# US 12,002,824 B2 · Image sensing device for correcting depth information > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,002,824 B2 - Document ID: US12002824B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/183,159 - Filed: 2023-03-14 - Published: 2023-07-06 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-12-27 - Assignees: SK hynix Inc. - Applicants: SK hynix Inc. - Inventors: Yujin Park; Sungwook Seo; Jeongeun Song; Minseok Shin; Ohjun Kwon; Hansang Kim; Kangbong Seo; Jinuk Jeon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12002824B2 ## CPC - H01L 27/14609 - G01C 3/08: Use of electric radiation detectors - H04N 17/002: {for television cameras} - H04N 23/65: Control of camera operation in relation to power supply - H04N 23/959: by adjusting depth of field during image capture, e.g. maximising or setting range based on scene characteristics - H04N 25/705: Pixels for depth measurement, e.g. RGBZ - H04N 25/7795: {Circuitry for generating timing or clock signals} - H01L 27/14689 - H04N 25/709: Circuitry for control of the power supply - H01L - G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An image sensing device includes an image sensor suitable for correcting depth information based on a control signal, and for generating image data according to the depth information, and a controller suitable for analyzing an error of the depth information, and for generating the control signal, based on first and second cycle signals provided from the image sensor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image sensing device comprising: an image sensor suitable for correcting depth information based on a control signal, and generating image data according to the depth information; a comparison circuit suitable for comparing the image data with reference data, and for generating a comparison signal; and a determination circuit suitable for determining an error of the depth information, and for generating the control signal, based on the comparison signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image sensing device of claim 1, wherein the image sensor includes: a light driver suitable for emitting a light signal to a subject based on a first cycle signal; a pixel driver suitable for generating a pixel driving signal based on a second cycle signal; a pixel array including at least one pixel for sensing a light signal reflected from the subject based on the pixel driving signal; and a corrector suitable for generating the first and second cycle signals each having a duty cycle based on the control signal and a clock signal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The image sensing device of claim 2, wherein the corrector includes: a first load suitable for generating a correction target signal corresponding to the clock signal; a duty cycle correction circuit suitable for correcting a duty cycle of the correction target signal according to a duty cycle of the second cycle signal, and for generating the first cycle signal, based on the control signal; and a second load suitable for generating the second cycle signal corresponding to the clock signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The image sensing device of claim 3, wherein the duty cycle correction circuit includes: a delay circuit suitable for sequentially delaying the correction target signal by a unit delay time, and for generating a plurality of delayed clock signals; a logic circuit suitable for performing a logic operation on the plurality of delayed clock signals, and for generating a plurality of operation clock signals; and a selection circuit suitable for outputting any one of the plurality of operation clock signals as the first cycle signal based on the control signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The image sensing device of claim 4, wherein the delay circuit includes a plurality of delay element groups coupled in series to one another, and suitable for outputting the plurality of delayed clock signals based on the correction target signal, and wherein each of the delay element groups includes an even number of inverters coupled in series to one another. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The image sensing device of claim 4, wherein the logic circuit includes: a first logic element group suitable for generating at least one operation clock signal having a negative duty cycle, compared to the clock signal, based on a delayed clock signal having a medium delay amount and delayed clock signals having delay amounts less than the medium delay amount among the plurality of delayed clock signals; and a second logic element group suitable for generating at least one operation clock signal having a positive duty cycle, compared to the clock signal, based on the delayed clock signal having the medium delay amount and delayed clock signals having delay amounts greater than the medium delay amount among the plurality of delayed clock signals. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The image sensing device of claim 4, wherein the selection circuit includes: a decoder suitable for decoding the control signal, and for generating a selection code signal; and a multiplexer suitable for outputting any one of the operation clock signals as the first cycle signal based on the selection code signal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The image sensing device of claim 2, wherein the corrector includes: a first load suitable for generating the first cycle signal corresponding to the clock signal; a second load suitable for generating a correction target signal corresponding to the clock signal; and a duty cycle correction circuit suitable for correcting a duty cycle of the correction target signal according to a duty cycle of the first cycle signal, and for generating the second cycle signal, based on the control signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The image sensing device of claim 8, wherein the duty cycle correction circuit includes: a delay circuit suitable for sequentially delaying the correction target signal by a unit delay time, and for generating a plurality of delayed clock signals; a logic circuit suitable for performing a logic operation on the plurality of delayed clock signals, and for generating a plurality of operation clock signals; and a selection circuit suitable for outputting any one of the plurality of operation clock signals as the second cycle signal based on the control signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The image sensing device of claim 9, wherein the delay circuit includes a plurality of delay element groups coupled in series to one another, and suitable for outputting the plurality of delayed clock signals based on the correction target signal, and wherein each of the delay element groups includes an even number of inverters coupled in series to one another. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The image sensing device of claim 9, wherein the logic circuit includes: a first logic element group suitable for generating at least one operation clock signal having a negative duty cycle, compared to the clock signal, based on a delayed clock signal having a medium delay amount and delayed clock signals having delay amounts less than the medium delay amount among the plurality of delayed clock signals; and a second logic element group suitable for generating at least one operation clock signal having a positive duty cycle, compared to the clock signal, based on the delayed clock signal having the medium delay amount and delayed clock signals having delay amounts greater than the medium delay amount among the plurality of delayed clock signals. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The image sensing device of claim 9, wherein the selection circuit includes: a decoder suitable for decoding the control signal, and for generating a selection code signal; and a multiplexer suitable for outputting any one of the operation clock signals as the second cycle signal based on the selection code signal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The image sensing device of claim 2, wherein the corrector includes: a first load suitable for generating a first correction target signal corresponding to the clock signal; a first duty cycle correction circuit suitable for correcting a duty cycle of the first correction target signal according to a duty cycle of the second cycle signal, and for generating the first cycle signal, based on the control signal and a first enable signal; a second load suitable for generating a second correction target signal corresponding to the clock signal; and a second duty cycle correction circuit suitable for correcting a duty cycle of the second correction target signal according to a duty cycle of the first cycle signal, and for generating the second cycle signal, based on the control signal and a second enable signal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The image sensing device of claim 13, wherein the first duty cycle correction circuit includes: a delay circuit suitable for sequentially delaying the first correction target signal by a unit delay time, and for generating a plurality of delayed clock signals; a logic circuit suitable for performing a logic operation on the plurality of delayed clock signals, and for generating a plurality of operation clock signals; and a selection circuit suitable for outputting any one of the plurality of operation clock signals as the first cycle signal based on the control signal and the first enable signal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The image sensing device of claim 14, wherein the delay circuit includes a plurality of delay element groups coupled in series to one another, and suitable for outputting the plurality of delayed clock signals based on the first correction target signal, and wherein each of the delay element groups includes an even number of inverters coupled in series to one another. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The image sensing device of claim 14, wherein the logic circuit includes: a first logic element group suitable for generating at least one operation clock signal having a negative duty cycle, compared to the clock signal, based on a delayed clock signal having a medium delay amount and delayed clock signals having delay amounts less than the medium delay amount among the plurality of delayed clock signals; and a second logic element group suitable for generating at least one operation clock signal having a positive duty cycle, compared to the clock signal, based on the delayed clock signal having the medium delay amount and delayed clock signals having delay amounts greater than the medium delay amount among the plurality of delayed clock signals. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The image sensing device of claim 14, wherein the selection circuit includes: a buffer suitable for generating a signal corresponding to the control signal or maintaining the signal which is set regardless of the control signal, based on the first enable signal; a decoder suitable for decoding the signal, and for generating a selection code signal; and a multiplexer suitable for outputting any one of the operation clock signals as the first cycle signal based on the selection code signal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The image sensing device of claim 13, wherein the second duty cycle correction circuit includes: a delay circuit suitable for sequentially delaying the second correction target signal by a unit delay time, and for generating a plurality of delayed clock signals; a logic circuit suitable for performing a logic operation on the plurality of delayed clock signals, and for generating a plurality of operation clock signals; and a selection circuit suitable for outputting any one of the plurality of operation clock signals as the second cycle signal based on the control signal and the second enable signal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The image sensing device of claim 18, wherein the delay circuit includes a plurality of delay element groups coupled in series to one another, and suitable for outputting the plurality of delayed clock signals based on the second correction target signal, and wherein each of the delay element groups includes an even number of inverters coupled in series to one another. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The image sensing device of claim 18, wherein the logic circuit includes: a first logic element group suitable for generating at least one operation clock signal having a negative duty cycle, compared to the clock signal, based on a delayed clock signal having a medium delay amount and delayed clock signals having delay amounts less than the medium delay amount among the plurality of delayed clock signals; and a second logic element group suitable for generating at least one operation clock signal having a positive duty cycle, compared to the clock signal based on the delayed clock signal having the medium delay amount and delayed clock signals having delay amounts greater than the medium delay amount among the plurality of delayed clock signals. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The image sensing device of claim 18, wherein the selection circuit includes: a buffer suitable for generating a signal corresponding to the control signal or maintaining the signal which is set regardless of the control signal, based on the second enable signal; a decoder suitable for decoding the signal, and for generating a selection code signal; and a multiplexer suitable for outputting any one of the operation clock signals as the second cycle signal based on the selection code signal. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The image sensing device of claim 1, wherein a controller including the comparison circuit and the determination circuit performs an error analysis operation on the depth information for a predetermined number of times, and statically generates the control signal, in a test mode. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The image sensing device of claim 1, wherein the image data is a digital signal, and wherein a controller including the comparison circuit and the determination circuit generates the control signal, directly using the image data.