Image Sensor Clock Distribution With Common Coupling for Timing Skew
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image sensing devices experience timing skew between clock signals, which affects the accuracy of depth measurement in time-of-flight methods.
Innovation Solution
The image sensing device incorporates a first clock distributor with a clock tree and output drivers, coupled by conductive lines to suppress timing skew through common coupling and selective coupling based on control signals, ensuring synchronized transition timings of clock signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a clock tree is used to distribute clock signals to multiple output terminals, then the device can generate multiple clock signals for parallel processing, but timing skew occurs between the clock signals affecting depth measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple output terminals that were previously independently coupled are merged by connecting them through conductive lines to form a common coupling structure. This combines the clock signal distribution paths into a unified system where all output terminals share common coupling nodes, enabling synchronized operation while maintaining parallel processing capability
Solution Approach 2:
Conductive lines are introduced as intermediary elements between the clock tree and the output terminals. These conductive lines act as mediators that equalize the timing of clock signals by providing additional coupling paths, thereby eliminating timing skew without compromising the parallel processing functionality
2Measurement precision
If conductive lines are added to couple output terminals for timing synchronization, then timing skew is suppressed, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive lines serving as coupling elements also function as signal transmission paths and timing reference lines. This multi-functional design allows the same structural addition to simultaneously achieve timing synchronization, signal distribution, and reference providing, thereby reducing the need for separate synchronization components
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling structure is segmented into modular conductive line sections that can be independently designed and optimized. Each conductive line segment connects specific output terminals or coupling nodes, allowing the complex synchronization problem to be broken down into manageable segments that can be optimized individually
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an image sensing device including a first clock distributor suitable for receiving a first input clock signal through a first input terminal, and outputting a plurality of first output clock signals through a plurality of first output terminals, and a first conductive line coupled in common to the plurality of first output terminals.