Readout Circuitry For Image Sensor

Abstract

Readout circuitry to readout an array of image sensor pixels includes readout units that include a plurality of analog-to-digital converters ('ADCs'), a plurality of blocks of Static Random-Access Memory ('SRAM'), and a plurality of blocks of Dynamic Random-Access Memory ('DRAM'). The plurality ADCs is coupled to readout analog image signals two-dimensional blocks of the array of image sensor pixels. The plurality of blocks of SRAM is coupled to receive digital image signals from the ADCs. The digital image signals are representative of the analog image signal readout from the two-dimensional block of pixels. The plurality of blocks of DRAM is coupled to the blocks of SRAM. Each block of SRAM is coupled to sequentially output the digital image signals to each of the blocks of DRAM. Each of the readout units are coupled to output the digital image signals as a plurality of Input / Output ('IO') signals.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates generally to image sensors, and more particularly to readout circuits for image sensors. Background technique [0002] An image sensor is an electronic device that converts light (in the form of an optical image) into an electrical signal. Modern image sensors are typically semiconductor charge-coupled devices ("CCDs") or active pixel sensors fabricated using complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor ("COMS") technology. [0003] CMOS image sensors have become ubiquitous in many modern electronic devices. Cell phones, laptop computers, and video cameras can all utilize CMOS image sensors as the primary method of image / light detection. Device manufacturers are striving to increase the performance of image sensors to meet retail and commercial demands while keeping costs down. [0004] One desirable feature of an image sensor is to have a bursty high frame rate for capturing slow motion video and images, among other use cas...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, capturing high resolution, high frame rate images presents a bottleneck challenge between capturing images of image sensor pixels with pixel arrays and storing digital images to memory

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