to light incident on the pixel array. The shielded portion is shielded from the light incident on the pixel array and therefore provides a dark current signal. The imaging sensor includes a black-level adjustment circuit which adjusts the imaging signal to compensate for variations in the imaging signal black-level values. The black-level adjustment circuit includes an average value calculator to calculate an average signal value for each of a plurality of shielded regions in the shielded portion of the pixel array. A region selector is configured to select average signal values that are within a predetermined range. A black-level adjustment value calculator uses the selected values to calculate an adjustment value for the black-level of the image signal.

主权项

1. An imaging sensor, comprising:
a pixel array including:
an active imaging portion configured to output a first signal corresponding to an amount of light incident on the pixel array, anda first shielded portion comprising a plurality of first shielded regions, the first shielded portion being shielded from light incident on the pixel array and configured to output a second signal; and a black-level adjustment circuit configured to adjust the first signal, comprising:
an average value calculator configured to calculate an average signal value for each of the first shielded regions,a region selector configured to select average signal values that are within a predetermined range, anda black-level adjustment value calculator configured to calculate a black-level adjustment value by using average signal values selected by the region selector.