Image Sensor Stabilizing Current Flow with Dummy Data Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Stacked image sensors experience fluctuations in current flow during access and non-access periods, leading to noise in analog-to-digital (AD) conversion and deterioration of image quality due to frequent toggling of flip-flops in memory access periods.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a control section in the image sensor to write and read dummy data during non-access periods and encode pixel signals to vary them consistently, thereby stabilizing current flow and reducing noise in AD conversion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the storage section is accessed frequently for writing and reading pixel signals, then the memory access speed is improved, but the current flow becomes unstable and noise is generated in AD conversion
Solution Approach 1:
The control section performs preliminary actions by writing and reading dummy data to and from the storage section during non-access periods. This prepares the memory access circuits to be ready for actual pixel signal access, ensuring that when access occurs, the current flow is already stabilized and won't cause noise in AD conversion.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters of the memory access circuits by introducing dummy data access operations. This modifies the current flow characteristics from unstable (with frequent toggling) to stable (with consistent current levels), thereby preventing noise generation during actual pixel signal processing.
2Productivity
If flip-flops are toggled frequently during memory access, then the data writing and reading speed is improved, but current consumption increases and causes noise in AD conversion
Solution Approach 1:
The control section ensures continuous useful action by performing dummy data access operations during non-access periods. This keeps the memory access circuits actively engaged in a controlled manner, maintaining stable current flow and preventing the harmful toggling that would occur during actual access periods, thereby eliminating noise generation.
3Loss of energy
If the access period includes periods where pixel signals remain unchanged, then power consumption is reduced, but the current still fluctuates causing noise in AD conversion
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful effect of current fluctuation by separating the dummy data access operations from the actual pixel signal processing. The control section performs dummy access operations during non-access periods, which stabilizes the current flow and removes the source of noise generation, while allowing the system to enter low-power states during unchanging periods without causing noise.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach stabilizes current flow through the image sensor, minimizing noise in AD conversion and improving image quality by maintaining consistent signal processing during both access and non-access periods.
Implementation Method 1
a pixel array section configured to perform photoelectric conversion and have multiple pixels arrayed therein to output a pixel signal each
Data Source
AI summary
The present technology relates to an image sensor, a processing method, and an electronic device for suppressing the deterioration of the quality of images captured by the image sensor. The image sensor includes a pixel array section configured to perform photoelectric conversion and have multiple pixels arrayed therein to output a pixel signal each; and a storage section configured to store the pixel signals output from the pixel array section. The image sensor writes and reads dummy data to and from the storage section in a non-access period other than the period in which the storage section is accessed for the writing and reading of the pixel signals thereto and therefrom. This technology may be applied to image sensors that capture images, for example.