Image sensor with voltage monitoring circuit
AssigneeSony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
InventorJenny Anna Maria Olsson Picalausa
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An image sensor includes a voltage controlled oscillator and an evaluation circuit. The voltage controlled oscillator outputs a periodic signal, wherein a frequency of the periodic signal is a function of an input voltage signal at an oscillator input of the voltage controlled oscillator. The input voltage signal is derived from an internal constant voltage signal of the image sensor. The evaluation circuit outputs a notification signal when a frequency of the periodic signal fulfills a predetermined condition.
Claims20
An image sensor, comprising:
- a voltage controlled oscillator configured to output a periodic signal, wherein a frequency of the periodic signal is a function of an input voltage signal at an oscillator input, and wherein the input voltage signal (Vinp) is derived from an internal constant voltage signal of the image sensor;
- a voltage interface circuit configured to derive the input voltage signal from the internal constant voltage signal, the voltage interface circuit comprising a first resistor and a second resistor connected in series between the internal constant voltage signal and a reference potential;
- and
- an evaluation circuit configured to output a notification signal when a frequency of the periodic signal fulfills a predetermined condition.
An image sensor, comprising:
- a voltage controlled oscillator configured to output a periodic signal, wherein a frequency of the periodic signal is a function of an input voltage signal at an oscillator input, and wherein the input voltage signal (Vinp) is derived from an internal constant voltage signal of the image sensor;
- and
- an evaluation circuit configured to output a notification signal when a frequency of the periodic signal fulfills a predetermined condition,
- wherein the voltage controlled oscillator is further configured to operate at a nominal frequency between 80 kHz and 200 kHz.
An image sensor, comprising:
- a voltage controlled oscillator configured to output a periodic signal, wherein a frequency of the periodic signal is a function of an input voltage signal at an oscillator input;
- a calibration circuit configured to obtain a reference count from a periodic calibration signal output by the voltage controlled oscillator in response to a reference voltage signal is applied to the oscillator input;
- a controllable switch configured to alternatingly pass the reference voltage signal and a monitored voltage signal to the oscillator input, wherein the monitored voltage signal is derived from an internal constant voltage signal of the image sensor;
- and
- an evaluation circuit configured to generate a notification signal when a count value of the periodic signal fulfills a predetermined condition in relation to the reference count, wherein the notification signal is used to assess a quality of a captured image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.