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US 12,513,429 B2Granted
Optical sensor outputting partial image data of pixel array
AssigneePixart Imaging Inc.
InventorsRen-Chieh Liu, Yi-Cheng Chiu
Life of this patent
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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
An optical sensor comprising:
- multiple pixel circuits arranged in a pixel array, each 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;
- and
- a difference circuit, comprising:
- a second output transistor, connected between the second end of the storage capacitor and a second readout line;
- and
- a second reset transistor, having a source connected between the second end of the storage capacitor and the second output transistor, configured to reset the second end of the storage capacitor to a reset voltage;
- multiple sharing circuits, each shared by the each pixel circuit with other pixel circuits at the same column of the pixel array as the each pixel circuit, 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;
- and
- a readout circuit, configured to
- read image data of all the multiple pixel circuits acquired in a first interval via first readout lines to form a reference image, and
- read image data, acquired in a second interval via second readout lines, of only a part of pixel circuits among the multiple pixel circuits having a change identified according to the time difference data or the state-change signal.
18 more elements
An optical sensor, comprising:
- multiple pixel circuits arranged in a pixel array, each 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;
- and
- a readout circuit, configured to
- read image data of all the multiple pixel circuits acquired in the first interval to form a reference image, and
- read image data, acquired in the second interval, of only a part of pixel circuits among the multiple pixel circuits having a change of the variation of the light energy according to the time difference data.
7 more elements
An optical sensor, comprising:
- multiple pixel circuits arranged in a pixel array, each pixel circuit comprising a storage capacitor and a photodiode, and being configured to output image data in a first interval and output time difference data in a second interval;
- and
- a readout circuit, configured to
- read, from the storage capacitor, the image data, generated by the photodiode, of all the multiple pixel circuits acquired in the first interval to form a reference image, and
- read the image data, acquired in the second interval, of only a part of pixel circuits among the multiple pixel circuits having a change identified according to the time difference data, wherein the time difference data is associated with a variation of light energy read from the same storage capacitor and generated by the same photodiode between the first interval and the second interval in the each pixel circuit.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.