Image Sensor Digital Logic Timing for Uniform Power Signature
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Solution Overview
Problem
In compact digital cameras, the integration of digital logic and analog optical sensing circuits leads to interference and electrical noise, causing visual artifacts in digital images, which are difficult to mitigate due to size constraints and increasing processing demands.
Innovation Solution
Operating the digital logic circuitry in a manner that produces a uniform power signature by synchronizing its operations with analog sensing, either by reducing processing rate or adding spacer operations, to minimize interference and artifacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If digital logic and analog optical sensing circuits are integrated in compact digital cameras, then device size is reduced, but interference and electrical noise increase causing visual artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the digital logic operations into multiple smaller operations distributed across different time intervals. Instead of performing all digital processing in a single concentrated block, the digital logic circuitry is divided into multiple operational segments that are spread out temporally, reducing peak interference levels and preventing concentrated noise bursts that cause visual artifacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic timing control where the digital logic operations are adaptively scheduled to coincide with analog sensing intervals. The system dynamically adjusts the timing and distribution of digital operations based on the analog sensing schedule, creating a coordinated temporal pattern that minimizes interference while maintaining processing throughput.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If physical isolation between analog sensors and digital logic is increased, then interference is reduced, but sensor size increases beyond available space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful temporal concentration of digital operations and removes it from the physical vicinity of analog sensors by distributing operations across time. Instead of requiring physical separation, the solution extracts the interference problem from the spatial domain and addresses it in the temporal domain, allowing compact integration while minimizing interference through timing distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the interference mitigation approach from the spatial dimension to the temporal dimension. Rather than increasing physical distance between components (spatial solution), the system distributes digital operations across multiple time intervals (temporal solution), effectively using time as the additional dimension to resolve the interference problem without increasing device footprint.
3Productivity
If digital processing capabilities are increased to meet processing demands, then processing performance improves, but interference with analog operations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic digital logic operations that are synchronized with the analog sensing cycle. Digital processing is performed in periodic intervals that coincide with analog sensing phases, creating a rhythmic pattern of operation. This periodic scheduling ensures that processing capabilities are maintained while interference is concentrated in predictable, manageable bursts that can be coordinated with analog operation cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous processing throughput by overlapping digital logic operations with analog sensing intervals. Rather than halting digital processing to avoid interference, the system continues useful digital actions during analog phases by distributing operations across multiple intervals, ensuring that processing productivity is maintained while interference is managed through temporal distribution.
Data Source
AI summary
An image sensor and a method of operating an image sensor to achieve a substantially uniform power signature. An array of pixels may be scanned using analog sensing circuitry to obtain an analog sensor output. The scanning is performed over a first time interval. The analog sensor output is converted to a digital data output using digital logic circuitry. The converting occurs over a second time interval that is subsequent to the first time interval and may be substantially the same duration as the first time interval. While the array of pixels are being scanned, the digital logic circuitry is operated over the first time interval and substantially coincides with the scanning of the array of pixels.