Memory-enhanced image sensor
AssigneeSTMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd.
InventorJustin Richardson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An image sensor IC may have a non-volatile memory for several functions. The functions may include storing control parameters for a camera autofocus module, part tracking data, and data for defect correction or color science. The non-volatile memory can in particular be an antifuse non-volatile memory, which may not need special light shielding.
Claims33
An electronic device comprising:
- a substrate;
- a volatile memory on said substrate;
- an antifuse non-volatile memory on said substrate;
- an image sensing pixel array on said substrate;
- and
- a co-processor configured to
- write contents of said antifuse non-volatile memory to said volatile memory, the contents including operational parameters of the electronic device, and
- re-write the contents back into a different region of said volatile memory.
An electronic device comprising:
- an image sensor integrated circuit (IC) including
- a substrate,
- a volatile memory on said substrate;
- an antifuse non-volatile memory on said substrate, and
- an image sensing pixel array on said substrate;
- and
- a co-processor coupled to said image sensor IC and configured to
- write contents of said antifuse non-volatile memory to said volatile memory, the contents including operational parameters of the image sensor IC, and
- re-write the contents back into a different region of said volatile memory.
An electronic device comprising:
- a co-processor;
- an image sensor integrated circuit (IC);
- and
- a motor for driving a lens carriage and coupled to at least one of said co-processor and said image sensor IC;
- said image sensing IC including a non-volatile memory encoded with operational parameters for driving said motor, and a volatile memory;
- said co-processor configured to
- write contents of said non-volatile memory to said volatile memory, the contents including operational parameters of the image sensor IC, and
- re-write the contents back into a different region of said volatile memory.
A method of operating an image sensor integrated circuit (IC) comprising a substrate, a volatile memory on the substrate, an antifuse non-volatile memory on the substrate, and an image sensing pixel array on the substrate, the method comprising:
- writing the contents of the antifuse non-volatile memory to a volatile memory, the contents including operational parameters of the image sensor IC;
- selectively powering the antifuse non-volatile memory;
- and
- re-writing the contents back into a different region of said volatile memory.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.