Image sensing device
AssigneeSK hynix Inc.
InventorHajime SUZUKI
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An image sensing device capable of operating in various modes is disclosed. The image sensing device includes a pixel array configured to generate a pixel signal; a first ramp generator configured to generate a first ramp signal; a second ramp generator configured to generate a second ramp signal; an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit including a comparator configured to compare the pixel signal with one of the first ramp signal and the second ramp signal, and to generate image data based on a result of the comparison; and a processor configured to control the ADC circuit to input the first ramp signal to the comparator in a first mode and to input the second ramp signal to the comparator in a second mode.
Claims20
An image sensing device comprising:
- a pixel array configured to generate a pixel signal;
- a first ramp generator configured to generate a first ramp signal;
- a second ramp generator configured to generate a second ramp signal;
- an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit including a comparator configured to compare the pixel signal with one of the first ramp signal and the second ramp signal, and to generate image data based on a result of the comparison;
- and
- a processor configured to control the ADC circuit to input the first ramp signal to the comparator in a first mode and to input the second ramp signal to the comparator in a second mode.
An image sensing device comprising:
- a pixel array configured to generate a pixel signal;
- a comparator configured to compare the pixel signal with one of a first ramp signal and a second ramp signal;
- a first ramp generator including a digital-to-analog converter and configured to generate the first ramp signal;
- a second ramp generator including a first current source and a second current source and configured to generate the second ramp signal;
- a buffer connected to the first ramp generator;
- a first capacitor connected between the buffer and the comparator;
- and
- a second capacitor connected between the pixel array and the comparator.
An image sensing device comprising:
- a pixel array configured to generate a pixel signal;
- a first ramp generator configured to generate a first ramp signal;
- a second ramp generator configured to generate a second ramp signal;
- an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit configured to generate first image data based on the first ramp signal and the pixel signal, and to generate second image data based on the second ramp signal and the pixel signal;
- and
- a processor configured to control the ADC circuit so that,
- in a first mode, the second ramp generator is put to sleep and the ADC circuit receives the first ramp signal, and
- in a second mode, the first ramp generator is put to sleep and the ADC circuit receives the second ramp signal,
- wherein
- a first image corresponding to the first image data has a higher quality than a second image corresponding to the second image data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.