# US 12,010,444 B2 · Image sensor, image acquisition apparatus, and electronic apparatus including the image acquisition apparatus for synchronization and serialization of generated pulses > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,010,444 B2 - Document ID: US12010444B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/831,947 - Filed: 2022-06-03 - Published: 2023-06-01 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2021-11-26 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Jungwoo Kim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12010444B2 ## CPC - H04N 25/745: {Circuitry for generating timing or clock signals} - H04N 25/773: comprising photon counting circuits, e.g. single photon detection [SPD] or single photon avalanche diodes [SPAD] - H04N 25/47: Image sensors with pixel address output; Event-driven image sensors; Selection of pixels to be read out based on image data - H04N 25/75: Circuitry for providing, modifying or processing image signals from the pixel array - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract According to an embodiment, an image sensor using photon counting includes: a plurality of sub-pixels arranged in one pixel; pulse generators which are respectively connected to the plurality of sub-pixels, and are configured to generate pulse signals based on electric signals generated based on photons incident on the plurality of sub-pixels; a synchronizer and serializer configured to synchronize and serialize pulse signals respectively output from the pulse generators; and a counter configured to count and output a number of the pulse signals that are synchronized and serialized. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image sensor using photon counting, the image sensor comprising: a plurality of sub-pixels arranged in one pixel; pulse generators which are respectively connected to the plurality of sub-pixels, and are configured to generate pulse signals based on electric signals generated based on photons incident on the plurality of sub-pixels; a synchronizer and serializer configured to synchronize and serialize pulse signals respectively output from the pulse generators; and a counter configured to count and output a number of the pulse signals that are synchronized and serialized, wherein the pulse signals generated by the pulse generators correspond to photons incident on the plurality of sub-pixels at a same or overlapping timing, and wherein the synchronizer and serializer is further configured to: synchronize the pulse signals by synchronizing start timings of the pulse signals; and serialize the pulse signals by realigning the synchronized pulse signals such that the synchronized pulse signals are output at different timings. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image sensor of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sub-pixels include a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image sensor of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sub-pixels include at least three sub-pixels. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image sensor of claim 1, wherein the synchronizer and serializer is further configured to perform synchronization and serialization based on a processing period of a pulse signal generated from each sub-pixel of the plurality of sub-pixels. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The image sensor of claim 4, wherein the processing period is determined based on a photoelectric conversion speed and a quenching time of a sub-pixel of the plurality of sub-pixels. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The image sensor of claim 5, wherein the synchronizer and serializer is further configured to perform the synchronization and serialization based on a number of the plurality of sub-pixels and the processing period. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The image sensor of claim 6, wherein the synchronizer and serializer is further configured to perform the synchronization and serialization based on a synchronization and serialization period obtained by dividing the processing period by the number of the plurality of sub-pixels. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The image sensor of claim 7, wherein the synchronizer and serializer is further configured to generate a synchronization and serialization pulse signal by synchronizing and serializing pulse signals respectively output from the pulse generators and present in the synchronization and serialization period. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The image sensor of claim 1, wherein the counter is positioned in the one pixel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The image sensor of claim 1, wherein the counter is positioned outside the one pixel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The image sensor of claim 1, wherein the counter is positioned on a layer different from a layer on which the one pixel is arranged. ### Claim 12 An image acquisition apparatus comprising: a pixel array including a plurality of pixels, wherein a plurality of sub-pixels are arranged in each pixel of the plurality of pixels; pulse generators which are respectively connected to the plurality of sub-pixels and are configured to generate pulse signals based on electric signals generated based on photons incident on the plurality of sub-pixels; a synchronizer and serializer configured to synchronize and serialize pulse signals output from the pulse generators; a counter configured to count and output a number of the pulse signals that are synchronized and serialized; and an image sensor controller configured to generate image signals based on counting values output from counters respectively corresponding to the plurality of pixels of the pixel array, wherein the pulse signals generated by the pulse generators correspond to photons incident on the plurality of sub-pixels at a same or overlapping timing, and wherein the synchronizer and serializer is further configured to: synchronize the pulse signals by synchronizing start timings of the pulse signals; and serialize the pulse signals by realigning the synchronized pulse signals such that the synchronized pulse signals are output at different timings. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The image acquisition apparatus of claim 12, wherein the plurality of sub-pixels include a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD). ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The image acquisition apparatus of claim 12, wherein the plurality of sub-pixels include at least three sub-pixels. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The image acquisition apparatus of claim 12, wherein the image sensor controller is further configured to control the synchronizer and serializer based on a processing period of a pulse signal generated from each pixel of the plurality of sub-pixels. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The image acquisition apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processing period is determined based on a photoelectric conversion speed and a quenching time of a sub-pixel of the plurality of sub-pixels. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The image acquisition apparatus of claim 15, wherein the image sensor controller is further configured to control the synchronizer and serializer based on a number of the plurality of sub-pixels and the processing period. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The image acquisition apparatus of claim 17, wherein the image sensor controller is further configured to control the synchronizer and serializer based on a synchronization and serialization period obtained by dividing the processing period by the number of the plurality of sub-pixels. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The image acquisition apparatus of claim 12, wherein the counter is positioned in a pixel, outside the pixel, and/or on a layer different from a layer on which the pixel is arranged. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) An electronic apparatus including the image acquisition apparatus of claim 12.