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US 11,711,635 B2Granted
Image sensor and pixel array which generate a pixel signal based on a plurality of pixels, and operation method of the image sensor
AssigneeSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
InventorsYun-Hwan Jung, Sun-Yool Kang, Kyung-Min Kim, Hee-Sung Chae, Jae-Seung Han
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An image sensor includes a pixel array including a first pixel and a second pixel which are connected to a first column line, and a row driver configured to control a read operation of the second pixel. A voltage of the first column line is determined based on a higher voltage among a voltage of a floating diffusion node of the first pixel and a voltage of a floating diffusion node of the second pixel during the read operation of the second pixel.
Claims20
An image sensor comprising:
- a pixel array comprising a first pixel including a first floating diffusion node and a second pixel connected to the same column line as the first pixel and including a second floating diffusion node;
- a row driver connected to the first pixel through a first clamp line perpendicular to the column line and connected to the second pixel through a second clamp line perpendicular to the column line;
- a first clamp capacitor which is connected to the first clamp line and the other to the first floating diffusion node;
- and
- a second clamp capacitor which is connected to the second clamp line and the other to the second floating diffusion node.
2 more elements
An image sensor comprising:
- a pixel array comprising a first pixel and a second pixel connected to the same column line as the first pixel;
- and
- a row driver configured to control a read operation of the second pixel;
- wherein each of the first pixel and the second pixel comprise photodiode;
- a transfer transistor having one end connected to the photodiode and the other end connected to a floating diffusion node;
- a reset transistor having one end connected to the floating diffusion node, and to which a power supply voltage is applied from the other end;
- a drive transistor having a gate connected to the floating diffusion node, to which the power voltage is applied from one end, and the other end connected to a selection transistor connected to the column line;
- and
- a clamp capacitor having one end connected to the clamp line extending from the row driver and perpendicular to the column line, and the other end connected to the floating diffusion node.
6 more elements
An image processing system comprising:
- a pixel array comprising a first pixel including a first floating diffusion node and a second pixel connected to the same column line as the first pixel and including a second floating diffusion node;
- a row driver comprises a clamp controller that outputs any one of a first voltage and a second voltage lower than the first voltage, and configured to control a read operation of the second pixel;
- and
- a timing generator that provides a control signal for allowing the clamp controller to sequentially output a second voltage after outputting a first voltage during a read operation of a second pixel,
- wherein a voltage of the column line is determined based on a comparison between a voltage of the first floating diffusion node and a voltage of the second floating diffusion node during the read operation of the second pixel, and the larger of the voltage of the first floating diffusion node and the voltage of the second floating diffusion node based on the comparison is output as the voltage of the common line.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.