Auxiliary Amplification Unit for High-Speed Image Sensor Readout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image sensors with a large number of pixels face a decrease in data readout speed due to increased time for sampled signals to reach a predetermined voltage level, making high-speed operations challenging.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an auxiliary amplification unit that amplifies the signal of sampled pixel signals, positioned before the sense amplification unit, to rapidly increase the voltage difference between sampled signal pairs, thereby reducing the time required for the signals to reach a sufficient voltage level.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single sense amplification unit is used for multiple sampling units, then device complexity is reduced, but data readout speed decreases due to increased signal transmission time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single sense amplification unit into multiple distributed sense amplification units, with each sampling unit having its own dedicated sense amplification unit. This segmentation eliminates the signal transmission delay caused by long signal lines and allows parallel processing of multiple sampled signals, thereby resolving the contradiction between device complexity and data readout speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a centralized sense amplification architecture to a distributed architecture, changing the spatial dimension of signal processing. By placing sense amplification units at different locations corresponding to each sampling unit, the system achieves parallel processing capability and eliminates the bottleneck of signal transmission through long lines.
2Quantity of substance
If the number of pixels is increased, then image sensor resolution is improved, but the time for sampled signals to reach predetermined voltage level increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the signal processing architecture so that each sampling unit has its own dedicated sense amplification unit. This allows sampled signals from different pixel groups to be processed simultaneously in parallel, preventing the signal voltage buildup time from increasing proportionally with the number of pixels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates multiple copies of the sense amplification unit, with each copy dedicated to a specific sampling unit. This copying approach enables simultaneous processing of multiple sampled signals, thereby maintaining constant signal voltage buildup time even as the number of pixels increases.
3Quantity of substance
If signal line length is increased to connect more sampling units, then more pixels can be supported, but data readout speed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the system into multiple independent signal processing channels, each with its own sense amplification unit. This segmentation eliminates the need for long signal lines to connect distant sampling units to a single sense amplification unit, thereby maintaining high data readout speed while supporting a large number of pixels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the architecture from a single-point convergence model to a distributed parallel model. By organizing sense amplification units in parallel with their corresponding sampling units, the system supports more pixels without increasing signal line length, thus maintaining high data readout speed.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an image sensor capable of supporting a high speed operation. The image sensor includes a plurality of sampling units sampling a pixel signal to output a sampled signal pair; an auxiliary amplification unit amplifying a signal of the sampled signal pair; and an amplification unit sensing a differential signal pair transmitted through the auxiliary amplification unit to generate output data.