US 12,192,655 B2
Time delay integration sensor handling defect pixels
Ren-Chieh Liu, Hsin-Chu County (TW); Chao-Chi Lee, Hsin-Chu County (TW); Yi-Yuan Chen, Hsin-Chu County (TW); and En-Feng Hsu, Hsin-Chu County (TW)
Assigned to PIXART IMAGING INC., Hsin-Chu County (TW); and TAIWAN SPACE AGENCY, Hsin-Chu (TW)
Filed by PIXART IMAGING INC., Hsin-Chu County (TW); and TAIWAN SPACE AGENCY, Hsin-Chu (TW)
Filed on Nov. 7, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/503,265.
Application 18/503,265 is a continuation of application No. 17/849,711, filed on Jun. 27, 2022, granted, now 11,849,236.
Claims priority of application No. 110138441 (TW), filed on Oct. 15, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0073563 A1, Feb. 29, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04N 25/768 (2023.01); H04N 25/531 (2023.01); H04N 25/75 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 25/768 (2023.01) [H04N 25/531 (2023.01); H04N 25/75 (2023.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A time delay integration (TDI) image sensor, configured to capture an image frame using a rolling shutter and move with respect to a scene in an along-track direction, the image sensor comprising:
a pixel array, comprising multiple pixel columns, each of the pixel columns comprising multiple pixels arranged in the along-track direction, and two adjacent pixels of each of the pixel columns having a separation space therebetween, wherein the multiple pixels of each of the pixel columns comprise multiple normal pixels and at least one reserved pixel, and the separation space comprises a multiplication of a pixel height in the along-track direction by a time ratio of a line time difference of the rolling shutter and a frame period of capturing the image frame; and
multiple integrators, respectively coupled to the multiple pixel columns, and each of the multiple integrators being configured to integrate pixel data of the multiple normal pixels at a corresponding pixel column,
wherein when the multiple normal pixels have a defect pixel, the integrator corresponding to a pixel column of the defect pixel integrates pixel data of the reserved pixel to replace pixel data of the defect pixel.