IP Library Granted Patent US 8,212,197
Granted Patent B2
US 8,212,197 · App. 12/496,971 · Granted Jul 3, 2012

Image sensor with integration time compensation

Assignee: Xerox Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,212,197
App. No.
12/496,971
Granted
Jul 3, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A photosensitive apparatus including a plurality of photosensor chips and a first common line for applying a first external integration signal to each of the plurality of photosensor chips. Each photosensor chip includes a first set of photosensors having an edge pixel and an interior pixel and a control portion for accepting the first external integration signal, the first external integration signal causing an edge pixel integration signal and an interior pixel integration signal for the first set of photosensors. The control portion includes a first signal adjuster effectively altering the first external integration signal to cause the edge pixel integration signal and the interior pixel integration signal for the first set of photosensors.

Claims (31)

1. A photosensor chip comprising:

a first set of photosensors comprising an edge pixel and an interior pixel; and,

a control portion for accepting a first external integration signal, said first external integration signal causing an edge pixel integration signal and an interior pixel integration signal for said first set of photosensors, said control portion comprising:

a first signal adjuster effectively altering said first external integration signal to cause said edge pixel integration signal and said interior pixel integration signal for said first set of photosensors said first signal adjuster accepts an edge pixel datum instructing said first signal adjuster to cause said edge pixel integration signal to be different from said first external integration signal by a predetermined edge pixel duration, said predetermined edge pixel duration being related to said edge pixel datum, and said first signal adjuster accepts an interior pixel datum instructing said first signal adjuster to cause said interior pixel integration signal to be different from said first external integration signal by a predetermined interior pixel duration, said predetermined interior pixel duration being related to said interior pixel datum.

2. The photosensor chip according to claim 1 , wherein said first signal adjuster effectively causes said edge pixel integration signal and said interior pixel integration signal to be different from said first external integration signal by a predetermined edge pixel duration and a predetermined interior pixel duration, respectively.

3. The photosensor chip according to claim 1 , wherein said first external integration signal comprises a duration, said duration comprising a plurality of clock cycles, said control portion further comprising:

a first counter outputting a multiplier value upon reaching a predetermined number of said plurality of clock cycles, said multiplier value is proportional to said predetermined number and causes said first signal adjuster to effectively alter said first external integration signal to cause said edge pixel integration signal and said interior pixel integration signal for said first set of photosensors, wherein said edge pixel integration signal and said interior pixel integration signal are proportional to said multiplier value.

4. The photosensor chip according to claim 3 , said control portion further comprising:

a clock generator receiving said edge pixel integration signal and said interior pixel integration signal for said first set of photosensors and effectively using said edge and interior pixel integration signals to cause respective first edge transfer gate signals and first interior transfer gate signals, to further cause respective first edge fat zero clock signals and first interior fat zero clock signals, and to yet further cause respective first edge muxing signals and first interior muxing signals for said photosensor chip.

5. The photosensor chip according to claim 1 , said control portion further comprising:

a clock generator receiving said edge pixel integration signal and said interior pixel integration signal for said first set of photosensors and effectively using said edge and interior pixel integration signals to cause respective first edge transfer gate signals and first interior transfer gate signals, to further cause respective first edge fat zero clock signals and first interior fat zero clock signals, and to yet further cause respective first edge muxing signals and first interior muxing signals for said photosensor chip.

6. The photosensor chip according to claim 1 further comprising:

a second set of photosensors comprising an edge pixel and an interior pixel; and,

said control portion accepting a second external integration signal, said second external integration signal causing an edge pixel integration signal and an interior pixel integration signal for said second set of photosensors, said control portion further comprising:

a second signal adjuster effectively altering said second external integration signal to cause said edge pixel integration signal and said interior pixel integration signal for said second set of photosensors.

7. The photosensor chip according to claim 6 , wherein said first set of photosensors is sensitive to a first color and said second set of photosensors is sensitive to a second color.

8. A photosensitive apparatus comprising:

a plurality of photosensor chips, each photosensor chip comprising:

a first set of photosensors comprising an edge pixel and an interior pixel; and,

a control portion for accepting a first external integration signal, said first external integration signal causing an edge pixel integration signal and an interior pixel integration signal for said first set of photosensors, said control portion comprising:

a first signal adjuster effectively altering said first external integration signal to cause said edge pixel integration signal and said interior pixel integration signal for said first set of photosensors; and,

a first common line for applying said first external integration signal to each of said plurality of photosensor chips a first counter outputting a multiplier value upon reaching a predetermined number of said plurality of clock cycles, said multiplier value is proportional to said predetermined number and causes said first signal adjuster to effectively alter said first external integration signal to cause said edge pixel integration signal and said interior pixel integration signal for said first set of photosensors, wherein said edge pixel integration signal and said interior pixel integration signal are proportional to said multiplier value.

9. The photosensitive apparatus according to claim 8 , said control portion of each photosensor chip further comprising:

a clock generator receiving said edge pixel integration signal and said interior pixel integration signal for said first set of photosensors and effectively using said edge and interior pixel integration signals to respective first edge transfer gate signals and first interior transfer gate signals, to further cause respective first edge fat zero clock signals and first interior fat zero clock signals, and to yet further cause respective first edge muxing signals and first interior muxing signals for said photosensor chip.

10. The photosensitive apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:

a second common line for applying a second external integration signal to each of said plurality of photosensor chips; and,

each photosensor chip further comprising:

a second set of photosensors comprising an edge pixel and an interior pixel; and,

said control portion accepting said second external integration signal, said second external integration signal causing an edge pixel integration time and an interior pixel integration time for said second set of photosensors, said control portion further comprising:

a second signal adjuster effectively altering said second external integration signal to cause said edge pixel integration signal and said interior pixel integration signal for said second set of photosensors.

11. The photosensitive apparatus of claim 10 , wherein, for each photosensor chip, said first set of photosensors is sensitive to a first color and said second set of photosensors is sensitive to a second color.

Assignments (7)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 13, 2024
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066741/0001 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT RF 064760/0389 Recorded Feb 13, 2024
From: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: XEROX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 068261/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 20, 2023
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 065628/0019 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 22, 2023
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 064760/0389 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS AT R/F 062740/0214 Recorded May 18, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A., AS AGENT
To: XEROX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063694/0122 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2022
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 062740/0214 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 2, 2009
From: TEWINKLE, SCOTT L.
To: XEROX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 022908/0387 →
Continuity (1)
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