Back to results
US 11,706,542 B2Granted
Pixel circuit outputting time difference data and image data, and operating method of pixel array
AssigneePixart Imaging Inc.
InventorsRen-Chieh Liu, Yi-Cheng Chiu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is provided a pixel circuit capable of outputting time difference data and image data, and including an image circuit and a difference circuit. The image circuit is used to record and output detected light energy of a first interval as the image data. The difference circuit is used to record and output a variation of detected light energy between the first interval and a second interval as the time difference data. The pixel circuit selects to output at least one of the time difference data and the image data.
Claims20
A pixel circuit, comprising:
- a photodiode, configured to generate light energy;
- a storage capacitor, having a first end and a second end;
- an image circuit, comprising:
- a transfer transistor, connected between the photodiode and the first end of the storage capacitor;
- a first reset transistor, having a source connected between the transfer transistor and the first end of the storage capacitor;
- and
- a first output transistor, connected between the first end of the storage capacitor and a first readout line;
- a difference circuit, comprising:
- a second output transistor, connected between the second end of the storage capacitor and a second readout line;
- a second reset transistor, having a source connected between the second end of the storage capacitor and the second output transistor, and configured to reset the second end of the storage capacitor to a reset voltage;
- and
- a sharing circuit, shared by the pixel circuit with other pixel circuits, and comprising:
- a first comparator, connected to the first readout line, and configured to output image data;
- and
- a second comparator, connected to the second readout line, and configured to output time difference data or a state-change signal.
12 more elements
A pixel circuit, comprising:
- a photodiode, configured to generate light energy;
- a storage capacitor, having a first end and a second end;
- an image circuit, connected to the first end of the storage capacitor, and configured to output image data associated with the light energy generated in a first interval by the photodiode;
- and
- a difference circuit, connected to the second end of the storage capacitor, and configured to output time difference data associated with a variation of the light energy generated between the first interval and a second interval by the photodiode, wherein
- multiple transistors included in the difference circuit are not conducted when the image circuit outputs the image data, and
- the image circuit is not reset between the first interval and the second interval.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.