Pixel circuit, image sensor, camera module and electronic equipment

Abstract

The utility model relates to a pixel circuit, an image sensor, a camera module and electronic equipment. The pixel circuit comprises a photoelectric conversion unit, the first end of which is used for receiving a first voltage, and the photoelectric conversion unit is used for converting an optical signal into an electric signal; the first end of the acquisition circuit is coupled with the second end of the photoelectric conversion unit, the second end is used for receiving a second voltage, the third end is used for being coupled with a row signal line, the fourth end is used for being coupled with a column signal line, and the acquisition circuit is used for acquiring an electric signal to the column signal line under the control of the row signal line; wherein the voltage difference between the second voltage and the first voltage is used for resetting the photoelectric conversion unit, and the voltage difference is fixed. The photoelectric conversion units in the pixel circuits are reset at the fixed voltage difference value, and the voltages of the photoelectric conversion units in the pixel circuits after being reset at different times are the same, so that the phenomenon that stripes appear on a formed image due to the fact that collected electric signals are interfered is avoided, and the image collection quality is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of image acquisition technology, and in particular to a pixel circuit, an image sensor, a camera module, and an electronic device. Background Technology

[0002] In a Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor, the pixel circuitry converts light signals into electrical signals and then acquires these electrical signals. The acquired electrical signals are then processed to form an image. However, because the electrical signals acquired at different times fluctuate differently under interference, the resulting image contains uneven stripes of brightness, leading to poor image quality. Utility Model Content

[0003] To overcome the problems existing in related technologies, this disclosure provides a pixel circuit, an image sensor, a camera module, and an electronic device.

[0004] According to a first aspect of this disclosure, a pixel circuit is provided, the pixel circuit comprising:

[0005] A photoelectric conversion unit, wherein a first terminal of the photoelectric conversion unit is used to receive a first voltage, and the photoelectric conversion unit is used to convert an optical signal into an electrical signal;

[0006] The acquisition circuit has a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the photoelectric conversion unit, the second terminal of the acquisition circuit is used to receive a second voltage, the third terminal of the acquisition circuit is used to be coupled to a row signal line, and the fourth terminal of the acquisition circuit is used to be coupled to a column signal line. The acquisition circuit is used to acquire the electrical signal to the column signal line under the control of the row signal line.

[0007] The voltage difference between the second voltage and the first voltage is used to reset the photoelectric conversion unit, and the voltage difference is fixed.

[0008] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the first voltage and the second voltage are output by a differential power supply.

[0009] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the first input terminal of the differential power supply receives the supply voltage, the second input terminal of the differential power supply is coupled to the ground terminal, the first output terminal of the differential power supply is coupled to the first terminal of the photoelectric conversion unit, and the second output terminal of the differential power supply is coupled to the second terminal of the acquisition circuit. The differential power supply is used to convert the supply voltage into the first voltage and the second voltage.

[0010] In some embodiments of this disclosure, at the same time, the fluctuation amplitude and fluctuation direction of the first voltage and the second voltage are the same.

[0011] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the voltage difference is between 2.5V and 2.8V.

[0012] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the acquisition circuit includes:

[0013] A reset module, wherein a first terminal of the reset module is used to receive the second voltage, a second terminal of the reset module is coupled to the second terminal of the photoelectric conversion unit, and a control terminal of the reset module is used to receive a reset signal;

[0014] A source follower module, wherein the first terminal of the source follower module is used to receive a third voltage, and the control terminal of the source follower module is coupled to the second terminal of the reset module and the second terminal of the photoelectric conversion unit.

[0015] The selection module has a first end coupled to the second end of the source follower module, the second end of the selection module is used to be coupled to the column signal line, and the control end of the selection module is used to be coupled to the row signal line.

[0016] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the reset module includes:

[0017] A first transistor, the first terminal of which is used to receive the second voltage, the second terminal of which is coupled to the second terminal of the photoelectric conversion unit and the control terminal of the source follower module, and the control terminal of which is used to receive the reset signal.

[0018] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the source following module includes:

[0019] The second transistor has a first terminal for receiving the third voltage, a second terminal for being coupled to the first terminal of the selection module, and a control terminal for being coupled to the second terminal of the reset module and the second terminal of the photoelectric conversion unit.

[0020] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the selection module includes:

[0021] The third transistor has a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the source follower module, a second terminal coupled to the column signal line, and a control terminal coupled to the row signal line.

[0022] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the photoelectric conversion unit includes:

[0023] A photodiode, wherein the anode of the photodiode is used to receive the first voltage, and the cathode of the photodiode is coupled to the first terminal of the acquisition circuit.

[0024] According to a second aspect of this disclosure, an image sensor is provided, the image sensor including pixel circuits as described in any of the preceding claims. The plurality of pixel circuits are arranged in an array, with each pixel circuit located in the same row coupled to a row signal line, and each pixel circuit located in the same column coupled to a column signal line.

[0025] According to a second aspect of this disclosure, a camera module is provided, the camera module including the image sensor as described above.

[0026] According to a second aspect of this disclosure, an electronic device is provided, the electronic device including a camera module as described above.

[0027] The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of this disclosure may include the following beneficial effects:

[0028] The pixel circuit includes a photoelectric conversion unit and a data acquisition circuit. The data acquisition circuit is coupled to the photoelectric conversion unit, row signal lines, and column signal lines. The voltage difference between the second voltage received by the data acquisition circuit and the first voltage received by the photoelectric conversion unit is used to reset the photoelectric conversion unit. By resetting the photoelectric conversion units in the pixel circuit with a fixed voltage difference, the voltage of each photoelectric conversion unit in the pixel circuit is the same after resetting at different times, avoiding interference with the acquired electrical signals and causing stripes in the formed image, thereby improving the quality of image acquisition.

[0029] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not intended to limit this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0030] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a pixel circuit.

[0032] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the reset voltage changing over time;

[0033] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of an image;

[0034] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a pixel circuit provided in an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0035] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a pixel circuit provided in another exemplary embodiment of this disclosure;

[0036] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a pixel circuit provided in another exemplary embodiment of this disclosure;

[0037] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a pixel circuit provided in another exemplary embodiment of this disclosure;

[0038] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a pixel circuit provided in another exemplary embodiment of this disclosure;

[0039] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a pixel circuit provided in another exemplary embodiment of this disclosure;

[0040] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the curve of the first voltage changing over time provided in an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0041] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the second voltage changing over time according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0042] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an image sensor provided in an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0043] Figure 13 This is a system block diagram of an electronic device provided in an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0044] In the picture:

[0045] 10-Photoelectric conversion unit; 20-Acquisition circuit; 21-Reset module; 22-Source follower module; 23-Selection module; 30-Differential power supply; 40-First conversion circuit; 50-Second conversion circuit; 100-Pixel circuit; 400-Electronic device; 402-Processing component; 404-Memory; 406-Power supply component; 408-Multimedia component; 410-Audio component; 412-Input / output interface; 414-Sensor component; 416-Communication component; 420-Processor; T1-First transistor; T2-Second transistor; T3-Third transistor; PD-Photodiode; AVDD-Power supply voltage; Vrst-Reset voltage; Vdd-DC voltage; Vrst-First voltage; Vrst+-Second voltage; VDD-Third voltage; GND-Ground terminal; ROW-Row signal line; COL-Column signal line. Detailed Implementation

[0046] Exemplary embodiments will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description relates to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings denote the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this invention. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this invention as detailed in the appended claims. It should also be understood that the term “and / or” as used herein refers to and includes any or all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0047] The camera module contains an image sensor, which includes an array of pixel circuits. The pixel circuits in the image sensor convert light signals into electrical signals, acquire these electrical signals, and process them to form an image. For example... Figure 1 As shown, the pixel circuit includes a photodiode PD, a first transistor T1, a second transistor T2, and a third transistor T3. The anode of the photodiode PD is coupled to the ground terminal GND, and the cathode of the photodiode PD is coupled to the first terminal of the first transistor T1 and the control terminal of the second transistor T2. The second terminal of the first transistor T1 receives the reset voltage Vrst. The first terminal of the second transistor T2 is coupled to receive the DC voltage Vdd, and the second terminal of the second transistor T2 is coupled to the first terminal of the third transistor T3. The second terminal of the third transistor T3 is coupled to the column signal line COL, and the control terminal of the third transistor T3 is coupled to the row signal line ROW. The power supply circuit in the camera module provides the reset voltage Vrst and the DC voltage Vdd. The threshold voltage of the first transistor T1 is Vth. The working principle of the pixel circuit is as follows: Controlling the first transistor T1 to conduct resets the photodiode PD. After the photodiode PD is reset, controlling the first transistor T1 to disconnect causes the photodiode PD to be in an electrically floating state. When light shines on the photodiode PD, the photodiode PD converts the light signal into an electrical signal. After a period of time, the third transistor T3 is turned on via the row signal line ROW to collect the electrical signal onto the column signal line COL. However, as... Figure 2 As shown, because the circuit board housing the camera module contains components such as inductors, the inductors cause radiation in the power supply circuit, resulting in fluctuations in the reset voltage Vrst. For example, when resetting the photodiode PD at time t0, the voltage of photodiode PD after reset is Vrst - Vth. When resetting the photodiode PD at time t1, the voltage of photodiode PD after reset is Vrst + ΔV - Vth, where ΔV is the fluctuating voltage. Here, the horizontal axis t represents time, and the vertical axis V represents voltage. Figure 3As shown, when the third transistor T3 in the row-by-row pixel circuit acquires electrical signals to form an image, the voltage of the photodiode PD, which is reset at time t1, differs from the voltage of the photodiode PD, which is reset at time t0. This fluctuation in the acquired electrical signals causes unevenly bright and dark stripes to appear in different rows of the formed image. The darker the light, the more pronounced the stripes in the image.

[0048] In related technologies, to eliminate uneven brightness stripes in images, the inductor on the circuit board is adjusted to a position away from the camera module to reduce the impact of inductor radiation on the reset voltage Vrst. However, adjusting the inductor's position causes changes in the positions of other components on the circuit board, introducing new interference and resulting in poor image acquisition quality. Furthermore, since adjusting the inductor's position only reduces the impact on the reset voltage Vrst, it cannot eliminate it, thus the image acquisition quality problem persists.

[0049] Based on this, this disclosure provides a pixel circuit that uses a fixed voltage difference to reset the photoelectric conversion unit, ensuring that the voltage of the photoelectric conversion unit remains the same after reset at different times. During the process of sequentially activating the pixel circuit, since the voltage of each row's photoelectric conversion unit is identical after reset, the influence of inductive radiation on the formed image is avoided, thus improving the quality of image acquisition.

[0050] An exemplary embodiment of this disclosure provides a pixel circuit, such as Figure 4 As shown, the pixel circuit includes a photoelectric conversion unit 10 and a data acquisition circuit 20. The first terminal of the photoelectric conversion unit 10 receives a first voltage Vrst- and converts the optical signal into an electrical signal. The first terminal of the data acquisition circuit 20 is coupled to the second terminal of the photoelectric conversion unit 10, and the second terminal receives a second voltage Vrst+. The third terminal of the data acquisition circuit 20 is coupled to the row signal line ROW, and the fourth terminal is coupled to the column signal line COL. The data acquisition circuit 20, under the control of the row signal line ROW, acquires the electrical signal to the column signal line COL. The voltage difference between the second and first voltages is used to reset the photoelectric conversion unit 10, and this voltage difference is fixed.

[0051] In this embodiment, the pixel circuit includes a photoelectric conversion unit and a data acquisition circuit. The data acquisition circuit is coupled to the photoelectric conversion unit, row signal lines, and column signal lines. The voltage difference between the second voltage received by the data acquisition circuit and the first voltage received by the photoelectric conversion unit is used to reset the photoelectric conversion unit. By resetting the photoelectric conversion unit in the pixel circuit with a fixed voltage difference, the voltage of each photoelectric conversion unit in the pixel circuit after resetting at different times is the same, avoiding interference with the acquired electrical signal and causing stripes in the formed image, thereby improving the quality of image acquisition.

[0052] In one embodiment, the first voltage Vrst- and the second voltage Vrst+ are output by the differential power supply 30.

[0053] In this embodiment, since the differential power supply can simultaneously provide a first voltage and a second voltage with the same amplitude but opposite phase, under inductive radiation, the fluctuation amplitude and direction of the first and second voltages are the same, thus fixing the voltage difference. By outputting the first and second voltages through the differential power supply, the voltage difference can be kept constant to avoid fluctuations in the acquired electrical signal due to interference, thereby improving the quality of image acquisition.

[0054] For example, the first voltage Vrst- can be a negative voltage output by the differential power supply 30, and the second voltage Vrst+ can be a positive voltage output by the differential power supply 30. The first voltage Vrst- can be -1.4V, -1.3V, -1.25V, etc., and the second voltage Vrst+ can be 1.4V, 1.3V, 1.25V, etc.

[0055] For example, the differential power supply 30 can be composed of components such as operational amplifiers, logic gates, resistors, and capacitors, or it can be an integrated power supply chip.

[0056] In one embodiment, such as Figure 5 As shown, the first input terminal of the differential power supply 30 receives the supply voltage AVDD, the second input terminal of the differential power supply 30 is coupled to the ground terminal GND, the first output terminal of the differential power supply 30 is coupled to the first terminal of the photoelectric conversion unit 10, and the second output terminal of the differential power supply 30 is coupled to the second terminal of the acquisition circuit 20. The differential power supply 30 is used to convert the supply voltage AVDD into a first voltage Vrst- and a second voltage Vrst+.

[0057] In this embodiment, since the differential power supply only needs to receive the supply voltage to convert the supply voltage into the first voltage and the second voltage, there are fewer lines between the differential power supply and the power supply that provides the supply voltage, thereby reducing the complexity of the camera module structure.

[0058] In one embodiment, at the same time, the fluctuation amplitude and fluctuation direction of the first voltage Vrst- and the second voltage Vrst+ are the same.

[0059] In this embodiment, since the fluctuation amplitude and direction of the first voltage and the second voltage are the same, the voltage difference remains fixed without being affected by voltage fluctuations, thereby eliminating the influence of interference and improving the quality of image acquisition.

[0060] For example, the first voltage Vrst- can be 0.1V, 0.2V, 0.3V, etc., and the second voltage Vrst+ can be 2.9V, 3.0V, 3.1V, etc.

[0061] For example, such as Figure 6 As shown, besides using a differential power supply 30 to provide the first voltage Vrst- and the second voltage Vrst+, a first conversion circuit 40 and a second conversion circuit 50 can also be provided to provide the first voltage Vrst- and the second voltage Vrst+. The input terminal of the first conversion circuit 40 receives the supply voltage AVDD, the output terminal of the first conversion circuit 40 is coupled to the first terminal of the photoelectric conversion unit 10, and the common terminal of the first conversion circuit 40 is coupled to the ground terminal GND. The first conversion circuit 40 is used to convert the supply voltage AVDD into the first voltage Vrst-. The input terminal of the second conversion circuit 50 receives the supply voltage AVDD, the output terminal of the second conversion circuit 50 is coupled to the second terminal of the acquisition circuit 20, and the common terminal of the second conversion circuit 50 is coupled to the ground terminal GND. The second conversion circuit 50 is used to convert the supply voltage AVDD into the second voltage Vrst+.

[0062] In one embodiment, the voltage difference is between 2.5V and 2.8V.

[0063] In this embodiment, at the beginning of each exposure cycle, the photoelectric conversion unit may retain charge that was not fully released in the previous exposure cycle. By setting the reset voltage between 2.5V and 2.8V, the incompletely released charge in the photoelectric conversion unit can be cleared, thereby improving the quality of image acquisition.

[0064] For example, the voltage difference can be 2.5V, 2.6V, 2.7V, 2.8V, etc.

[0065] In one embodiment, such as Figure 7 As shown, the acquisition circuit 20 includes a reset module 21, a source follower module 22, and a selection module 23. The first terminal of the reset module 21 receives a second voltage Vrst+, and the second terminal of the reset module 21 is coupled to the second terminal of the photoelectric conversion unit 10. The control terminal of the reset module 21 receives a reset signal. The first terminal of the source follower module 22 receives a third voltage VDD, and the control terminal of the source follower module 22 is coupled to both the second terminal of the reset module 21 and the second terminal of the photoelectric conversion unit 10. The first terminal of the selection module 23 is coupled to the second terminal of the source follower module 22, the second terminal of the selection module 23 is coupled to the column signal line COL, and the control terminal of the selection module 23 is coupled to the row signal line ROW.

[0066] In this embodiment, the photoelectric conversion unit is reset by the reset module to eliminate any incompletely released charge, preparing the unit to receive new optical signals. The photoelectric conversion unit converts the received new optical signals into electrical signals, which are then amplified by the source follower module to ensure sufficient signal strength during transmission. Under the control of the row signal lines, the selection module outputs the amplified electrical signals to the column signal lines, forming an image through these signals. By acquiring electrical signals through the reset module, source follower module, and selection module, the electrical signals converted by the photoelectric conversion unit can be effectively acquired by the column signal lines, thereby improving the reliability of the pixel circuit.

[0067] For example, the camera module includes a third conversion circuit. This third conversion circuit converts the supply voltage AVDD into a third voltage VDD, where the third voltage VDD is greater than the voltage difference.

[0068] In one embodiment, such as Figure 8 As shown, the reset module 21 includes a first transistor T1. The first terminal of the first transistor T1 is used to receive the second voltage Vrst+, and the second terminal of the first transistor T1 is coupled to the second terminal of the photoelectric conversion unit 10 and the control terminal of the source follower module 22. The control terminal of the first transistor T1 is used to receive a reset signal.

[0069] In this embodiment, due to the simple structure and low conduction loss of the transistor, resetting the photoelectric conversion unit through the first transistor reduces the complexity and loss of the pixel circuit structure. Furthermore, controlling the on / off state of the first transistor enables the reset function of the photoelectric conversion unit, further reducing the complexity of pixel circuit control.

[0070] For example, the first transistor T1 can be a P-type field-effect transistor or an N-type field-effect transistor. When the first transistor T1 is an N-type field-effect transistor, the drain of the first transistor T1 is used to receive the first voltage Vrst-, the source of the first transistor T1 is coupled to the second terminal of the photoelectric conversion unit 10 and the control terminal of the source follower module 22, and the gate of the first transistor T1 is used to receive the reset signal.

[0071] In one embodiment, the source follower module 22 includes a second transistor T2. The first terminal of the second transistor T2 is used to receive a third voltage VDD, the second terminal of the second transistor T2 is coupled to the first terminal of the selection module 23, and the control terminal of the second transistor T2 is coupled to the second terminal of the reset module 21 and the second terminal of the photoelectric conversion unit 10.

[0072] In this embodiment, since the transistor has a simple structure and low conduction loss, the source follower module, including the second transistor, amplifies the electrical signal, which not only reduces the complexity and loss of the pixel circuit structure, but also improves the reliability of the pixel circuit.

[0073] For example, the second transistor T2 can be a P-type field-effect transistor or an N-type field-effect transistor. When the second transistor T2 is an N-type field-effect transistor, the drain of the second transistor T2 is used to receive the third voltage VDD, the source of the second transistor T2 is coupled to the first terminal of the selection module 23, and the gate of the second transistor T2 is coupled to the second terminal of the reset module 21 and the second terminal of the photoelectric conversion unit 10.

[0074] In one embodiment, the selection module 23 includes a third transistor T3. A first terminal of the third transistor T3 is coupled to a second terminal of the source follower module 22, the second terminal of the third transistor T3 is coupled to the column signal line COL, and the control terminal of the third transistor T3 is coupled to the row signal line ROW.

[0075] In this embodiment, since the transistor has a simple structure and low conduction loss, the electrical signal is output to the column signal line through the third transistor, which reduces the complexity and loss of the pixel circuit structure.

[0076] For example, the third transistor T3 can be a P-type field-effect transistor or an N-type field-effect transistor. When the third transistor T3 is an N-type field-effect transistor, the drain of the third transistor T3 is coupled to the second terminal of the source follower module 22, the source of the third transistor T3 is coupled to the column signal line COL, and the gate of the third transistor T3 is coupled to the row signal line ROW.

[0077] In one embodiment, the photoelectric conversion unit 10 includes a photodiode PD. The anode of the photodiode PD is used to receive a first voltage Vrst-, and the cathode of the photodiode PD is coupled to a first terminal of the acquisition circuit 20.

[0078] In this embodiment, since the structure of the photodiode is simple, the conversion of light signals into electrical signals by the photodiode reduces the complexity of the pixel circuit structure.

[0079] An exemplary embodiment of this disclosure also provides a pixel circuit, such as Figure 9As shown, the pixel circuit includes a photodiode PD, a first transistor T1, a second transistor T2, and a third transistor T3. The anode of the photodiode PD is coupled to the first output terminal of the differential power supply 30 to receive a first voltage Vrst-. The cathode of the photodiode PD is coupled to the gate of the second transistor T2 and the source of the first transistor T1. The drain of the first transistor T1 is coupled to the second output terminal of the differential power supply 30 to receive a second voltage Vrst+, and the gate of the first transistor T1 is used to receive a reset signal. The drain of the second transistor T2 is used to receive a third voltage VDD, and the source of the second transistor T2 is coupled to the drain of the third transistor T3. The gate of the third transistor T3 is coupled to the row signal line ROW, and the column signal line COL of the third transistor T3 is coupled to the column signal line COL. The first input terminal of the differential power supply 30 receives the supply voltage AVDD, and the second input terminal of the differential power supply 30 is coupled to the ground terminal GND.

[0080] For example, the pixel circuit operates as follows: The first transistor T1 is turned on, resetting the photodiode PD. After the photodiode PD is reset, the first transistor T1 is turned off, and the photodiode PD is in an electrically floating state. When light shines on the photodiode PD, it converts the light signal into an electrical signal. After a period of time, the third transistor T3 is turned on via the row signal line ROW to collect the electrical signal onto the column signal line COL. Figure 10 and Figure 11 As shown, when the inductor radiates the output voltages of the pixel circuit, specifically the first voltage Vrst- and the second voltage Vrst+, both voltages are simultaneously affected by voltage fluctuations. The voltage difference between the second and first voltages remains constant: Vrst+ - Vth - Vrst-. Therefore, when the photodiode PD is reset at any given time, its voltage after reset is always Vrst+ - Vth - Vrst-. When the third transistor T3 in the pixel circuit is activated row by row to acquire electrical signals and form an image, even though the inductor continues to radiate, the resulting image will not exhibit uneven stripes of brightness across different rows. Here, the horizontal axis t represents time, and the vertical axis V represents voltage.

[0081] In one exemplary embodiment, such as Figure 12 As shown, an image sensor is provided, which includes a plurality of pixel circuits 100 as described above. The plurality of pixel circuits 100 are arranged in an array, with each pixel circuit 100 located in the same row coupled to the same row signal line ROW, and each pixel circuit 100 located in the same column coupled to the same column signal line COL.

[0082] In this embodiment, since the voltage of the photoelectric conversion unit of each pixel circuit is the same after reset, fluctuations in the acquired electrical signal are avoided, thereby improving the quality of image acquisition.

[0083] In one exemplary embodiment, a camera module is provided, the camera module including the image sensor as described above.

[0084] In one exemplary embodiment, an electronic device is provided, such as a mobile phone, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and a wearable device. The electronic device includes a camera module as described above.

[0085] refer to Figure 13 As shown, the electronic device 400 may include one or more of the following components: a processing component 402, a memory 404, a power supply component 406, a multimedia component 408, an audio component 410, an input / output (I / O) interface 412, a sensor component 414, and a communication component 416.

[0086] Processing component 402 typically controls the overall operation of electronic device 400, such as operations associated with display, telephone calls, data communication, camera operation, and recording. Processing component 402 may include one or more processors 420 to execute instructions to perform all or part of the steps of the methods described above. Furthermore, processing component 402 may include one or more modules to facilitate interaction between processing component 402 and other components. For example, processing component 402 may include a multimedia module to facilitate interaction between multimedia component 408 and processing component 402.

[0087] Memory 404 is configured to store various types of data to support the operation of electronic device 400. Examples of this data include instructions for any application or method operating on electronic device 400, contact data, phonebook data, messages, pictures, videos, etc. Memory 404 can be implemented by any type of volatile or non-volatile storage terminal or a combination thereof, such as static random access memory (SRAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), read-only memory (ROM), magnetic storage, flash memory, magnetic disk, or optical disk.

[0088] Power supply component 406 provides power to various components of electronic device 400. Power supply component 406 may include a power management system, one or more power supplies, and other components associated with generating, managing, and distributing power to electronic device 400.

[0089] Multimedia component 408 includes a screen that provides an output interface between electronic device 400 and user. In some embodiments, the screen may include a liquid crystal display (LCD) and a touch panel (TP). If the screen includes a touch panel, the screen may be implemented as a touchscreen to receive input signals from the user. The touch panel includes one or more touch sensors to sense touches, swipes, and gestures on the touch panel. The touch sensors may sense not only the boundaries of touch or swipe actions but also the duration and pressure associated with the touch or swipe operation. In some embodiments, multimedia component 408 includes a front-facing camera module and / or a rear-facing camera module. When electronic device 400 is in an operating mode, such as shooting mode or video mode, the front-facing camera module and / or rear-facing camera module may receive external multimedia data. Each front-facing camera module and rear-facing camera module may be a fixed optical lens system or have focal length and optical zoom capabilities.

[0090] Audio component 410 is configured to output and / or input audio signals. For example, audio component 410 includes a microphone (MIC) configured to receive external audio signals when electronic device 400 is in an operating mode, such as call mode, recording mode, and voice recognition mode. The received audio signals may be further stored in memory 404 or transmitted via communication component 416. In some embodiments, audio component 410 also includes a speaker for outputting audio signals.

[0091] I / O interface 412 provides an interface between processing component 402 and peripheral interface modules, such as keyboards, click wheels, buttons, etc. These buttons may include, but are not limited to, home buttons, volume buttons, power buttons, and lock buttons.

[0092] Sensor assembly 414 includes one or more sensors for providing state assessments of various aspects of electronic device 400. For example, sensor assembly 414 may detect the on / off state of electronic device 400, the relative positioning of components such as the display and keypad of electronic device 400, changes in position of electronic device 400 or a component of electronic device 400, the presence or absence of user contact with electronic device 400, orientation or acceleration / deceleration of electronic device 400, and temperature changes of electronic device 400. Sensor assembly 414 may include a proximity sensor configured to detect the presence of nearby objects without any physical contact. Sensor assembly 414 may also include a light sensor, such as a CMOS or CCD image sensor, for use in imaging applications. In some embodiments, sensor assembly 414 may also include an accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, pressure sensor, or temperature sensor.

[0093] Communication component 416 is configured to facilitate wired or wireless communication between electronic device 400 and other terminals. Electronic device 400 can access wireless networks based on communication standards, such as WiFi, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, or combinations thereof. In one exemplary embodiment, communication component 416 receives broadcast signals or broadcast-related information from an external broadcast management system via a broadcast channel. In one exemplary embodiment, communication component 416 also includes a near-field communication (NFC) module to facilitate short-range communication. For example, the NFC module may be implemented based on radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, Infrared Data Association (IrDA) technology, ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, Bluetooth (BT) technology, and other technologies.

[0094] In an exemplary embodiment, the electronic device 400 may be implemented by one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing terminals (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, or other electronic components.

[0095] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this disclosure. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0096] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this disclosure, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0097] Other embodiments of this disclosure will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the utility models disclosed herein. This disclosure is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this disclosure that follow the general principles of this disclosure and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The specification and examples are to be considered exemplary only, and the true scope and spirit of this disclosure are indicated by the following claims.

[0098] It should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the precise structures described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of this disclosure is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A pixel circuit, characterized in that, The pixel circuit includes: A photoelectric conversion unit, wherein a first terminal of the photoelectric conversion unit is used to receive a first voltage, and the photoelectric conversion unit is used to convert an optical signal into an electrical signal; The acquisition circuit has a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the photoelectric conversion unit, the second terminal of the acquisition circuit is used to receive a second voltage, the third terminal of the acquisition circuit is used to be coupled to a row signal line, and the fourth terminal of the acquisition circuit is used to be coupled to a column signal line. The acquisition circuit is used to acquire the electrical signal to the column signal line under the control of the row signal line. The voltage difference between the second voltage and the first voltage is used to reset the photoelectric conversion unit, and the voltage difference is fixed.

2. The pixel circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first voltage and the second voltage are output from a differential power supply.

3. The pixel circuit according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first input terminal of the differential power supply receives the supply voltage, the second input terminal of the differential power supply is coupled to the ground terminal, the first output terminal of the differential power supply is coupled to the first terminal of the photoelectric conversion unit, and the second output terminal of the differential power supply is coupled to the second terminal of the acquisition circuit. The differential power supply is used to convert the supply voltage into the first voltage and the second voltage.

4. The pixel circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that, At the same moment, the fluctuation amplitude and direction of the first voltage and the second voltage are the same.

5. The pixel circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The voltage difference is between 2.5V and 2.8V.

6. The pixel circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The acquisition circuit includes: A reset module, wherein a first terminal of the reset module is used to receive the second voltage, a second terminal of the reset module is coupled to the second terminal of the photoelectric conversion unit, and a control terminal of the reset module is used to receive a reset signal; A source follower module, wherein the first terminal of the source follower module is used to receive a third voltage, and the control terminal of the source follower module is coupled to the second terminal of the reset module and the second terminal of the photoelectric conversion unit. The selection module has a first end coupled to the second end of the source follower module, the second end of the selection module is used to be coupled to the column signal line, and the control end of the selection module is used to be coupled to the row signal line.

7. The pixel circuit according to claim 6, characterized in that, The reset module includes: A first transistor, the first terminal of which is used to receive the second voltage, the second terminal of which is coupled to the second terminal of the photoelectric conversion unit and the control terminal of the source follower module, and the control terminal of which is used to receive the reset signal.

8. The pixel circuit according to claim 6, characterized in that, The source following module includes: The second transistor has a first terminal for receiving the third voltage, a second terminal for being coupled to the first terminal of the selection module, and a control terminal for being coupled to the second terminal of the reset module and the second terminal of the photoelectric conversion unit.

9. The pixel circuit according to claim 6, characterized in that, The selection module includes: The third transistor has a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the source follower module, a second terminal coupled to the column signal line, and a control terminal coupled to the row signal line.

10. The pixel circuit according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The photoelectric conversion unit includes: A photodiode, wherein the anode of the photodiode is used to receive the first voltage, and the cathode of the photodiode is coupled to the first terminal of the acquisition circuit.

11. An image sensor, characterized in that, The image sensor includes a plurality of pixel circuits as described in any one of claims 1 to 10; the plurality of pixel circuits are arranged in an array, each pixel circuit located in the same row is coupled to the same row signal line, and each pixel circuit located in the same column is coupled to the same column signal line.

12. A camera module, characterized in that, The camera module includes the image sensor as described in claim 11.

13. An electronic device, characterized in that, The electronic device includes the camera module as described in claim 12.

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