Television – Camera – system and detail – Support or housing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-27
2004-09-14
Vu, Ngoc-Yen (Department: 2612)
Television
Camera, system and detail
Support or housing
C348S086000, C348S280000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06791619
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a system and method for recording data that is for the management of solid-state electronic image sensing devices, a system and method for sensing the management data of solid-state electronic image sensing devices, and a solid-state electronic image sensing device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Formed on the front side of a solid-state electronic image sensing device is an imaging area on which the image of a subject is formed. The imaging area is covered with a transparent material such as glass.
Management data (product name, typical specifications, revision number, lot number, applied voltage, date of manufacture, etc.) is recorded on the solid-state electronic image sensing device. If such management data is recorded on the transparent material covering the imaging area, it has an effect upon the image sensing capability of the device. For this reason, the usual practice is to record the device management data on the back side of the solid-state electronic image sensing device.
When the management data is recorded on the back side of the solid-state electronic image sensing device, however, the data is difficult to read after the solid-state electronic image sensing device is mounted. This is because the device is mounted on a circuit board or heat sink with its back side in intimate contact with the board or heat sink. Since the management data is difficult to read, fault analysis of the solid-state electronic image sensing device and control of it, such as changing the applied voltage, also are difficult because the management data is used for such purposes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to read management data comparatively simply even when a solid-state electronic image sensing device is mounted on a circuit board or heat sink, etc., in intimate contact therewith.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, the foregoing object is attained by providing a system for recording management data that is for managing solid-state electronic image sensing devices, comprising: a positioning table for placing a solid-state electronic image sensing device at a predetermined position; a management-data input device (management-data input means) for inputting management data concerning the solid-state electronic image sensing device; and a recording control device (recording control means) for recording the management data, which has been input from the management-data input device, in a non-effective imaging zone within an imaging area of the solid-state electronic image sensing device placed on the positioning table.
The first aspect of the present invention provides also a method suited to the system described above. Specifically, the method comprises the steps of placing a solid-state electronic image sensing device at a predetermined position; inputting management data concerning the solid-state electronic image sensing device; and recording the input management data in a non-effective imaging zone within an imaging area of the solid-state electronic image sensing device that has been placed.
In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, a solid-state electronic image sensing device is placed on the positioning table and the data for managing the solid-state electronic image sensing device is entered. The recording control device then records the entered management data in the non-effective imaging zone within the imaging area of the solid-state electronic image sensing device.
By capturing the image of a subject using the solid-state electronic image sensing device on which the management data has been recorded in the non-effective imaging zone, the solid-state electronic image sensing device outputs subject-image data representing the image of the subject. The management data can be obtained from the subject image data output by the device.
Since the management data is not recorded on the back side of the solid-state electronic image sensing device, the management data can be read even after the solid-state electronic image sensing device has been mounted on a circuit board or heat sink.
The management data can be recorded by shielding the pixels of the non-effective imaging zone from light. More specifically, the management data can be recorded in bits with pixels serving as the basic units. The management data can be recorded as a binary-coded decimal number. Here “A” through “F”, which are not used in decimal numbers, can be employed as recording start and end markers. Further, the management data can be recorded as a binary-coded hexadecimal number. When management data is recorded by a binary-coded hexadecimal number, a specific combination of patterns can be used as start and end markers. If a position at which the management data is recorded is decided in advance, start and end markers will be unnecessary.
When each pixel of the solid-state electronic image sensing device has been formed on a photodiode from a smoothing layer, color filter and on-chip lens, etc., the management data can be recorded in the non-effective imaging zone of the solid-state electronic image sensing device by destroying the photodiode or by blackening at least one of the smoothing layer, color filter and on-chip lens. Blackening can be carried out by using a laser.
Further, an arrangement may be adopted in which the management data is recorded in the non-effective imaging zone by not forming at least one of the smoothing layer, color filter and on-chip lens at each pixel of the solid-state electronic image sensing device. Alternatively, an arrangement may be adopted in which the management data is recorded by forming a black color filter in the non-effective imaging zone.
Further, an arrangement may be adopted in which the management data is recorded in the non-effective imaging zone of the solid-state electronic image sensing device in units of a plurality of pixels.
Further, an arrangement may be adopted in which a plurality of items of management data are recorded in different areas of the non-effective imaging zone. The management data may be the same or different.
Recording a plurality of the same items of management data makes it possible to prevent errors in reading the management data.
An arrangement may be adopted in which a check code (checksum, error correction code, etc.) for checking the management data is recorded in the non-effective imaging zone. An error in the management data can be checked utilizing the check code.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the foregoing object is attained by providing a system for sensing management data that is for managing solid-state electronic image sensing devices, comprising: a driving device (driving means) for driving a solid-state electronic image sensing device having management data recorded in a non-effective imaging zone within an imaging area; an image sensing device (image sensing means) for sensing an image of a subject using the solid-state electronic image sensing device driven by the driving device, and outputting subject-image data representing the image of the subject; and a management-data output device (management-data output means) for outputting the management data from subject-image data output by the image sensing device.
The second aspect of the present invention provides also a method suited to the system described above. Specifically, the method comprises the steps of driving a solid-state electronic image sensing device, which has management data recorded in a non-effective imaging zone within an imaging area, using a driving device (driving means); sensing an image of a subject using the driven solid-state electronic image sensing device and obtaining subject-image data representing the image of the subject; and outputting the management data from the subject-image data that has been obtained.
In accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, subject-image data representing the image of a subject is output by
Birch & Stewart Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Fuji Photo Film Co. , Ltd.
Vu Ngoc-Yen
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