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Image sensor apparatus and processing circuit capable of preventing sampled reset/exposure charges from light illumination as well as achieving lower circuit costs

a processing circuit and image sensor technology, applied in the field of image sensor architecture, can solve the problems of circuit cost increase and signal distortion introduction

Active Publication Date: 2022-03-03
PIXART IMAGING INC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This design decreases circuit costs and prevents signal distortion by using fewer transistor circuits and eliminating light-induced interference, enabling accurate calculation of pixel values with reduced noise.

Problems solved by technology

In addition, the signal distortion will be introduced if the reset charge signal and the sensed / sampled pixel signal are temporarily stored in the pixel cell units which are illuminated by light.
The circuit costs are higher.

Method used

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  • Image sensor apparatus and processing circuit capable of preventing sampled reset/exposure charges from light illumination as well as achieving lower circuit costs
  • Image sensor apparatus and processing circuit capable of preventing sampled reset/exposure charges from light illumination as well as achieving lower circuit costs
  • Image sensor apparatus and processing circuit capable of preventing sampled reset/exposure charges from light illumination as well as achieving lower circuit costs

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Experimental program
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Embodiment Construction

[0012]FIG. 1 is a diagram of an image sensor apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. The image sensor apparatus 100 comprises a pixel array 105 which comprises a plurality of pixel units 110 such as N×M pixel units wherein N and M are identical / different integers. A or each pixel unit 110 comprises an image sensor cell (or pixel cell) 110A and a processing circuit 110B; that is, the image sensor apparatus 100 comprises N×M image sensor cells 110A and N×M processing circuits 110B. The image sensor apparatus 100 further comprises a controlling circuit 115 which is used for generating control signal(s) and voltage(s) to control the operation of each pixel unit 110 so as to read out sampled exposure charge signal and reset charge signal to calculate a corresponding pixel value.

[0013]The image sensor cell 110A comprises a photodiode PD, a first floating diffusion node FD, a transfer transistor Q1, a reset transistor Q2, and transistors Nsf and Q3. The processing circui...

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Abstract

An image sensor apparatus includes a pixel array having pixel units each including an image sensor cell and a processing circuit. The processing circuit includes a bias transistor, second floating diffusion node, first switch unit, signal transfer capacitor, reset transfer capacitor, second switch unit, and third switch unit. Bias transistor is coupled between first and second floating diffusion nodes and has control terminal coupled to bias voltage. First switch unit is coupled between first and second floating diffusion nodes. Second switch unit is coupled between second floating diffusion node and signal transfer capacitor. Third switch unit is coupled between second floating diffusion node and reset transfer capacitor. Signal transfer capacitor is selectively coupled to second floating diffusion node. Reset transfer capacitor is selectively coupled to second floating diffusion node.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention[0001]The invention relates to the architecture of an image sensor, and more particularly to an image sensor apparatus and processing circuit capable of preventing sampled reset / exposure charges from light illumination as well as achieving lower circuit costs.2. Description of the Prior Art[0002]Generally speaking, a conventional image sensor device may use two separate and different circuit paths to store the reset charge signal and the sensed / sampled pixel signal which are transmitted from each pixel cell unit. More transistor circuits are needed to implement all pixel cell units of a pixel array of the conventional image sensor device.[0003]In addition, the signal distortion will be introduced if the reset charge signal and the sensed / sampled pixel signal are temporarily stored in the pixel cell units which are illuminated by light. Further, if a conventional image sensor device is arranged to directly obtain the reset charge si...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): H04N5/378H04N5/369H04N5/3745H04N5/355
CPCH04N5/378H04N5/3559H04N5/3745H04N5/379H04N25/771H04N25/77H04N25/78H04N25/616H04N25/75H04N25/59H04N25/79
Inventor TANG, KUANCHIU, YI-CHENGCHIU, JUI-TE
Owner PIXART IMAGING INC