CMOS active pixel sensor with a chess-pattern pixel layout

Hans S. Bloss; Stephan K. Gick; Sybille C. Schmoelz; Gunther Foettinger

doi:10.1117/12.426990

15 May 2001 CMOS active pixel sensor with a chess-pattern pixel layout

Hans S. Bloss, Stephan K. Gick, Sybille C. Schmoelz, Gunther Foettinger

Proceedings Volume 4306, Sensors and Camera Systems for Scientific, Industrial, and Digital Photography Applications II; (2001) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.426990
Event: Photonics West 2001 - Electronic Imaging, 2001, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

Pixels in an area image sensor are normally arranged in a regular matrix, because this is the best way for sensor layout, display and image processing. Image sensors in CMOS aps technologies offer great flexibility in the design. Nearly any shape for the light-sensitive photodiode and any arrangements are possible. But one disadvantage of CMOS aps is, that they need some space in the sensitive area for the electronic pixel circuitry. We developed and investigated a CMOS sensor with a chessboard like pixel pattern, where the white fields are the sensitive photodiodes and the black fields are for electronic circuitry. The black fields must be interpolated for displaying. So we get an image with a double number of pixels, which is again a regular matrix of pixels which can be displayed on a monitor and is suited for standard image processing. We compared such a chess-pattern sensor with regular matrix image sensors. For this we made some computer simulations of these variations regarding the number of pixels and the optical fill factor. The performance of the images is evaluated concerning technical data, like line-resolution, SFR, artifacts and the visual impression as well. We show simulations with real images of the same scene: Two simulations are with a normal regular pixel arrangement and the other with a sensor having a chess pattern pixel arrangement. Sensor with chess-pattern pixel arrangement can be sued in video-, industrial- and still picture-cameras for black and white and color imaging. It will result in a improved image quality compared to regular matrix sensors.

Citation Download Citation

Hans S. Bloss, Stephan K. Gick, Sybille C. Schmoelz, and Gunther Foettinger "CMOS active pixel sensor with a chess-pattern pixel layout", Proc. SPIE 4306, Sensors and Camera Systems for Scientific, Industrial, and Digital Photography Applications II, (15 May 2001); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.426990

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