Title :
A CCD/CMOS-based imager with integrated focal plane signal processing
Author :
Keast, Craig L. ; Sodini, Charles G.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. Eng. & Comput. Sci., MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
fDate :
4/1/1993 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
Using a CCD/CMOS technology, a fully parallel 4×4 focal plane processor, which performs image acquisition, smoothing, and segmentation, has been fabricated and characterized. In this chip, image brightness is converted into signal charge using charge-coupled-device (CCD) imaging techniques. The Gaussian smoothing operation is approximated by the repeated application of a simple nearest-neighbor binomial convolution mask, realizing the first known use of a true two-dimensional charge division and transfer process. The design allows full control of the spatial extent of the smoothing operation, and incorporates segmentation circuits with global variable threshold control at each pixel location to preserve edges in the image. The processed image is read out using a standard CCD clocking scheme
Keywords :
CCD image sensors; CMOS integrated circuits; analogue processing circuits; image processing equipment; image segmentation; 2D charge transfer process; CCD clocking scheme; CCD/CMOS-based imager; Gaussian smoothing operation; charge-coupled-device; computer vision; image acquisition; image segmentation; image smoothing; integrated focal plane signal processing; machine vision; nearest-neighbor binomial convolution mask; two-dimensional charge division; Brightness; CMOS process; CMOS technology; Charge coupled devices; Circuits; Convolution; Image converters; Image segmentation; Process design; Smoothing methods;
Journal_Title :
Solid-State Circuits, IEEE Journal of
