Image sensor, imaging device including image sensor, and method of operating imaging device
AssigneeSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
InventorsSeol Namgung, Seungnam Choi, Jeongseok Kim, Junseok Kim, Jongwoo Bong, Yunjae Suh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An imaging device, image sensor and method are provided. A first scanning operation is performed on a pixel array in a first direction by a first selection circuit to generate first frame data by first readout circuit. A second scanning operation is performed on the pixel array in a second direction different from the first direction to generate second frame data by a second selection circuit. The first and second frame data are merged into single frame data by an image signal processor.
Claims15
An image sensor comprising:
- a pixel array including a plurality of pixels disposed between a plurality of row lines and a plurality of column lines;
- a first selection circuit disposed below the pixel array, connected to the plurality of row lines, and configured to perform a first selection operation to select one of the plurality of row lines;
- a second selection circuit disposed above the pixel array, connected to the plurality of row lines, and configured to perform a second selection operation to select one of the plurality of row lines;
- a first readout circuit disposed on the left of the pixel array, connected to the plurality of column lines, and configured to receive pixel voltages from pixels connected to the selected row line and the plurality of column lines and to output pixel data corresponding to the received pixel voltages, the first readout circuit being enabled in correspondence with one enabled selection circuit among the first selection circuit and the second selection circuit;
- and
- a second readout circuit disposed on the right of the pixel array, connected to the plurality of column lines, and configured to receive pixel voltages from the selected row line and the plurality of column lines and to output pixel data corresponding to the received pixel voltages, the second readout circuit being enabled in correspondence with the other enabled selection circuit among the first selection circuit and the second selection circuit,
- wherein the first selection circuit performs the first selection operation in a first direction, and
- the second selection circuit performs the second selection operation in a second direction, different from the first direction.
A method of operating an imaging device, the method comprising:
- performing a first scanning operation on a pixel array including a plurality of pixels disposed between a plurality of row lines and a plurality of column lines to generate first frame data, the first scanning operation being performed in a first direction by a first selection circuit and a first readout circuit;
- performing a second scanning operation on the pixel array to generate second frame data, the second scanning operation being performed in a second direction different from the first direction, by a second selection circuit and a second readout circuit;
- and
- merging, by an image signal processor, the first frame data and the second frame data,
- wherein the plurality of column lines are connected to the first readout circuit and the second readout circuit, and
- wherein the first scanning operation comprises enabling the first readout circuit in correspondence with the first selection circuit, and the second scanning operation comprises enabling the second readout circuit in correspondence with the second selection circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.