Embedded orientation markers for imaging sensors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10177183-B2
Application number	US-201615259479-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 8, 2016
Priority date	Sep 8, 2016
Publication date	Jan 8, 2019
Grant date	Jan 8, 2019

Abstract

An imaging sensor includes an imaging array with a plurality of pixels. A sub-set of the pixels are marker pixels configured to each provide a constant respective output value to embed an orientation and alignment marker in images produced with the imaging array. The marker pixels can be sparsely distributed across the imaging array.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An imaging sensor comprising:
an imaging array with a plurality of pixels, wherein a first sub-set of the pixels are integrating active photodetector pixels, wherein a second sub-set of the pixels are non-integrating marker pixels configured to each provide a constant respective output value to embed an orientation and alignment marker in images produced with the imaging array, wherein the marker pixels are spaced apart from one another so no two marker pixels are adjacent to one another in the imaging array.

2. The imaging sensor as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second sub-set of pixels are arranged in a predetermined pattern.

3. The imaging sensor as recited in claim 2 , wherein the predetermined pattern is asymmetrical about at least one axis across the imaging array.

4. The imaging sensor as recited in claim 2 , wherein the predetermined pattern is asymmetrical about each of two orthogonal axes across the imaging array.

5. The imaging sensor as recited in claim 2 , wherein the predetermined pattern is rotationally asymmetrical.

6. The imaging sensor as recited in claim 2 , wherein the predetermined pattern includes marker pixels spanning four corners of the imaging array.

7. The imaging sensor as recited in claim 2 , wherein the predetermined pattern includes marker pixels proximate four edges of the imaging array between corners of the imaging array.

8. The imaging sensor as recited in claim 2 , wherein the predetermined pattern includes marker pixels in a central region of the imaging sensor spaced apart from corners and edges of the imaging sensor.

9. The imaging sensor as recited in claim 2 , wherein the predetermined pattern includes marker pixels spanning four corners of the imaging array, wherein the predetermined pattern includes marker pixels proximate four edges of the imaging array each between two corners of the imaging array, and wherein the predetermined pattern includes marker pixels in a central region of the imaging sensor spaced apart from corners and edges of the imaging sensor.

10. The imaging sensor as recited in claim 1 , wherein the marker pixels are sparsely distributed across the imaging array.

11. The imaging sensor as recited in claim 1 , wherein each of the marker pixels is spaced apart by several pixel pitches from any other marker pixels.

12. The imaging sensor as recited in claim 1 , wherein the marker pixels include a plurality of dark pixels that are set to output a 0%-50% signal, inclusive.

13. The imaging sensor as recited in claim 1 , wherein the marker pixels include a plurality of white pixels that are set to output a 100% signal.

14. The imaging sensor as recited in claim 1 , wherein the marker pixels include a plurality of light pixels that are set to output a 50%-100% signal, inclusive.

15. The imaging sensor as recited in claim 1 , wherein the imaging array includes a plurality of defective pixels, wherein the sum of the defective pixels and the marker pixels is less than 99.97% of the number of total pixels in the imaging array.

16. The imaging sensor as recited in claim 1 , wherein the constant respective output level is either lower than the lowest level output from the active pixels of the imaging array or higher than the highest level output from the active pixels of the imaging array.

17. An imaging sensor comprising:
an imaging array with a plurality of pixels, wherein a first sub-set of the pixels are Integrating active photodetector pixels, wherein a second sub-set of the pixels are non-integrating marker pixels configured to each provide a constant respective output value to embed an orientation and alignment marker in images produced with the imaging array;
wherein the second sub-set of pixels are arranged in a predetermined pattern that includes marker pixels spanning four corners of the imaging array;
wherein the predetermined pattern is asymmetrical about each of two orthogonal axes across the imaging array; and
wherein the predetermined pattern is rotationally asymmetrical, wherein the marker pixels are spaced apart from one another so no two marker pixels are adjacent to one another in the imaging array.

18. The imaging sensor as recited in claim 17 , wherein each of the marker pixels is spaced apart by several pixel pitches from any other marker pixels.

19. A method of imaging comprising:
capturing imaging data from an imaging sensor wherein the imaging data includes set output value data for a plurality of pixels, wherein a first sub-set of the pixels are integrating active photodetector pixels, wherein a second sub-set of the pixels are non-integrating marker pixels sparsely distributed throughout an imaging array, wherein the marker pixels are spaced apart from one another so no two marker pixels are adjacent to one another in the imaging array; and
replacing the set output value data with nearest neighbor data to remove the imaging data received from an orientation and alignment marker physically present in the imaging array.

20. The method as recited in claim 19 , further comprising comparing the imaging data to an expected pattern to determine position of the set output value data in the imaging data.

Assignees

• Sensors Unlimited Inc

Inventors

• Lund Joshua

Classifications

• H04N25/633

  by using optical black pixels · CPC title

• H04N1/32267

  combined with processing of the image · CPC title

• G06T2200/28

  involving image processing hardware · CPC title

• H01L27/14605 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• G06T1/0021

  Image watermarking · CPC title