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US 8,115,845 B2Granted
Counter array and image sensor including the same
AssigneeSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
InventorsKyoung Min Koh, Kyung-Min Kim, Yong Lim
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A counter array and an image sensor including the same may be provided. The counter array may include a controller and a plurality of counter units. The controller may output an operation control signal and a direction indication signal. The counter units hold previous output values or may perform a counting operation in response to the operation control signal and may perform an up-count operation or a down-count operation in response to the direction indication signal when performing the counting operation.
Claims19
A counter array comprising:
- a controller configured to output an operation control signal and a direction indication signal;
- a plurality of counter units configured to perform one of holding previous output values and a counter operation in response to the operation control signal, wherein each counter unit includes
- a first latch and a second latch each including a data input terminal and a clock input terminal,
- a first switch configured to selectively provide a first output signal of the first latch to the data input terminal of the first latch based on the operation control signal, and
- a second switch configured to selectively provide a first output signal of the second latch to the data input terminal of the second latch based on the operation control signal, and
- wherein the counter operation performs one of an up-count operation and a down-count operation in response to the direction indication signal.
3 more elements
An image sensor comprising:
- an active pixel sensor (APS) array configured to sense light and output an image signal;
- a ramp generator configured to output a ramp signal;
- a controller configured to output a direction indication signal and a control signal;
- a comparator configured to compare the ramp signal with the image signal and output a comparison signal;
- a control signal generator configured to output an operation control signal in response to the control signal and the comparison signal;
- and
- a counter array including a counter unit configured to one of hold previous output values and a counting operation in response to the operation control signal, wherein the counter unit includes
- a first latch and a second latch each including a data input terminal and a clock input terminal,
- a first switch configured to selectively provide a first output signal of the first latch to the data input terminal of the first latch based on the operation control signal, and
- a second switch configured to selectively provide a first output signal of the second latch to the data input terminal of the second latch based on the operation control signal, and
- wherein the counter operation performs one of an up-count operation and a down-count operation in response to the direction indication signal.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.