Check patentability & draft patents in minutes with Patsnap Eureka AI!

A pixel signal readout method for an image sensor

An image sensor, pixel signal technology, used in image communication, instruments, parts of color TV, etc.

Active Publication Date: 2018-01-12
GPIXEL
View PDF5 Cites 0 Cited by
  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

In this case, each analog-to-digital converter of the image sensor in the prior art is only used to convert a corresponding column of pixel signals, and when the windowing operation in the column direction is performed, only the analog-to-digital conversion unit located below the column of interest works

Method used

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View more

Image

Smart Image Click on the blue labels to locate them in the text.
Viewing Examples
Smart Image
  • A pixel signal readout method for an image sensor
  • A pixel signal readout method for an image sensor
  • A pixel signal readout method for an image sensor

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

Embodiment 1

[0044] like Figure 4a As shown, the image sensor has N columns of pixels, and one analog-to-digital conversion unit is placed under each column of pixels. The number of windows opened is 1, and the number of columns in this window is n 1 . The bus transmission module adopts a bus transmission unit, which can simultaneously transmit n 1 Road pixel signal. Assuming that the time required for an analog-to-digital conversion is T, set N / n 1 The value of takes an integer, let the integer be M, and divide this time into M time periods. The window pixel readout method comprises the following steps:

[0045] Step 1. In the first time period, the n of the first row of the window 1 The column pixel signal is sampled to the 1st~nth through the bus transmission unit 1 Among the column analog-to-digital converters, such as Figure 4a shown;

[0046] Step 2. In any later period i, i=2,...M; 1 The column pixel signal is sampled to the (i-1)×nth through the bus transmission unit 1...

Embodiment 2

[0051] Assuming that the image sensor has N columns of pixels, the number of windows opened is 1, the number of columns of windows is n, and the time required for an analog-to-digital conversion is T; the value of N / 2n is taken as an integer, and the integer is M, then The time T required for an analog-to-digital conversion is divided into M time periods; the windowed pixel readout method comprises the following steps:

[0052] Step 1. In the first time period, the 2n pixel signals of the first and second rows of the window are sampled to any 2n-way column analog-to-digital converter through the bus transmission module;

[0053] Step 2. In any later period i, i=2,...M; pass the 2n pixel signals of the 2nd (i-1)+1, 2(i-1)+2 rows of the window through the bus transmission module Sampling to any other 2n-way column analog-to-digital converter that does not store pixel signals, and so on, within one analog-to-digital conversion time T, the pixel signals of 2M rows of the window ar...

Embodiment 3

[0058] Assuming that the image sensor has N columns of pixels, the number of windows opened is 1, the number of columns of windows is n, and the time required for an analog-to-digital conversion is T; the value of 2N / n is taken as an integer, and the integer is M, then The time T required for an analog-to-digital conversion is divided into M time periods; the windowed pixel readout method comprises the following steps:

[0059] Step 1. In the first and second time periods, sample the n-column pixel signals in the first row of the window to any n-way column analog-to-digital converters through the bus transmission module;

[0060] Step 2. In the third and fourth time periods, sample the n-column pixel signals in the second row of the window to any n-column analog-to-digital converters that do not store the pixel signals through the bus transmission module; By analogy, within an analog-to-digital conversion time T, the pixel signals of the M / 2 rows in the window are sampled to t...

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

PUM

No PUM Login to View More

Abstract

The invention relates to a pixel signal readout method for an image sensor, the method is as follows: a bus transmission module is added between the pixel array and the column analog-to-digital converter array; the time T required for one analog-to-digital conversion is divided into M times In each time period, multiple pixel signals in the opened window are sampled to the column analog-to-digital converter through the bus transmission module, and all pixel signals collected in M ​​time periods are each pixel The signal corresponds to a column analog-to-digital converter; after the pixel signal is collected for M time periods, all the column analog-to-digital converters that store the pixel signal work at the same time to perform analog-to-digital conversion, and the result of the data conversion is performed by the data output module output. The invention time-shares multiple pixel signals of one or more regions into the storage unit of the column analog-to-digital converter array, and then performs analog-to-digital conversion and readout simultaneously, thereby improving the frame frequency of the image sensor.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of semiconductor image sensing, and in particular relates to a method for reading out pixel signals of an image sensor. Background technique [0002] The speed of the image sensor is the frame rate, which is an important indicator of the performance of the image sensor. For image sensors that employ column A / D conversion, an A / D converter is typically placed under each column of the pixel array. Its structure is as figure 1 As shown, in one row time, the pixel signal of each column is converted by the digital-to-analog converter located under the pixel and output by the data output module. [0003] In many applications, the user is only interested in a part of the columns in the pixel array, at this time, the windowing operation can be performed, such as figure 2 As shown, only the pixel signal of the column of interest is output. In this case, each analog-to-digital converter of the image sensor in the...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

Application Information

Patent Timeline
no application Login to View More
Patent Type & Authority Patents(China)
IPC IPC(8): H04N5/341G06F13/40
Inventor 马成王欣洋
Owner GPIXEL
Features
  • R&D
  • Intellectual Property
  • Life Sciences
  • Materials
  • Tech Scout
Why Patsnap Eureka
  • Unparalleled Data Quality
  • Higher Quality Content
  • 60% Fewer Hallucinations
Social media
Patsnap Eureka Blog
Learn More

Browse by: Latest US Patents, China's latest patents, Technical Efficacy Thesaurus, Application Domain, Technology Topic, Popular Technical Reports.

© 2025 PatSnap. All rights reserved.Legal|Privacy policy|Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement|Sitemap|About US| Contact US: help@patsnap.com