Patent ID: 7924330
Filing Date: 2011-04-12
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method of adjusting imaging pixel signals produced by pixels in a row of a pixel array, the method comprising: acquiring first dark signal values from a first area of dark reference pixels in the row; acquiring second dark signal values from a second area of dark reference pixels in the row; acquiring pixel signals values from an area of imaging pixels in the row between the first and second areas, wherein each pixel signal has a respective column location; determining a column dependent dark reference value for a target pixel having a respective acquired pixel signal value, wherein the column dependent dark reference value is based on the acquired first and second dark pixel values and changes in accordance with a column location of the target pixel; and determining an adjusted pixel signal value for the target pixel as a function of the column dependent dark reference value and the acquired target pixel signal value, wherein the column dependent dark reference value changes in accordance with a linear function based on a column location of the target pixel and wherein the determined adjusted pixel signal value is determined by: where col is the column location of the target pixel, V′(col) is the determined adjusted pixel signal value for the target pixel, V(col) is the acquired pixel signal value for the target pixel, Width is the total number of columns of active pixels of the row, P 0 is where V(dark_left) is the average of the acquired first dark signal values and V(dark_right) is the average of the acquired second dark signal values and P 1 is