Patent Abstract:
A method and apparatus that allows for the correction of multiple defective pixels in an imager device. In one exemplary embodiment, the method includes the steps of selecting a correction kernel for a defective pixel, determining average and difference values for pixel pairs in the correction kernel, and substituting an average value from a pixel pair for the value of the defective pixel.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/195,688 filed on Aug. 3, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,969,488 which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to the field of solid state imager devices, and more particularly to methods of correcting pixel defects in a solid state imager device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Solid state imagers, including charge coupled devices (CCD) and CMOS imagers, have been used in photo imaging applications. A solid state imager circuit includes a focal plane array of pixel cells, each one of the cells including a photosensor, which may be a photogate, photoconductor or a photodiode having a doped region for accumulating photo-generated charge. 
     During the manufacture of solid state imagers, the creation of defective pixels is unavoidable. These defective pixels, if not corrected, can cause severe degradation of image quality and, as a result, decrease the yield of parts during production. Thus, minimization of these defects during fabrication will yield a higher quality product. However, it is usually less expensive to make a device (e.g., semiconductor imager device) using less precise manufacturing tolerances. Devices that are produced using less precise manufacturing tolerances, on the other hand, have a higher probability of defects. Typical semiconductor fabrication rules define some tradeoff between the quality (lack of defects) and cost of manufacture. The manufactured semiconductor devices are tested for defects, and any semiconductor device having more than a certain percentage of defects is usually discarded. 
     Image acquisition semiconductor devices are especially sensitive to defects. A bad pixel in an imaging semiconductor will show up as a bad area on the acquired. The defective pixels may not work at all or, alternatively, may be significantly brighter or dimmer than expected for a given light intensity. Depending on the desired quality and the intended application, a single defective pixel may sometimes be sufficient to cause the device containing the pixel to be discarded. 
     In most instances, however, a small percentage of defective pixels can be tolerated and compensated for. Numerous techniques exist for locating and correcting defective pixel in a semiconductor imager device. 
     One simple technique for single defective pixel correction involves taking a signal from each pixel and storing the pixel values in memory. During image processing, the saved value for a defective pixel can be replaced by the average signal value of the neighboring pixels. These simple methods, however, are not viable for all pixel defects, for example, those suffering from excessive dark current. Other more complicated methods have been devised that can also correct defective pixels, including dark current pixels. For example, see the method discussed in the paper submitted by B. Dierickx and G. Meyanants “Missing Correction Method for Image Sensors,” submitted for Europto-SPIE/AFPAEC May 18-21, 1998. 
     Correction of multiple defects in a small area of an array, termed cluster defects, however, still remain a significant challenge. Accordingly, there is a need and desire for a method of correcting defective pixel clusters to improve the yield of imager manufacturing. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention, in various exemplary embodiments, relates to a method and apparatus that allows for the correction of defective pixel clusters in an imaging device. 
     In accordance with embodiments of the invention, the method and implementing apparatus selects a correction kernel, which includes neighboring pixel pairs, for an area identified as including defective pixels, determines average and difference output signal values for pixel pairs in the correction kernel, and substitutes a readout signal for the defective pixel output signal during image processing. The substituted read out signal is selected from a valid, neighboring pixel pair, which is a pair without a defective pixel and having the lowest difference in signal value. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other advantages and features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of the invention provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a top-down view of a conventional microlens and color filter array used in connection with a pixel array; 
         FIG. 2A  depicts a correction kernel for a defective red or blue pixel of a pixel array in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 2B  depicts a correction kernel for a defective green pixel of a pixel array in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 3  depicts the correction kernel of  FIG. 1  in more detail; 
         FIG. 4  shows a flow chart of an method for correcting a pixel defect in accordance with an exemplary method of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  shows a block diagram of an imager constructed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 6  shows a processor system incorporating at least one imaging device constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof and show by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and that structural, logical, and electrical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The progression of processing steps described is exemplary of embodiments of the invention; however, the sequence of steps is not limited to that set forth herein and may be changed as is known in the art, with the exception of steps necessarily occurring in a certain order. 
     The term “pixel,” as used herein, refers to a photo-element unit cell containing a photosensor device and associated structures for converting photons to an electrical signal. For purposes of illustration, a single representative three-color pixel array is illustrated in the figures and description herein. However, the invention may be applied to monochromatic imagers as well as to imagers for sensing fewer than three or more than three color components in an array. Accordingly, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
     In addition, it should be understood that, taken alone, a pixel generally does not distinguish one incoming color of light from another and its output signal represents only the intensity of light received, not any identification of color. However, pixels  30 , as discussed herein, are referred to by color (i.e., “red pixel,” “blue pixel,” etc.) when a color filter  20  ( FIG. 1 ) is used in connection with the pixel to focus a particular wavelength range of light, corresponding to a particular color, onto the pixel.  FIG. 1  depicts a conventional color filter array, arranged in a Bayer pattern, covering a pixel array to focus the incoming light thereat. Accordingly, when the term “red pixel” is used herein, it is referring to a pixel with a red color filter. Filters of other colors similarly filter wavelength ranges corresponding to the color to which they refer. 
     Median defect correction is a method of assigning a single defective pixel the value of a neighboring pixel. This method does not work on defect clusters, although it remains a viable option for fixing single pixel defects. A simple example of median correction starts with an imaging circuit for image processing, such as image processor  280  ( FIG. 5 ), which is provided with or determines a location of a defective pixel. The defect may be identified by the imaging circuit comparing each pixel signal to those of neighboring pixels and recognizing that one pixel has a value that is significantly out-of-range in comparison. For example, for a group of pixels in an area, if the minimum or maximum signal is much lower or higher, respectively, than the other pixels, the image processor recognizes this mistake and assigns that defective pixel the average value of the neighboring pixels of the same color. This method does not work on pixel clusters, which can be defined as two or more defective pixels of the same color within a three-by-three grid of pixels in an array. Median defect correction does not work on cluster defects because with a defect cluster, one of the neighboring pixels also has a defective value, and therefore, the median value can not be used for substitution. 
     An alternative method for correcting defective pixels occurs during manufacture, when defective pixels may be identified by fuses or provided in a stage area attached to an image processor. This method may be effective to correct cluster defects as well as individual defect pixels. To correct defective pixels, the location of which are part of a cluster, the defects are determined during image sensor manufacturing and production testing. Such pixels may be labeled with fuses in order to be identified during normal operation, by for example, giving the defective pixel a value of “0.” The imaging circuit ensures that the value reaches the defect correction circuitry unchanged. When a pixel with a value of “0” comes into the defect correction block, it is corrected based upon the value of its neighbors. 
     It should be noted that numerous alternative methods for locating defective pixels, including pixels located within a cluster, may be used. For example, image processing software may be used to locate the defective pixels. Other techniques which find and store locations of a bad pixel or cluster may also be used in accordance with the invention. 
     In accordance with the exemplary embodiments of present invention, a defect correction method is performed, preferably by a correction circuit in a color processing pipeline, to correct cluster defects. It should be noted that other defect corrections, including median defect correction, may be performed simultaneously to correct single pixels as described above. Cluster defect correction has the highest priority and in the normal operation mode it will supersede median defect correction. Cluster defect correction works on those pixels  32  ( FIGS. 2A ,  2 B) that are labeled as part of a defective cluster, either with fuses, or by any other suitable identification technique. 
     Turning now to the Figures,  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B illustrate parts of pixel arrays  100 ,  110 , respectively, each having a respective defective pixel  32   a ,  32   b  that will undergo a cluster defect corrective method in accordance with the invention. Pixel array  100  has a located defective pixel  32   a  of a cluster, which can be either a red or a blue pixel. Pixel array  110  has a defective pixel  32   b  that represents a green pixel. It should be noted that in order for pixels  32   a ,  32   b  to be considered part of a defect cluster, at least one neighboring pixel of the same color, as shown in the Figures, must also be identified as defective. 
     In the illustrated examples, it is assumed that the pixel arrays  100 ,  110  are associated with a Bayer pattern color filter array  50  ( FIG. 1 ); however, the invention may also be used with other color filter patterns. The color filters  20  focus incoming light of a particular wavelength range onto the underlying pixels  30 . In the Bayer pattern, every other pixel array row consists of alternating red (R) and green (G) colored pixels, while the other rows consist of alternating green (G) and blue (B) color pixels. 
     To correct cluster-labeled defects, the present invention utilizes values of first and second nearest neighbor pairs of the identified, defective pixel  32   a ,  32   b . These neighbors are collectively referred to herein as a defect correction kernel, shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  respectively as  101   a ,  101   b . A total of eight neighbor pixels are included in each correction kernel  101   a ,  101   b . It should be noted, that the illustrated correction kernels  101   a ,  101   b  are exemplary, and that other correction kernels may be chosen for pixel arrays using color filter patterns other than the Bayer pattern. In addition, a correction kernel could encompass more or less than eight neighboring pixels if desired. 
     In  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the exemplary correction kernels  101   a ,  101   b  are outlined with a dotted line. For kernel  101   a  there are eight pixels ( 10 ,  12 ,  14 ,  34 ,  54 ,  52 ,  50 , and  30 ) having the same color as the defective pixel  32   a . Although it appears that correction kernel  101   a  contains sixteen pixels, it should be noted that half of these would be green pixels, whose signals would not be considered for use in correction of a red or blue pixel  32   a . The actual pixels that make up kernel  101   a  are shown in greater detail in  FIG. 3 . For kernel  101   b  there are also eight pixels ( 12 ,  23 ,  34 ,  43 ,  52 ,  41 ,  30 , and  21 ) having the same green color as the defective pixel  32   b.    
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , an exemplary method  200  of the present invention is now be described. The method can be carried out by the image processing circuit (described below with reference to  FIG. 5 ). It should be understood that each pixel has a value that represents an amount of light received at the pixel. Although representative of a readout signal Vsig from the pixel, the value is a digitized representation of the signal. Thus, the values range from 1 for dark pixels to 1023 for saturated pixels. These values are represented in the following description as P x  where “P” is the value and “x” is the pixel number shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . 
     At an initial step  201 , the defective pixels  32   a ,  32   b  are located by processing circuitry using any known defect location technique. The value of these pixels is pre-set to “0” as one means of clearly identifying the defective pixels. Next, at step  202  the selection kernel  101   a  for a cluster-labeled, defective pixel  32  ( FIG. 3 ) is selected. After the associated kernel  101   a  is selected for pixel  32 , each of the pixels symmetrically located around the defective pixel  32   a  are evaluated during step  203 . If an opposing pair of the pixels has two good (i.e., non-defective) pixels, the pair is regarded as a valid pair and the method  200  proceeds to step  204 . Otherwise, when at least one pixel in the pair is defective, then the pair is declared invalid and discarded from further consideration; further in this case, the method  200  continues at step  214 . 
     For example, in  FIG. 3  the first pixel pair considered with respect to defective pixel  32   a  may be pixel pair  12 ,  52 . If one of the two pixels is defective, the pixel pair  12 ,  52  is no longer considered. The other pixel pairs for defective pixel  32   a  are  30 ,  34 ;  10 ,  54 ; and  14 ,  50 . 
     At step  204 , for each valid pair of pixels, where both pixels are not defective, two values are calculated: the difference D between the values (as an absolute value) and the average value A of the pixels signals. For pixel pair  12 ,  52 , therefore, the values D=|P 12 −P 52 | and A=(P 12 +P 52 )/2 are calculated. If the two closest pixel pairs  12 ,  52  and  30 ,  34  are both valid, the average value A of one of the pixel pairs is then substituted, at step  205 , as the value for the defective pixel P 32a . Of the average values A for the two pixel pairs  12 ,  52  and  30 ,  34 , the average value A from the pixel pair with the lowest difference D is substituted as the value P 32a  for pixel  32   a.    
     If, on the other hand, one of the nearest pixel pairs is invalid at step  203 , the next nearest pixel pairs  10 ,  54  and  14 ,  50  are then evaluated for valid pairs. If valid pixel pairs are found in step  214 , the method then continues at step  204  and the calculations discussed above with regard to this step are repeated for the valid pixel pairs before moving to step  205  to complete value substitution. Thus, in step  204 , an average A and a difference D is calculated for each valid pixel pair. Assuming there are multiple valid pixel pairs, either from step  203  or step  214 , then at step  205 , the average value A for the pixel pair having the lowest difference D is substituted for the value P 32a  for pixel  32   a.    
     If, however, no valid pixel pairs were found at step  214 , the method  200  proceeds to step  215 . At step  215 , the pixel value P x  for the nearest, same color, non-defective pixel “X” is substituted for the value P 32a  of the defect pixel  32   a.    
       FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary imaging device  300  having a pixel array  240 . Row lines of the array  240  are selectively activated by a row driver  245  in response to row address decoder  255 . A column driver  260  and column address decoder  270  are also included in the imaging device  300 . The imaging device  300  is operated by the timing and control circuit  250 , which controls the address decoders  255 ,  270 . The control circuit  250  also controls the row and column driver circuitry  245 ,  260 . 
     A sample and hold circuit  261  associated with the column driver  260  reads a pixel reset signal Vrst and a pixel image signal Vsig for selected pixels of the array  240 . A differential signal (Vrst−Vsig) is produced by differential amplifier  262  for each pixel and is digitized by analog-to-digital converter  275  (ADC). The analog-to-digital converter  275  supplies the digitized pixel signals to an image processor  280  which forms and may output a digital image. The image processor  280  has a circuit that is capable of performing the method  200  for cluster defect correction on pixel array  240 . 
       FIG. 6  shows system  1100 , a typical processor system modified to include the imaging device  300  ( FIG. 5 ) of the invention. The system  1100  is exemplary of a system having digital circuits that could include image sensor devices. Without being limiting, such a system could include a computer system, still or video camera system, scanner, machine vision, video phone, and auto focus system, or other imager applications. 
     System  1100 , for example a camera system, generally comprises a central processing unit (CPU)  1102 , such as a microprocessor, that communicates with an input/output (I/O) device  1106  over a bus  1104 . Imaging device  300  also communicates with the CPU  1102  over the bus  1104 . The processor-based system  1100  also includes random access memory (RAM)  1110 , and can include removable memory  1115 , such as flash memory, which also communicate with the CPU  1102  over the bus  1104 . The imaging device  300  may be combined with a processor, such as a CPU, digital signal processor, or microprocessor, with or without memory storage on a single integrated circuit or on a different chip than the processor. 
     While the invention has been described in detail in connection with exemplary embodiments known at the time, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the methods can be used with pixels in other patterns than the described Bayer pattern, and the correction kernels would be adjusted accordingly. In addition, the invention is not limited to the type of imager device in which it is used. Thus, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7