Patent ID: 7522200
Filing Date: 2009-04-21
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A MOS image sensor comprising: a pixel array formed from a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix of rows and columns; location processing means for providing a digital location number for each pixel of the pixel array; signal processing circuitry for reading out signals from the pixel away and outputting processed pixel signals; dead pixel comparator circuitry for receiving the processed pixel signals from the signal processing circuitry and examining the processed pixel signals to see if they are indicative of dead pixels; location storage circuitry for receiving dead pixel information from the dead pixel comparator circuitry and for storing the digital location number generated by the location processing means for each dead pixel, wherein digital location numbers are stored in the location storage circuitry only for pixels that are determined to be dead pixels; and location comparator circuitry for comparing the digital location number of a pixel that is being processed by the signal processing circuitry with the stored digital location numbers of dead pixels to determine if the pixel that is being processed corresponds to a dead pixel, wherein the pixel away and the dead pixel comparator circuitry are formed on a single integrated circuit, wherein the location processing means comprises a location shift register for indicating the digital location number of each of the pixels to the pixel array, the location comparator circuitry, and the location storage circuitry.