Post by thread:[EE] "Black sun" effect in CMOS camera sensors

I'm looking for a good technical description of what is occurring in a CMOS camera/imaging sensor when it is significantly over-saturated. For the uninitiated, this is known as the black sun effect, named for taking a picture of the sun causing a black pixels where the brightest part of the sun should be. I don't know if this is the "official" name of this phenomenon, I've been searching but I can't find any reputable papers or technical descriptions of what's actually going on on the chip. -- Martin K

I was looking at that recently. The patent description at http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6873363/description.html sums it up pretty well. On 15 May 2012 17:32, M.L. <spam_OUTmTakeThisOuTlkeng.net> wrote: {Quote hidden}> I'm looking for a good technical description of what is occurring in a > CMOS camera/imaging sensor when it is significantly over-saturated. > > For the uninitiated, this is known as the black sun effect, named for > taking a picture of the sun causing a black pixels where the brightest > part of the sun should be. > > I don't know if this is the "official" name of this phenomenon, I've > been searching but I can't find any reputable papers or technical > descriptions of what's actually going on on the chip. > > -- > Martin K. >

Thanks, Brendan On Tue, May 15, 2012 at 1:01 PM, Brendan Gillatt <.....brendanKILLspam@spam@brendangillatt.co.uk> wrote: > I was looking at that recently. The patent description at > http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6873363/description.html sums it up > pretty well. > > On 15 May 2012 17:32, M.L. <mKILLspamlkeng.net> wrote: >> I'm looking for a good technical description of what is occurring in a >> CMOS camera/imaging sensor when it is significantly over-saturated

On Tue, May 15, 2012 at 9:32 AM, M.L. <.....mKILLspam.....lkeng.net> wrote: > I'm looking for a good technical description of what is occurring in a > CMOS camera/imaging sensor when it is significantly over-saturated. > > For the uninitiated, this is known as the black sun effect, named for > taking a picture of the sun causing a black pixels where the brightest > part of the sun should be. Are you preparing to take some pictures of the upcoming Transit of Venus? :

On Wed, May 16, 2012 at 12:39 PM, Alex Harford <EraseMEharfordspam_OUTTakeThisOuTgmail.com> wrote: > On Tue, May 15, 2012 at 9:32 AM, M.L. <mspam_OUTlkeng.net> wrote: >> I'm looking for a good technical description of what is occurring in a >> CMOS camera/imaging sensor when it is significantly over-saturated. >> >> For the uninitiated, this is known as the black sun effect, named for >> taking a picture of the sun causing a black pixels where the brightest >> part of the sun should be. > > Are you preparing to take some pictures of the upcoming Transit of Venus? :) Good guess. I'm imaging a laser beam. -- Martin K