US 2019/0098235 A1 · IMAGE SENSORS WITH DUAL CONVERSION GAIN PIXELS AND ANTI-ECLIPSE CIRCUITRY

Abstract

An image sensor may include an array of dual conversion gain image pixels arranged in rows and columns. The image pixels arranged along the same column may be coupled to a column line. The column line may be coupled to anti-eclipse control circuitry. In one suitable arrangement, the anti-eclipse control circuitry may include a comparator that compares the output signal on the column line to an anti-eclipse bias voltage. If, during a reset sampling period, the output signal on the column line is less than the anti-eclipse bias voltage, a current source may be used to charge the bottom plate of a dual conversion gate capacitor in the selected image pixel to help restore the voltage of the floating diffusion node in the selected pixel.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An image sensor, comprising:

an image pixel;
a column output line coupled to the image pixel;
and
an anti-eclipse circuit coupled to the column output line, wherein the anti-eclipse circuit comprises a comparator and a latch.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

15/713,244Filed 22 Sep 2017

Published

28 Mar 2019

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

H04N 25/627
Detection or reduction of noise due to excess charges produced by the exposure, e.g. smear, blooming, ghost image, crosstalk or leakage between…
H04N 23/76
Circuitry for compensating brightness variation in the scene: by influencing the image signals
H04N 25/77
Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors: pixel circuitry, e.g. memories, A/D converters, pixel amplifiers, shared circuits or shared components
H04N 25/78
Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors: readout circuits for addressed sensors, e.g. output amplifiers or A/D converters

Image sensors with dual conversion gain pixels and anti-eclipse circuitry

Life of this patent

Image sensors with dual conversion gain pixels and anti-eclipse circuitry

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20