The Exposure Control Module of Image sensor apparatus and method
Technical field
The present invention relates to a kind of technical field of image sensing, particularly relate to a kind of Exposure Control Module and method of Image sensor apparatus.
Background technology
When using Image sensor apparatus (image sensor), its front of being everlasting installs a shutter additional, with the exposure and the time shutter of control Image sensor apparatus.This shutter can be divided into mechanical shutter (mechanical shutter) and electronic type shutter (electronic shutter).Under and the product requirement that light weight is inexpensive little at volume, the electronic type shutter has become general Image sensor apparatus shutter commonly used.
The electronic type shutter is meant that the time shutter controls whole time shutter and flow process by the electronic signal in this Image sensor apparatus.Existing complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) Image sensor apparatus is listed as (row-by-row) mode with one and handles the replacement of Image sensor apparatus, exposes and read.As shown in Figure 1, for a pixel column is exposed, this pixel column is reset earlier.For making the time shutter of each row identical, the replacement of continuation column is to carry out according to certain speed.The electronic shutter of each row of On/Off in regular turn makes each leu preface exposure again.This one On/Off electronic shutter mode that is listed as (row-by-row) is called rolling electronic shutter (rolling electronic shutter).
Under this Exposure mode, an illuminating apparatus needs all to be in opening in the exposure process of all row, so that light source required in the exposure process to be provided.Because the time shutter is long, this illuminating apparatus can't use high-power light source, in order to avoid this illuminating apparatus burns.That is to say that this illuminating apparatus can expend smaller electric current in time T 3 to T4, for example the electric current of 150mA.Though this illuminating apparatus expends smaller electric current, yet because the time shutter is long, whole power consumption is rather considerable.And be to reduce power consumption, reduce the brightness of this illuminating apparatus usually.Yet, this can cause this illuminating apparatus and body surface nearer apart from needs, therefore angle can't effectively increase, or the time that the electronic shutter of each row of CMOS Image sensor apparatus is opened is elongated in the hope of reaching enough illumination, but the time shutter is long, forms the phenomenon of image fog easily, if allow the time shorten, then the photosensitive area of CMOS Image sensor apparatus need strengthen, and could obtain enough light.
For avoiding above-mentioned problem, in U.S. US 2003/0007088 A1 patent disclosure case, be in the Image sensor apparatus exposure process, to use repeatedly flash of light, so that each pixel column of Image sensor apparatus on average is subjected to identical exposure.As shown in Figure 2, flash of light for the first time can have influence on row 0 to row 11, but does not influence row 12 to row 31.Flash of light for the second time can have influence on row 12 to row 23, but does not influence row 24 to row 31, does not also influence row 0 to row 11.Though for row 0 each pixel column to row 31, only once the flash of light of its when exposure, thereby each pixel column is subjected to identical exposure.Yet, in time T 1 to T2, if target object is in moving, the phenomenon that image can occur rupturing.Therefore, the Exposure Control Module and the method for existing Image sensor apparatus still have many disappearances and give improved necessity.
Summary of the invention
Purpose of the present invention ties up to Exposure Control Module and the method that a kind of Image sensor apparatus is provided, and to avoid the unequal problem of prior art each pixel column exposure of when exposure, increases the quality of institute's pick-up image simultaneously.
For solving the problems of the technologies described above, the invention provides a kind of Exposure Control Module of Image sensor apparatus, this system mainly comprises an Image sensor apparatus, an illuminating apparatus, a control device and a smooth separating device.This Image sensor apparatus has a plurality of photoinduction pixels of arranging with two-dimensional matrix, be in the subregion of exposure in these a plurality of photoinduction pixels when exposure, but each pixel column in this subregion has an exposure status; This illuminating apparatus produces a flash of light, the light source during as exposure; This control device is coupled to this Image sensor apparatus and illuminating apparatus, controls this Image sensor apparatus exposure time series and this illuminating apparatus and produces the light source sequential; This light separating device is coupled to this Image sensor apparatus, to lower the interference of the light outside this irradiation, only allows this irradiation be sent to this Image sensor apparatus; Wherein, this control device is opened each pixel column in this subregion in regular turn, but when each pixel column in this subregion during all at this exposure status, this control device drives this illuminating apparatus producing this flash of light, and controls during the flash of light of this flash of light.
The present invention also provides a kind of Exposure Control Module of Image sensor apparatus, and this system mainly comprises an Image sensor apparatus, an illuminating apparatus, a control device and a smooth separating device.This Image sensor apparatus has a plurality of photoinduction pixels of arranging with two-dimensional matrix, be in the subregion of exposure in these a plurality of photoinduction pixels when exposure, but each pixel column in this subregion has an exposure status; This illuminating apparatus produces a flash of light, the light source during as exposure; This control device is coupled to this Image sensor apparatus and illuminating apparatus, controls this Image sensor apparatus exposure time series and this illuminating apparatus and produces the light source sequential; This light separating device is combined by a loam cake and a base, and this Image sensor apparatus, illuminating apparatus and control device are fixedly arranged on this photoresistance in device, to lower the interference of the light outside this irradiation, allow this irradiation be sent to this Image sensor apparatus; Wherein, this control device is opened each pixel column in this subregion in regular turn, but when each pixel column in this subregion during all at this exposure status, this control device drives this illuminating apparatus producing this flash of light, and controls during the flash of light of this flash of light.
The present invention provides a kind of exposal control method of Image sensor apparatus again, be that an Image sensor apparatus is exposed, this Image sensor apparatus has a plurality of photoinduction pixels of arranging with two-dimensional matrix, be in the subregion of exposure in these a plurality of photoinduction pixels when exposure, this Image sensor apparatus also is provided with a smooth separating device, to lower the interference of the light outside the flash of light, this method comprises the following steps: a replacement step, simultaneously each pixel column in this subregion is reset, to allow each pixel column enter an original state; One activates step of exposure, and each pixel column that activates in regular turn in this subregion enters an exposure status; One irradiation step is in order to produce this flash of light, the light source during as exposure; One treatment step is taken a sample to each pixel column in this subregion in regular turn, obtains the exposed image of an object; Wherein, when each pixel column in this subregion produces this flash of light during all at exposure status, and control during the flash of light of this flash of light.
The present invention provides a kind of exposal control method of Image sensor apparatus again, be that an Image sensor apparatus is exposed, this Image sensor apparatus has a plurality of photoinduction pixels of arranging with two-dimensional matrix, be in the subregion of exposure in these a plurality of photoinduction pixels when exposure, this Image sensor apparatus also is provided with a smooth separating device, to lower the interference of the light outside the flash of light, this method comprises the following steps: a replacement step, simultaneously each pixel column in this subregion is reset, to allow each pixel column enter an original state; One activates step of exposure, and each pixel column that activates simultaneously in this subregion enters an exposure status; One irradiation step is in order to produce this flash of light, the light source during as exposure; One treatment step is taken a sample to each pixel column in this subregion in regular turn, obtains the exposed image of an object; Wherein, when each pixel column in this subregion produces this flash of light during all at exposure status, and control during the flash of light of this flash of light.
Description of drawings
Fig. 1 is the existing exposure synoptic diagram that uses the rolling electronic shutter.
Fig. 2 is the existing repeatedly exposure synoptic diagram of flash of light that uses.
Fig. 3 is an a kind of embodiment calcspar with Exposure Control Module of Image sensor apparatus of the present invention.
Fig. 4 is the synoptic diagram with exposal control method of Image sensor apparatus of the present invention.
Fig. 5 is the synoptic diagram of another embodiment of exposal control method of the present invention.
Fig. 6 is the exposal control method of the present invention synoptic diagram of an embodiment again.
Fig. 7 is the three-dimensional exploded view of another embodiment of a kind of Exposure Control Module with Image sensor apparatus of the present invention.
The figure number explanation
Image sensor apparatus 310 convex lens groups 320
Illuminating apparatus 330 control device 340
Light separating device 350 objects 360
Image sensor apparatus 710 convex lens groups 720
Illuminating apparatus 730 control device 740
Photoresistance is every device 750 adjutages 770
Circuit board 760 loam cakes 751
Base 752
Embodiment
Fig. 3 is an embodiment calcspar of the Exposure Control Module of the present invention with Image sensor apparatus, and this system mainly comprises an Image sensor apparatus 310, a convex lens group 320, an illuminating apparatus 330, a control device 340 and a smooth separating device 350.
Image sensor apparatus 310 is a kind of complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) Image sensor apparatus.It has a plurality of photoinduction pixels of arranging with two-dimensional matrix.This CMOS Image sensor apparatus can have 640X480,659X494,752X480 is individual and the photoinduction pixel of other various different numbers.For meeting different application, this CMOS Image sensor apparatus can be set the size of its workspace (active region).For example, the CMOS Image sensor apparatus of 640X480 being set its workspace is 320X240.In present embodiment, in the subregion of system's exposure in these a plurality of photoinduction pixels, this subregion size can be 320X240 or 96X96 or region-wide when exposure.
This illuminating apparatus 330 produces a flash of light, the light source during as Image sensor apparatus 310 exposures.This illuminating apparatus 330 can be non-thermal light source (non-thermal light source).These non-thermal light sources comprise laser light source, light emitting diode (LED).This illuminating apparatus 330 also can be infrared ray.
This convex lens group 320 comprises a convex lens and an aperture, and the one side of this convex lens group 320 is to be corresponding state with this CMOS Image sensor apparatus 310, with collected light, and strengthens the light that enters this Image sensor apparatus 310.This convex lens is constituted by transparent material, and this transparent material is glass or transparent plastic.When the flash of light that this illuminating apparatus 330 produces is reflected via an object 360, this reflected light focuses on more via this convex lens group 320, then conducts to imaging on this Image sensor apparatus 310, and this aperture can be adjusted little when light luminance is high, to obtain the bigger depth of field, make focusing more easy.
When this illuminating apparatus 330 is when using laser light source, because the light luminance that laser light source produced is higher, the depth of field is increased, it is more easy to focus on.
This light separating device 350 is arranged at this CMOS Image sensor apparatus 310 and is corresponding position, to lower the interference of this illuminating apparatus 330 light outside this flash of light that produced, allows this flash of light be sent to this Image sensor apparatus 310.When this illuminating apparatus 330 was an infrared ray, this light separating device 350 was an infrared ray filter (IR filter) or the baffling device of extraneous light.
This control device 340 is coupled to this Image sensor apparatus 310 and illuminating apparatus 330, to control these Image sensor apparatus 310 exposure time series and this illuminating apparatus 330 generation light source sequential.When exposure, this control device 340 drives this illuminating apparatus 330 with during producing this flash of light and controlling the flash of light of this flash of light in the time shutter, so that this flash of light has the same light inductive effects via the reflected light of an object 360 (object) to the photoinduction pixel in this subregion.This control device 330 can dynamically be adjusted during the flash of light of flash of light and flash luminance, to reach the optimization of image quality and irradiation energy dissipation.
Fig. 4 is the synoptic diagram of exposure method of the present invention.Wherein, the time shutter of row 0 is changed into T1 to T4 by T1 to T2, and the end exposure time (T4) of row 0 be row n-1 the exposure start time (T3) afterwards.Just in time T 3 to T4, row 0 to row n-1 shutter all be in opening.Yet because this light separating device 350, row 0 also are difficult for producing noise in time T 1 to T4.This illuminating apparatus 330 produces a flash of light in time T 5 to T6, because the time shutter is short, this illuminating apparatus can use high-power light source, to allow row 0 to evenly sensitization of row n-1.Because the time shutter is short and use high-power light source, the light that this illuminating apparatus 330 is produced has the effect of similar flash of light.
Fig. 5 is another synoptic diagram of exposure method of the present invention.When time T 0, this control device 340 produces a reset signal, so that the pixel column in the subregion of this Image sensor apparatus 310 is reset, to allow each pixel column enter an original state.When time T 1, each pixel column exposes.Because this light separating device 350 only allows this flash of light be sent to this Image sensor apparatus 310, so even the light around existing also can't enter in this Image sensor apparatus 310.This control device 340 (T2) before row 0 end exposure drives this illuminating apparatus 330 and produces a flash of light, with the light source as these Image sensor apparatus 310 exposures.This illuminating apparatus 330 is to produce the flash of light that for a moment expends bigger electric current at time T 4 and T5, as the flash of light of the electric current of 300mA.Yet because the time shutter is short, whole power consumption can be few than prior art.When time T 2, this control device 340 produces a sampled signal in regular turn, so that row 0 are carried out data sampling to being listed as n-1.
Fig. 6 is a synoptic diagram again of exposure method of the present invention.It is main and Fig. 5 exposure method is similar.Just after time T 2, this control device 340 improves the sequential (clock) of this Image sensor apparatus 310, to quicken that row 0 are carried out data sampling to being listed as n-1.
Fig. 7 is the three-dimensional exploded view that the present invention has another embodiment of Exposure Control Module of Image sensor apparatus, and this system mainly comprises an Image sensor apparatus 710, a convex lens 720, an illuminating apparatus 730, a control device 740, one smooth separating device 750, an adjutage 770 and a circuit board 760.Itself and the main difference of Fig. 3 embodiment are that this light separating device 750 is combined by a loam cake 751 and a base 752.This circuit board 760 is to be fixed in the above-mentioned light separating device 750, and this circuit board 760 is provided with a control device 740.One side of this control device 740 has adjutage 770, and this adjutage 770 is provided with illuminating apparatus 730, the irradiation so that 710 exposures of this Image sensor apparatus to be provided.
This Image sensor apparatus 710, convex lens 720, illuminating apparatus 730 and control device 740 are to be fixedly arranged in this light separating device 750.The outer light of this light separating device 750 can be by filtering, and the light that only allows this illuminating apparatus 730 be produced is sent to this Image sensor apparatus 710.This moment, this illuminating apparatus 730 can be non-thermal light source.These non-thermal light sources comprise laser light source, light emitting diode.This illuminating apparatus 730 also can be infrared ray or has multi-wavelength's white light.
Image sensor apparatus of the present invention (310,710) though Exposure mode be one to be listed as (row-by-row) Exposure mode, but also can be the mode of delegation of delegation (column-by-column) exposure.It is familiar with this operator and can finishes easily.
As shown in the above description, all pixel columns sensitization simultaneously among the present invention in this subregion is because timing up is short, so institute's pick-up image stay in grade degree height.Because in this short time, object 360 displacements diminish relatively, so institute's picked image sense does not have the phenomenon of fragment.This illuminating apparatus 330 produces irradiation with similar flash illumination form, though this irradiation brightness height, because the time shutter is short, so ensemble average gets off, average power consumption is lower than prior art.While is because of this irradiation brightness height, so the area of the photosensitive pixel of this Image sensor apparatus 310 can be less.Because of this irradiation brightness height, so the distance of this illuminating apparatus 330 and object 360 can increase, therefore the induction angle of this Image sensor apparatus 310 can promote.Again, the present invention and prior art are compared, and the area of the photosensitive pixel of sensing apparatus 310 of the present invention can be less, more can reduce cost.
The above only is a preferred implementation of the present invention; should be pointed out that for those skilled in the art, under the prerequisite that does not break away from the principle of the invention; can also make some improvements and modifications, these improvements and modifications also should be considered as protection scope of the present invention.