Abstract:
An imager apparatus comprises a pixel and a first filter positioned in an incident light path for a portion of the pixel, the filter being operable to alternate between transmitting and reducing incident light on the pixel portion.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART  
       [0001]     A variety of consumer and scientific devices use digital imaging and post-processing to capture and record still and moving images. Flatbed scanners, copy machines, digital cameras, and the Hubbell space telescope all use an imager having pixels sensitive to electromagnetic radiation (ER) to capture an image of an object. Both CCD (charge-coupled device) and CMOS (complementary-metal oxide semiconductor) imagers have pixels arranged in either a one or two-dimensional array, combined with light-guiding optics. The spatial resolution of an array of pixels in an imager refers to the array&#39;s ability to resolve dimensions on a document to be imaged. The resolution can be defined as the number of resolvable image units (RIUs) discernable on the imaged object. The spatial resolution of the imager may be limited by the quality of the mirrors and lens but is fixed because of their fixed relative positions in the illustrated system.  
         [0002]     Spatial resolution is of particular concern to imager designers, as is cost and light sensitivity, all of which are affected by pixel size. The resolution of imagers, such as scanners, is fixed, in part, by the size of the pixels. If pixel dimensions are halved to allow twice as many pixels in the imager, the spatial resolution of the system could be increased proportionally. Advances in semiconductor processing have allowed manufacturers to reduce pixel sizes to allow more pixels per unit area in an imager. Unfortunately, while reducing pixel size allows improved spatial resolution, the improvement is at the expense of reduced signal-to-noise ratios (SNR). The reduction also reduces light sensitivity and increases susceptibility to pixel blooming caused by improper shuttering.  
         [0003]     Effective shuttering mitigates some of the susceptibility to blooming caused by reduced pixel size. Such shuttering may be accomplished either electronically, by varying the frequency of pixel readout and reset (in the case of a CMOS imager), or mechanically, by controlling the amount of light that reaches the imager. Unfortunately, while use of the shutter helps to resolve blooming issues, it does not help to reduce other problems resulting from smaller pixel size, such as a reduced SNR.  
         [0004]     One approach to obtaining better spatial resolution without sacrificing an imager&#39;s SNR is to increase pixel size. This approach, however, increases system size and cost. Another approach is to map multiple points on an object to the same pixel and perform multiple scans to capture the points for later recombination by a processor into a complete image. Separate scans are performed and the images recombined to form the complete image. Unfortunately, such solutions tend to increase manufacturing cost and system complexity.  
         [0005]     A need continues to exist to improve spatial resolution without increasing system cost, pixel count or reducing pixel size.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0006]     An imager system and method has, in one embodiment, a pixel and a first filter positioned in an incident light path for a portion of the pixel, the filter being operable to alternate between transmitting and reducing incident light on the pixel portion.  
         [0007]     In one embodiment, a method is described as directing light from different locations of an object to different portions of the pixel, alternately transmitting and at least partially blocking the light for the different pixel portions in sequence, and reading out the pixel at different times corresponding to the transmission of the light to the different pixel locations. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principals of the invention. Moreover, in the figures like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment that has a filter array positioned immediately above an array of pixels, with both arrays controlled by a processor.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment with first and second filters over the light-sensitive portion of a pixel in a CMOS imager.  
         [0011]      FIGS. 3A-3D  are perspective views of an embodiment with first through fourth filters positioned above each individual pixel in an array of pixels, with each of  FIGS. 3A-3D  representing different filtering and transparent states of the filters.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an embodiment with odd and even multiple-pixel filters, with odd-numbered filters in their filtering states and even-numbered filters in their transparent states.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view and ray schematic of an optical shutter, using a ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) cell, for use in the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 3A through 4 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a cross section of an embodiment with a filter and pixel array seated in a packaging structure.  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram and ray schematic of a document scanner that has a filter array positioned in front of the imager to enhance spatial resolution. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]     An imager, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, has an array of ER-sensitive pixels with a plurality of radiation reducing mechanisms (“filters”) associated with portions of each pixel. Although the embodiments are described in terms of ER in the visible spectrum, the wavelength of ER used would depend on the sensitivity of the imager to that wavelength and the ability of the filters to reduce the ER on the pixels. Consequently, the term “light” means any ER that the array of pixels is sensitive to. The filters are positioned between the pixels and the object to be imaged. Preferably, the filters are positioned either immediately adjacent the pixels or immediately adjacent the object to be imaged. Because the area of each pixel corresponds to a specific area on the imaged object, the ability of a processor to distinguish between points on the imaged object is increased by sequentially actuating the filters over each pixel in a plurality of scans which are combined into a single image. In effect, the sequential activation and plurality of scans increases the number of pixels in the array without translating the pixels relative to the imaged object between scans. Embodiments of the invention can be expanded to greater spatial resolutions by increasing the number of filters associated with each pixel, and is limited only in the ability to fabricate progressively smaller filters and to distinguish between progressively smaller levels of illumination on each pixel.  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates first and second filters ( 100 ,  105 ) in a filter array  110  positioned above individual pixels  115  in a pixel array  120  with both arrays ( 110 ,  120 ) in communication with a processor  125 . The processor  125  is coupled to a timing and control section  130  which provides coordinated-control signals to both the pixel array  120  for pixel readout and to vertical and horizontal filter drivers ( 135 ,  140 ) for filter array  110  actuation. The vertical filter driver has first and second vertical outputs ( 136 ,  138 ) coupled to each of the first and second filters ( 100 ,  105 ), respectively. The horizontal driver has first through fifth horizontal outputs ( 141 ,  142 ,  143 ,  144 ,  145 ) each coupled to a separate first and second filter ( 100 ,  105 ). A particular filter is actuated when it receives both a vertical and horizontal actuation signal, either positive or negative voltage, from the two drivers ( 135 ,  140 ). Each of the pixels  115  provides readout data when they receive a readout control signal from the timing &amp; control section  130 .  
         [0018]     The readout data is communicated to an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter  147  which converts the analog signals to digital data to be saved in a memory  150 . The memory  150  is preferably a flash memory, but may include RAM (random-access memory) or ROM (read-only memory) to accomplish a temporary buffering or permanent storage of readout data. The memory  150  is in communication with the processor  125  for image processing and/or retrieval. A user interface  155  communicates with the processor  125  to provide a user with access to status information such as “power on” and “ready.” The user interface  155  can include a visual display or audio output.  
         [0019]     The pixel array  120  is responsive to incident light to provide readout data and can be, for example, a CCD imager or a CMOS imager having a one or two-dimensional array of pixels. The processor  125  can be a general-purpose digital signal processor (DSP) or an application specific processor (ASIC). If the pixel array  120  is a CMOS imager, the processor  125  may be integrated with the pixel array  120  on a single substrate that includes the necessary pixels  115  and timing and control element  130 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the filter array  110  is positioned immediately above the pixel array  120  to reduce stray light introduced between the two. The A/D converter  147  can be a sigma-delta or dual slope converter to convert the analog output of the pixel array  110  to a digital form for storage in the memory  150 . If the pixel array  110  is a CMOS imager, the A/D converter  145  could be integrated on a common chip with the array  110  and processor  125 . Although the various components are illustrated with electrically conductive paths between them, other signal transport mechanisms, such as an optical bus, may also be used.  
         [0020]     First and second filters ( 100 ,  105 ) are preferably formed from FLC panes that become opaque to light upon the application of a positive voltage from both the vertical and horizontal filter drivers ( 135 ,  140 ), and translucent upon the application of a negative voltage by each ( 135 ,  140 ). Alternatively, the filters ( 100 ,  105 ) can be constructed such that voltages of an opposite polarity induce the opaque and translucent states. In either case, for FLC panes, the filter remains opaque or translucent after the voltage is removed, and does not change until an opposite polarity voltage is applied. In  FIG. 1 , the timing and control section  130  induces the vertical driver  135  to drive its second vertical output  138  with a positive voltage and the first through fifth horizontal outputs ( 141 - 145 ) of the horizontal filter driver  140  to also drive a positive voltage to actuate all of the second filters  105  to their respective opaque states. If the first filters  100  are not already in their translucent states, the horizontal and vertical filter drivers ( 140 ,  135 ) are induced to drive the first filters  100  with a negative voltage. Pixel portion B receives substantially reduced incident light, while portion A receives substantially the entire incident light from the translucent first filters  100 . The timing and control section  130  induces a first pixel readout when the second filters  105  are opaque and the first filters  100  translucent. A second pixel readout is induced when the states of the first and second filters ( 100 ,  105 ) are reversed, so that the processor  125  can distinguish between the spatial coordinates of an object corresponding to the two sets of filters. In effect, the number of pixels is doubled, with each filter corresponding to a separate pixel.  
         [0021]     In one embodiment, the first and second filters ( 100 ,  105 ) are not opaque when a positive voltage is applied, but rather semi-opaque to filter light incident on portions A and B of the pixels  115 . With the predetermined filter opacity known, luminance values would be obtained for the two spatial coordinates of the projected image while maintaining better light sensitivity than the embodiment described for the opaque filter states. Also, in a two dimensional implementation, the filter array would provide filter coverage for each A and B portion of each pixel in the array. Various techniques can be used to address and control the filters, such as addressing each individual filter in sequence, addressing all of the A filters at one time and all of the B filters at another time, or grouping the filters by rows, columns or other geometries for addressing.  
         [0022]     In a CMOS imager implementation, the first and second filters ( 100 ,  105 ) can be positioned above the entire pixel  115 , or above the photosensitive portions of the pixel.  FIG. 2  illustrates first and second active-area filters ( 200 ,  205 ) positioned substantially over only the photosensitive portion  210  of a pixel manufactured in CMOS (“CMOS pixel  215 ”). The non-photosensitive portion  220  would contain control circuitry that does not respond significantly to incident light and would not require filtering. For example, in a CMOS imager with a 14% fill-factor (14% of the total pixel area configured to be the photosensitive portion  210 ), the first and second active-area filters ( 200 ,  205 ) would each cover at least 7% each of the total pixel area and be positioned directly above the photosensitive portion  210  of the CMOS pixel  215 . The first and second filters ( 200 ,  205 ) can also be implemented as an array micro-electromechanical elements, filters or shutters that are actuated to block or admit incident light onto the pixel portions A and B.  
         [0023]      FIGS. 3A-3D  each illustrate an embodiment that has a filter array  300  with four filters ( 305 ,  310 ,  315 ,  320 ) over portions A, B, C, D, respectively, of each pixel  115 . Analogous to the two-filter implementation shown in  FIG. 1 , each of the four filters ( 305 ,  310 ,  315 ,  320 ) are actuated sequentially to correspond with respective sequential readouts of the pixels  115 .  FIG. 3A  shows the first filter  305  in a transparent state to communicate incident light  307  to portion A of each pixel  115 . The second, third and fourth filters are placed into an opaque state. The pixels  115  are read out, providing an indication of the amount of light  307  incident on portion A.  FIGS. 3B, 3C , or  3 D illustrate the processor&#39;s  125  actuation of the other filters in the four-filter sets, which can be programmed to occur in any desired sequence. As with the two filter per pixel implementation, the filters can be addressed and actuated separately or in groups with an analogous vertical and horizontal driver set.  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment with an array of multiple-pixel filters  400 , with each filter positioned in the incident light path  402  for two adjacent pixels in an array of pixels  120 . As illustrated, “odd” and “even” multiple-pixel filters ( 405 ,  410 ) are in the incident light paths for B and A portions, respectively, of the pixels  115 . Thus, unlike the filters illustrated in  FIGS. 3-5D , where each filter is associated with only one pixel, the multiple-pixel filter array  400  illustrated in  FIG. 4  is configured for each filter to associate with equal halves of two pixels  115 . Analogous to the two-filter implementation shown in  FIG. 1 , each of the illustrated odd and even multiple-pixel filters ( 405 ,  410 ) are placed sequentially in their filtering and transparent states during respective pixel readouts to provide an indication of the amount of light  402  incident on A and B portions. Embodiments of the invention can be expanded for a two-dimensional array, with a single filter covering a portion of multiple pixels to distinguish between the amount of incident light on each portion of each pixel.  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  illustrates an exploded perspective view of an implementation of first and second filters ( 100 ,  105 ) with the first filter  100  in its opaque state and the second  105  in its transparent state. Each filter ( 100 ,  105 ) includes respective thin FLC layers ( 500 ,  502 ) positioned between respective incoming ( 505 ,  507 ) and cross ( 510 ,  512 ) polarizers. Each of the cross polarizers ( 510 ,  512 ) are optically rotated by +90 degrees from the initial polarizers ( 505 ,  507 ). In their original state, the FLC layers ( 500 ,  502 ) have their optical axis rotated +45 degrees from the optical axis of their respective initial polarizers ( 505 ,  507 ).  
         [0026]     In the first filter  100 , the optical axis of the FLC layer  500  is rotated by +45 degrees upon application of a positive DC voltage to align the layer  500  with the optical axis of the initial polarizer  505 . Non-polarized light  515  introduced to the initial polarizer  505  becomes vertically polarized and the FLC layer  500  does not change the orientation of the polarization axis of the transmitted light. Consequently, the first filter&#39;s  100  crossed polarizer  510  blocks the polarized light  520  and the filter is considered to be in its opaque state.  
         [0027]     The second filter  105  is illustrated with the optical axis of its FLC layer  502  rotated by +45 degrees from its original +45 degree rotation upon application of a negative DC voltage, so that the layer  502  is aligned with the optical axis of its cross polarizer  512 . Light polarized by the first polarizer  507  is rotated +90 degrees by the FLC  502  to allow the light to pass through the second polarizer  510 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 6  illustrates an embodiment with the filter array positioned directly on the pixel array. The cross section illustrates the filter and pixel arrays ( 110 ,  120 ) seated in a rigid package  600  that could be formed from rigid plastic, metal, or composite molding to hold the arrays ( 110 ,  120 ) and protect them from damage.  
         [0029]      FIG. 7  illustrates an embodiment of the invention in a document scanner. An object  700  is illuminated with a light source  705 , and the object&#39;s image is directed to scanner carriage  707  that has a light director  725  that, in one implementation, is a lens to focus the image onto the pixel array  120  through the filter array  110 . Various light director schemes can be used to direct the image onto the pixel array, depending upon the physical arrangement of the system components. In the illustration of  FIG. 7 , three mirrors  710 ,  715  and  720  and a lens  725  are used in the scanner carriage  707 . For CMOS and CCD imagers, the light source  705  can produce florescent or incandescent ER in the visible spectrum ( 380  through  780  nanometers). The lens  725  is a converging lens to reduce the image onto the filter and pixel arrays ( 110 ,  120 ). The lens  725  may include coatings to reduce the transmission of stray or reflected light to the pixel array  120 . The carriage  707  is translated relative to the object  700  during multiple scans to capture an image of the entire object  700  in image post-processing.  
         [0030]     Instead of positioning a filter array on the imager, a filter array  730  may be positioned immediately adjacent the object  700  to be imaged. Each pixel mapped onto the object (the scanner platen) would be associated with at least two adjacent filters on the filter array  730 . The reflection of light  705  off the filter array  730  would be removed in image post-processing to leave only the light reflected from the non-filtered mapped spaces on the object  700 . For example, a sample image would be taken to capture the reflection of light off of all filters in their opaque states. This sample image would then be subtracted from an object image in post-processing to complete a true image of the imaged object. Various filter sequencings can be used, as described above.  
         [0031]     While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible. For example, while an imager system has been described as including a light source to illuminate an object, the invention is also applicable to the imaging of object that emits its own radiation, as in infrared imaging.