Complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor
AssigneeIntellectual Ventures II LLC
InventorSeong-Han Yu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A CMOS image sensor includes a unit pixel including controlled by a high voltage; a reference high voltage generator for generating a reference high voltage; and a high voltage output unit for generating the high voltage by using the reference high voltage as an operating voltage to thereby output the high voltage to the unit pixel, wherein a level of the high voltage is stably maintained regardless of a variations of the reference high voltage level.
Claims21
A semiconductor device configured to convert an optical image into an electrical signal, the semiconductor device comprising:
- a unit pixel configured to be controlled by a first voltage;
- and a voltage output unit configured to generate the first voltage wherein the voltage output unit includes:
- a first reference voltage generator configured to generate an amplified voltage as a first reference voltage;
- and a regulator configured to generate the first voltage by amplifying an induced voltage which is decreased by the first reference voltage.
A semiconductor device comprising:
- a unit pixel;
- and a voltage output unit configured to generate a first voltage, wherein the first voltage output unit includes:
- a first reference voltage generator configured to generate an amplified voltage as a first reference voltage;
- and a regulator configured to generate the first voltage by amplifying an induced voltage which is decreased by the first reference voltage.
A method of converting an optical image into an electrical signal, the method comprising:
- generating a first voltage, wherein said generating a first voltage comprises using a regulator configured to generate the first voltage by amplifying an induced voltage which is decreased by a first reference voltage;
- and controlling a unit pixel with the first voltage.
A semiconductor device configured to convert an optical image into an electrical signal, the semiconductor device comprising:
- a voltage output means configured to generate a first voltage that is configured to control a unit pixel, wherein the voltage output means includes:
- a first reference voltage generating means configured to generate an amplified voltage as a first reference voltage;
- and a regulator configured to generate the first voltage by amplifying an induced voltage which is decreased by the first reference voltage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.