Imaging sensing device, sensing system, and method of operating the imaging system
AssigneeSK hynix Inc.
InventorJong Chae KIM
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An image sensing device is provided to comprise: a substrate; and a photodetector supported by the substrate and structured to comprise a first semiconductor area and a second semiconductor area surrounding the first semiconductor area, wherein the first semiconductor area includes a first sub-semiconductor area and a second sub-semiconductor area spaced apart from the first sub-semiconductor area, and wherein the first sub-semiconductor area and the second sub-semiconductor area are doped with a same conductivity type, and the second semiconductor area is doped with a different conductivity type from the first semiconductor area.
Claims20
An image sensing device comprising:
- a substrate;
- and
- a photodetector supported by the substrate and structured to comprise a first semiconductor area and a second semiconductor area surrounding the first semiconductor area,
- wherein the first semiconductor area includes a first sub-semiconductor area and a second sub-semiconductor area spaced apart from the first sub-semiconductor area, and
- wherein the first sub-semiconductor area and the second sub-semiconductor area are doped with a same conductivity type, and the second semiconductor area is doped with a different conductivity type from the first semiconductor area.
An imaging device, comprising:
- an image sensing device including a pixel comprising a first photodetector and a second photodetector, and a switch coupled to the first photodetector to turn on or off a connection between the first and second photodetectors, wherein each of the first photodetector and the second photodetector comprises a first semiconductor area and a second semiconductor area surrounding the first semiconductor area, and the first semiconductor area includes a first sub-semiconductor area and a second sub-semiconductor area spaced apart from the first sub-semiconductor area;
- an image signal processor coupled to the image sensing device to receive pixel data from the pixel of the image sensing device and configured to process pixel data generated from the image sensing device;
- and
- a switch controller,
- wherein the pixel of the image sensing device further comprises an analog quenching transistor connected to the photodetector, and a switch turned on or off by the switch controller and arranged between the first photodetector and the second photodetector.
A method of operating an imaging device, comprising:
- making a determination whether a distance to a target object is greater than or equal to a predetermined distance;
- turning off or on a switch disposed between a first sub-photodetector and a second sub-photodetector that are included in the imaging device based on the determination to operate either i) the first sub-photodetector only or ii) both of the first sub-photodetector and the second sub-photodetector;
- providing pulse signals generated from at least one of the first sub-photodetector or the second sub-photodetector to a read-out circuit to allow the read-out circuit to generate pixel data;
- and
- determining a distance to the target object based on the pixel data.
A method of operating an imaging device comprising:
- making a determination whether a illuminance of an environment external to the imaging device is higher or equal to a predetermined illuminance;
- turning off or on a switch disposed between a first sub-photodetector and a second sub-photodetector that are included in the imaging device based on the determination to operate either i) the first sub-photodetector only or ii) both of the first sub-photodetector and the second sub-photodetector;
- providing pulse signals generated from at least one of the first sub-photodetector or the second sub-photodetector to a read-out circuit;
- and
- generating pixel data based on the pulse signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.