Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080266155 | Column Parallel Readout with a Differential Sloped A/D Converter - A dual slope A/D converter uses two opposite sense ramps added to its differential input. The value in a digital counter is latched at the time when the two ramps intersect. This enables a more consistent switching point, allowing the amplifier to the linear over a larger part of its range. | 10-30-2008 |
20090166545 | SHIELDING AN IMAGING ARRAY FROM X-RAY NOISE - An electronic imaging sensor, which has an improved immunity to noise caused by unwanted x-rays, images an object by collecting charge carriers produced in the sensor when the object is exposed to x-rays. One or more shielding areas are formed proximate the sensor to capture or sweep away any undesirable charge carriers generated by the unwanted x-rays. The shielding areas extend deeper beneath the surface of the sensor than the depth at which the desired charge carriers corresponding to the object being imaged is collected. The shielding areas capture charge carriers formed by the unwanted x-rays, which penetrate into the sensor to a greater depth than the depth at which the desired charge carriers are collected. In this way, the undesirable charge carriers are captured near the region where they are generated and before they migrate towards the surface where they can be collected and manifest as noise in the resulting image of the object. | 07-02-2009 |
20100187407 | IMAGING DEVICE - The present invention relates to improved imaging devices having high dynamic range and to monitoring and automatic control systems incorporating the improved imaging devices. | 07-29-2010 |
20100188540 | IMAGING DEVICE - The present invention relates to improved imaging devices having high dynamic range and to monitoring and automatic control systems incorporating the improved imaging devices. | 07-29-2010 |
20140042301 | Input Offset Cancellation for Charge Mode Readout Image Sensors - An image sensor that uses the same capacitor to sample the image and the amplifier offset. Readout is thus inherently compensated. | 02-13-2014 |
20140077986 | Segmented Column-Parallel Analog-to-Digital Converter - A successive approximation A/D converter which includes a sub ranging classifier that receives an input signal and classifies said input signal according to plural different highest resolution bits, to determine a range of the input signal, and creating a set of most significant bits based on said range, said subranging classifier also setting and determining an offset based on said range, and a successive approximation A/D converted that converting lowest resolution parts of the input signal as adjusted by the offset. | 03-20-2014 |
20140246562 | Dual Reset Branch Analog-to-Digital Conversion - Methods and systems for analog-to-digital conversion using two side branches that may be operated with overlapped timing such that a sampling phase may be overlapped with a previous conversion phase. Some embodiments provide a method of successive approximation A/D converting, comprising sampling a first signal onto a first capacitor that is configured to selectively couple to an analog input of a comparator, sampling a second signal onto capacitors that are coupled to a second analog input of the comparator and configured for charge redistribution successive approximation A/D conversion; carrying out, based on the first signal and the second signal, a charge redistribution successive approximation A/D conversion using the capacitors; and while carrying out the charge redistribution successive approximation A/D conversion based on the first and second signals, sampling a third signal onto a third capacitor that is configured to selectively couple to the analog input of a comparator. | 09-04-2014 |
20150090863 | Stacked Photodiodes for Extended Dynamic Range and Low Light Color Discrimination - The invention provides the art with novel image sensor pixel designs comprising stacked, pinned photodiodes. The stacked pinned photodiodes provide pixels with greatly increased dynamic range. The stacked pinned photodiodes also allow improved color discrimination for low light imaging, for example utilizing pixels with no overlaying color filter array. | 04-02-2015 |
20150091114 | Elemental Stacked Image Sensor - Provided herein is a novel stacked pixel design for image sensor applications. The stacked pixel designs may comprise a first and second wafer, wherein the first wafer is an elemental wafer comprising a photodiode and minimal additional components, such that material selection and processing steps of the first wafer may be optimized for the creation of a high quality photodiode. The second wafer comprises components necessary for the readout and reset of the photodiode on the first wafer. | 04-02-2015 |