Readout system and method for an image sensor
AssigneeHimax Imaging Limited
InventorPing-Hung Yin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A readout system with enhanced dynamic range for an image sensor is constructed with a pixel circuit and a readout circuit. The pixel circuit includes at least a first amplifier with a first gain and a second amplifier with a second gain for amplifying signals from the image sensor. The readout circuit includes at least a first readout sub-circuit and a second readout sub-circuit for corresponding reading output of the first amplifier and output of the second amplifier respectively.
Claims20
A readout system for an image sensor, comprising:
- a pixel circuit including at least a first amplifier with a first gain and a second amplifier with a second gain for amplifying signals from the image sensor;
- and
- a readout circuit including at least a first readout sub-circuit and a second readout sub-circuit for corresponding reading output of the first amplifier and output of the second amplifier respectively.
A readout system for an image sensor, comprising:
- a pixel circuit for generating a first output and a second output;
- a first correlated double sampling (CDS) circuit for reading out the first output of the pixel circuit;
- and
- a second CDS circuit for reading out the second output of the pixel circuit.
A readout method for an image sensor, comprising:
- amplifying signals from the image sensor with a first gain in a first path;
- amplifying the signals from the image sensor with a second gain in a second path;
- reading out the amplified signals from the first path;
- and
- reading out the amplified signals from the second path.
A readout method for an image sensor, comprising:
- turning on a reset transistor of a pixel circuit;
- sampling and holding a first reset signal at a first output node of the pixel circuit, and sampling and holding a second reset signal at a second output node of the pixel circuit;
- turning on a transfer transistor;
- and
- sampling and holding a first image signal at the first output node of the pixel circuit, and sampling and holding a second image signal at the second output node of the pixel circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.