Sony patents camera sensor that fixes washed-out black areas
Sony has filed a patent for an imaging device that improves how camera sensors handle dark scenes. The system uses a circuit to check the speed of the signal coming from the pixels and compares it to a set limit before converting the data into a digital image. This process helps prevent black parts of a photo from appearing as washed-out white spots.
In the filing’s own words
Imaging devices with suppressed white image blackening are disclosed. In one example, an imaging device includes a pixel unit including pixels that respectively photoelectrically convert incident light to generate a pixel signal. A first signal line transmits the pixel signal from the pixel unit, a signal processing unit converts the pixel signal into a digital value, a differentiation circuit between the first signal line and the signal processing unit differentiates the pixel signal and outputs a differentiation result, and a first comparison unit between the differentiation circuit and the signal processing unit compares the differentiation result with a predetermined threshold and outputs a comparison result to the signal processing unit.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. An imaging device comprising: a pixel unit including a plurality of pixels that photoelectrically converts incident light to generate a pixel signal; a first signal line that transmits the pixel signal from the pixel unit; a signal processing unit that converts the pixel signal into a digital value; a differentiation circuit that is provided between the first signal line and the signal processing unit, differentiates the pixel signal, and outputs a differentiation result; and a first comparison unit that is provided between the differentiation circuit and the signal processing unit, compares the differentiation result with a predetermined threshold, and outputs a comparison result to the signal processing unit.
Facts
- Company
- Sony (Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation)
- Official title
- IMAGING DEVICE
- Publication number
- US20260304002A1
- Application number
- 19474780
- Filed
- Apr 4, 2024
- Published
- Oct 1, 2026
- Inventors
- 1
- Claims
- 15
Classified under
H04N 25/772 Electricity & electronicsMore from Sony in Cameras & imaging
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.