US 11,641,532 B2 · Readout circuit and method for time-of-flight image sensor

Abstract

A time-of-flight device comprises a pixel array including an array of pixel circuits, wherein a column of the array includes: a first pixel circuit including a first photodiode, a first capacitor and a second capacitor coupled to the first photodiode, and a second pixel circuit including a second photodiode, a third capacitor and a fourth capacitor coupled to the second photodiode, a first signal line coupled to the first capacitor, a second signal line coupled to the second capacitor, a third signal line coupled to the third capacitor, a fourth signal line coupled to the fourth capacitor, a first switch circuitry, a second switch circuitry, a first comparator coupled to the first signal line and the third signal line through the first switch circuitry, and a second comparator coupled to the second signal line and the fourth signal line through the second switch circuitry.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A light detecting device comprising:

a plurality of pixels arranged in columns and rows, the plurality of pixels including Nth column pixels, wherein left taps of the Nth column pixels output at least one of a first phase signal or a second phase signal and right taps of the Nth column pixels output at least one of a third phase signal or a fourth phase signal;
a first signal line configured to convey the first phase signal;
a second signal line configured to convey the second phase signal;
a third signal line configured to convey the third phase signal;
a fourth signal line configured to convey the fourth phase signal;
a first comparator coupled to the first signal line;
a second comparator coupled to the second signal line;
a third comparator coupled to the third signal line;
and
a fourth comparator coupled to the fourth signal line.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Readout circuit and method for time-of-flight image sensor

Life of this patent

Readout circuit and method for time-of-flight image sensor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13