Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130062500 | IMAGE SENSOR APPARATUS USING SHADED PHOTODETECTOR FOR TIME OF FLIGHT DETERMINATION - A unit pixel for an image sensor includes an accumulation circuit configured to generate an accumulated dark current by accumulating a charge corresponding to a dark current during a time of flight (TOF), the accumulation circuit being optically shaded to generate the dark current, an output voltage generation circuit configured to generate and output an output voltage corresponding to the TOF based on a charge corresponding to the accumulated dark current, a control circuit configured to control an operation of the output voltage generation circuit based on a light signal that is input to the unit pixel after being reflected by an object, the light signal being emitted by a light source, and an initialization circuit configured to initialize the accumulation circuit at a predetermined cycle. | 03-14-2013 |
20130099341 | IMAGE SENSOR FOR STABILIZING A BLACK LEVEL - An image sensor includes first pixels, second pixels and a deep trench. The first pixels are formed in an active region of a semiconductor substrate, and configured to measure photo-charges corresponding to incident light. The second pixels are formed in an optical-black region of the semiconductor substrate, and are configured to measure black levels. The deep trench is formed vertically in a boundary region of the optical-black region, where the boundary region is adjacent to the active region, and configured to block leakage light and diffusion carriers from the active region. | 04-25-2013 |
20130141619 | IMAGE SENSORS AND IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICES INCLUDING THE SAME - An image sensor may include a photodiode configured to convert an optical signal into photogenerated charge, a sensing node adjacent to the photodiode and configured to sense the photogenerated charge, a read-out circuit configured to convert the photogenerated charge into an electrical signal and to output the electrical signal through an output line, and/or at least one capacitor formed between the sensing node and a conversion gain control line. The conversion gain control line corresponding to the at least one capacitor may be selectively connected to a ground line or the output line based on at least one control signal. | 06-06-2013 |
20130188078 | IMAGE SENSOR, OPERATING METHOD THEREOF, AND PORTABLE DEVICE HAVING THE SAME - An image sensor includes a photo detector for accumulating charges in response to an incident light, a storage unit for storing the charges, a first transmission gate for transmitting the charges from the photo detector to the storage unit, a second transmission gate for transmitting the charges from the storage unit to the floating diffusion node, a reset gate for resetting the floating diffusion node in response a reset gate signal, and a coupling circuit connected between the reset gate and the storage unit. | 07-25-2013 |
20130188085 | IMAGE SENSORS HAVING REDUCED DARK CURRENT AND IMAGING DEVICES HAVING THE SAME - An image sensor includes a photo detector for accumulating charges in response to an incident light, a floating diffusion node, a first reset unit connected between a supply voltage node and the floating diffusion node, a transmission unit for transmitting accumulated charges from the photo detector to the floating diffusion node, a source follower output unit for converting charges stored in the floating diffusion node into an output voltage, a first selection unit for outputting the output voltage selectively, and a second selection unit connected between the floating diffusion node and the source follower output unit. Dark current may be reduced or prevented from flowing from the source follower output unit into the floating diffusion node. | 07-25-2013 |
20130201167 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGE SENSOR AND MOBILE DEVICE INCLUDING SAME - A 3D image sensor includes a depth pixel that includes; a photo detector generating photo-charge, first and second floating diffusion regions, a first transfer transistor transferring photo-charge to the first floating diffusion region during a first transfer period in response to a first transfer gate signal, a second transfer transistor transferring photo-charge to the second floating diffusion region during a second transfer period in response to a second transfer gate signal, and an overflow transistor that discharges surplus photo-charge in response to a drive gate signal. Control logic unit controlling operation of the depth pixel includes a first logic element providing the first transfer gate signal, a second logic element providing the second transfer gate signal, and another logic element providing the drive gate signal to the overflow transistor when the first transfer period overlaps, at least in part, the second transfer period. | 08-08-2013 |
20130299934 | PIXEL, PIXEL ARRAY, AND IMAGE SENSOR - A pixel and pixel array for use in an image sensor are provided. The image sensor includes floating sensing nodes symmetrically arranged with respect to a photodiode in each pixel. | 11-14-2013 |
20140002636 | METHOD AND DEVICE OF MEASURING THE DISTANCE TO AN OBJECT | 01-02-2014 |
20140252437 | DEPTH PIXEL INCLUDED IN THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGE SENSOR AND THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGE SENSOR INCLUDING THE SAME - A depth pixel includes a photo detection region, first and second photo gates and first and second floating diffusion regions. The photo detection region collects photo charges based on light reflected by an object. The collected photo charges are drifted in a first direction and a second direction different from the first direction based on an internal electric field in the photo detection region. The first photo gate is activated in response to a first photo control signal. The first floating diffusion region accumulates first photo charges drifted in the first direction if the first photo gate is activated. The second photo gate is activated in response to the first photo control signal. The second floating diffusion region accumulates second photo charges drifted in the second direction if the second photo gate is activated. | 09-11-2014 |
20140313416 | IMAGE SENSOR AND COMPUTING SYSTEM HAVING THE SAME - An image sensor includes a light-electron conversion unit, a signal generation unit, and a selection unit. The light-electron conversion unit generates photo-charges from incident light. The signal generation unit accumulates photo-charges from the converter in a storage node during a detection period, and then generates a first analog signal and a second analog signal during an output period. The analog signals are generated based on an amount of photo-charges accumulated in the storage node. The selection unit generates an image signal based on one of the first analog signal and the second analog signal. | 10-23-2014 |