Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080204582 | Image sensors, interfaces and methods capable of suppressing effects of parasitic capacitances - An interface capable of suppressing parasitic capacitance effects includes an array of switches switched in response to a switching signal. The interface suppresses effects of parasitic capacitance included in a bus, which transmits a reset signal and an image signal output from an image sensor. The suppressed parasitic capacitance effects suppress distortion of a digital image signal. | 08-28-2008 |
20120133808 | CORRELATED DOUBLE SAMPLING CIRCUIT, METHOD THEREOF AND DEVICES HAVING THE SAME - A CDS circuit is provided. The CDS circuit includes a signal compressor which compresses each of a pixel signal and a ramp signal using capacitive dividing and outputs a compressed pixel signal and a compressed ramp signal, and a comparator which compares the compressed pixel signal with the compressed ramp signal and outputs a comparative signal corresponding to a comparison result. | 05-31-2012 |
20130009800 | DUAL-MODE COMPARATOR AND ANALOG TO DIGITAL CONVERTER HAVING THE SAME - A dual-mode comparator may include an object voltage input unit that generates a first current flowing through a first path and a second current flowing through a second path based on a first object voltage and a second object voltage, a current mirror unit that performs a current-mirror operation for the first path and the second path to output a comparison voltage at an output terminal, a bias unit that generates a bias current corresponding to a sum of the first current and the second current, and a mode switching unit that controls the current mirror unit to have a first structure in an auto-zero mode and that controls the current mirror unit to have a second structure in a comparison mode. | 01-10-2013 |
20130093910 | IMAGE SENSOR AND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - An image sensor is disclosed. The image sensor includes a plurality of pixels, a plurality of transmission lines connected to each of the pixels, respectively, and a plurality of comparators configured to compare each of a plurality of control signals transmitted through each of the transmission lines with a reference signal and output a comparative signal based on the result of the comparison. | 04-18-2013 |
20130201361 | Image Sensor and Image Processing Apparatus Using the Same - An image sensor senses object information and converts the sensed object information into an electrical signal. An image processing apparatus uses the image sensor. The image sensor includes a column signal line connected to output terminals of a plurality of pixel sensors, a comparator circuit configured to output a signal corresponding to a comparison result of a signal output to the column signal line and a reference signal, an ADC circuit configured to convert an analog signal corresponding to an optical signal sensed by the pixel sensor selected from the plurality of pixel sensors connected to the column signal line into digital data based on the signal output from the comparator circuit and, a load circuit connected in series to the comparator circuit between the column signal line and a ground terminal, wherein the load circuit is configured as a common load device of the plurality of pixel sensors connected to the column signal line and the comparator circuit. | 08-08-2013 |
20140103192 | BINARY CMOS IMAGE SENSORS, METHODS OF OPERATING SAME, AND IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEMS INCLUDING SAME - A binary complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor includes a pixel array and a readout circuit. The pixel array includes at least one pixel having a plurality of sub-pixels. The readout circuit is configured to quantize a pixel signal output from the pixel using a reference signal. The pixel signal corresponds to sub-pixel signals output from sub-pixels, from among the plurality of sub-pixels, activated in response to incident light. | 04-17-2014 |
20140103401 | IMAGE SENSOR - An image sensor is provided. The image sensor includes a well of a second conductivity type formed on an impurity layer of a first conductivity type, source and drain regions of the first conductivity type, formed in the well to be spaced apart from each other, a first photo diode of the first conductivity type formed in the well to overlap the source and drain regions, a second photo diode of the first conductivity type formed so as not to overlap the source and drain regions and formed to be adjacent to the first photo diode, and a gate electrode formed on the first and second photo diodes. | 04-17-2014 |
20140103413 | CMOS IMAGE SENSORS WITH PHOTOGATE STRUCTURES AND SENSING TRANSISTORS, OPERATION METHODS THEREOF, AND IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEMS INCLUDING THE SAME - ACMOS image sensor includes a pixel array having a plurality of pixels. Each of the plurality of pixels includes: a photogate structure configured to be controlled based on a first gate voltage; and a sensing transistor including a charge pocket region formed in a substrate region, the sensing transistor being configured to be controlled based on a second gate voltage. Based on the first gate voltage, the photogate structure is configured to integrate charges generated in response to light incident on the substrate region. The sensing transistor is configured to adjust at least one of a threshold voltage of the sensing transistor and a current flow in the sensing transistor according to charges transferred from the photogate structure to the charge pocket region based on a difference between the first gate voltage and the second gate voltage. | 04-17-2014 |
20140104452 | SUB-PIXELS, IMAGE SENSORS HAVING THE SAME AND IMAGE SENSING SYSTEMS - A sub pixel includes a photodetector and a column line output circuit. The photodetector is configured to output an electrical signal based on a detected amount of photons. The column line output circuit is configured to generate an output signal based on the electrical signal. The output signal is one of a current from a current source and a comparison signal indicative of binary output data. | 04-17-2014 |
20140104469 | IMAGE SENSORS, IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEMS INCLUDING THE SAME, AND METHODS OF OPERATING IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM - An image sensor includes a pixel array and a row driver block. The pixel array includes a plurality of subpixel groups, each including a plurality of subpixels. Each of the plurality of subpixels is configured to generate a subpixel signal corresponding to photocharge accumulated in response to a photon. The row driver block is configured to generate a first control signal to control the subpixels included in each of the plurality of subpixel groups to accumulate the photocharge in parallel from a first time point to a second time point. | 04-17-2014 |
20140104473 | IMAGE SENSOR CHIPS - An image sensor chip includes a first wafer and a second wafer. The first wafer includes an image sensor having a plurality of sub-pixels, each of which is configured to detect at least one photon and output a sub-pixel signal according to a result of the detection. The image processor is configured to process sub-pixel signals for each sub-pixel and generate image data. The first wafer and the second wafer are formed in a wafer stack structure. | 04-17-2014 |
20140333813 | CORRELATED DOUBLE SAMPLING CIRCUIT, METHOD THEREOF AND DEVICES HAVING THE SAME - A CDS circuit includes first capacitors; second capacitors; and a switch arrangement which, in response to a switch control signal, connects the first capacitors in series between a pixel signal output node and a ground to compress the pixel signal and connects the second capacitors in series between a ramp signal output node and the ground to compress the ramp signal, or connects the first capacitors in parallel between the pixel signal output node and a first input node of the comparator and connects the second capacitors in parallel between the ramp signal output node and a second input node of the comparator. | 11-13-2014 |
20150034803 | IMAGE SENSOR AND METHOD OF DRIVING THE SAME - Provided are an image sensor and a method of driving the same. The image sensor includes n optical black pixels which are arranged in the same horizontal line; and m comparators which are matched with the n optical black pixels, wherein n is a natural number greater than or equal to two, and m is a natural number greater than n. | 02-05-2015 |
20150049230 | IMAGE SENSOR AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME - A method of operating an image sensor includes generating a plurality of sub pixel signals using a sub pixel group. The sub pixel group includes a plurality of sub pixels and corresponds to a single pixel. The method further includes generating a pixel signal having a plurality of bits based on a result of comparing the sub pixel signals with a reference voltage. Each of the sub pixels is a 1-transistor (1T) pixel that detects at least one photogenerated charge and includes only one transistor. | 02-19-2015 |
20150062397 | IMAGE SENSOR FOR SUPPLYING A DIFFERENT VOLTAGE TO PIXELS BASED ON ILLUMINATION CHANGE, OPERATION METHOD THEREOF, AND DEVICE HAVING AN IMAGE SENSOR - An image sensor includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixels, a row driver configured to control an operation of each of the plurality of pixels, a voltage supply line connected to a reset transistor included in each of the plurality of pixels, and a voltage supply circuit which detects a signal from the voltage supply line and supplies one of a first voltage and a second voltage to the voltage supply line based on the signal from the voltage supply line. | 03-05-2015 |