AR0230CS
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12
Tone Mapping
Real−world scenes often have a very high dynamic range
(HDR) that far exceeds the electrical dynamic range of the
imager. Dynamic range is defined as the luminance ratio
between the brightest and the darkest objects in a scene.
Even though the AR0230CS can capture full dynamic range
images, the images are still limited by the low dynamic
range of display devices. Today’s typical LCD monitor has
a contrast ratio around 1,000:1 while it is not atypical for an
HDR image having a contrast ratio of around 250,000:1.
Therefore, in order to reproduce HDR images on a low
dynamic range display device, the captured high dynamic
range must be compressed to the available range of the
display device. This is commonly called tone mapping. The
AR0230CS has implemented an adaptive local tone
mapping (ALTM) feature to reproduce visually appealing
images that increase the local contrast and the visibility of
the images.
Adaptive Color Difference (ADACD) Noise Filtering
A good noise reduction filter will remove noise from an
image while retaining as much image detail as possible. To
retain image detail, the noise reduction filter must adapt to
the image signal. To remove noise, the noise reduction filter
must adapt to the noise level of the image signal. The key is
to remove the appropriate amount of noise. Over−filtering
will cause image blurring while under−filtering will leave
noise in the image. The AdaCD algorithm relies on a noise
model derived from characterization data to aid in
separating noise from signal.
The AR0230CS AdaCD algorithm performs
pixel−by−pixel color noise correction for each of the red,
blue, and green color planes. Each pixel is corrected based
on surrounding pixel values on the same color plane and a
noise model. The noise model is based on characterization
data, and takes into account applied analog gain.
Fast Mode Switch (Combi Mode)
To facilitate faster switching between linear and HDR
modes, the AR0230CS includes a Combi Mode feature.
When enabled, Combi Mode loads a single (HDR)
sequencer. When switching from HDR to linear modes, the
sequencer remains the same, but only the T1 image is output.
While not optimized for linear mode operation, it allows
faster mode switching as a new sequencer load is not needed.
Switching between modes may result in the output of one
bad frame.
Analog/Digital Gain
A programmable analog gain of 1.5x to 12x (HDR) and
1.5x to 16x (linear) applied simultaneously to all color
channels will be featured along with a digital gain of 1x to
16x that may be configured on a per color channel basis.
Skipping/Binning Modes
The AR0230CS supports subsampling. Subsampling
allows the sensor to read out a smaller set of active pixels by
either skipping, binning, or summing pixels within the
readout window. Horizontal binning is achieved in the
digital readout. The sensor will sample the combined 2x
adjacent pixels within the same color plane. Vertical row
binning is applied in the pixel readout. Row binning can be
configured as 2x rows within the same color plane. Pixel
skipping can be configured up to 2x in both the x−direction
and y−direction. Skipping pixels in the x−direction will not
reduce the row time. Skipping pixels in the y direction will
reduce the number of rows from the sensor effectively
reducing the frame time. Skipping will introduce image
artifacts from aliasing.
The AR0230CS supports row wise vertical binning. Row
wise vertical summing is not supported.
Clocking Options
The sensor contains a phase−locked loop (PLL) that is
used for timing generation and control. The required VCO
clock frequency is attained through the use of a pre−PLL
clock divider followed by a multiplier. The PLL multiplier
should be an even integer. If an odd integer (M) is
programmed, the PLL will default to the lower (M−1) value
to maintain an even multiplier value. The multiplier is
followed by a set of dividers used to generate the output
clocks required for the sensor array, the pixel analog and
digital readout paths, and the output parallel and serial
interfaces. Use of the PLL is required when using the HiSPi
interface.
Temperature Sensor
The AR0230CS sensor has a built−in PTAT−based
temperature sensor, accessible through registers, that is
capable of measuring die junction temperature. The value
read out from the temperature sensor register is an ADC
output value that needs to be converted downstream to a
final temperature value in degrees Celsius. Since the PTAT
device characteristic response is quite linear in the
temperature range of operation required, a simple linear
function can be used to convert the ADC output value to the
final temperature in degrees Celsius.
A single reference point will be made available via
register read as well as a slope for back−calculating the
junction temperature value. An error of +/−5% or better over
the full specified operating range of the sensor is to be
expected.
Silicon / Firmware / Sequencer Revision Information
A revision register will be provided to read out (via I2C)
silicon and sequencer/OTPM revision information. This
will be helpful to distinguish among dif ferent lots of material
if there are future OTPM or sequencer revisions.
Lens Shading Correction
The latest lens shading correction algorithm will be
included for potential low Z height applications.
Companding
The 16−bit linearized HDR image may be compressed to
12− or 14− bits using on−chip companding. This is useful if