Image taking device and camera system
AssigneeSony Corporation
InventorToshiyuki Nishihara
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An image sensor includes a plurality of pixels, a plurality of sense circuits, and a count circuit. Each sense circuit is configured to read out electrical signals from at least one pixel associated with the sense circuit in order to generate data representing whether or not photons have been received by the sense circuit. The count circuit is in communication with a sense circuit selected from the plurality of sense circuits. The count circuit is configured to provide integration results for the pixels associated with the sense circuits based on the data received from the sense circuits.
Claims17
An image sensor comprising:
- a plurality of pixels, each pixel being configured to output an electrical signal in accordance with a photon incident on the pixel within a predetermined time period;
- a plurality of sense circuits, each sense circuit being configured to read out electrical signals from at least one pixel associated with the sense circuit in order to generate data representing whether or not photons have been received by the sense circuit within the predetermined time period;
- a plurality of registers, each register storing data from a corresponding sense circuit,
- a count circuit in selective communication with each of the plurality of registers and configured to provide integration results for the plurality of pixels associated with the plurality of sense circuits based on the data received from the plurality of sense circuits;
- and
- a selection circuit to selectively supply data to the count circuit.
An electronic system comprising:
- an optical system including a lens;
- and
- an image sensor to receive incident light from the optical system, the image sensor including:
- a plurality of pixel blocks, each pixel block including a set of pixels connected to a common signal line, each pixel being configured to output an electrical signal in accordance with a photon incident on the pixel;
- a plurality of sense circuits, each sense circuit being associated with a respective pixel block, each sense circuit being configured to read out the electrical signals from the set of pixels, each sense circuit being configured to generate, for each pixel within the set of pixels, data indicating whether or not photons have been received by the pixel;
- a count circuit configured to provide integration results based upon data of the plurality of sense circuits;
- a selection circuit to selectively supply data to the count circuit;
- and
- a plurality of registers in selective communication with the selection circuit, each register storing data from a corresponding sense circuit before the data is selectively transferred to the selection circuit.
A method for controlling an image sensor, said method comprising:
- performing a first access operation on a first pixel;
- performing a second access operation on the first pixel;
- performing a first count operation for the first pixel, the first count operation occurring between the first access operation of the first pixel and the second access operation of the first pixel;
- and
- performing the first access operation on a second pixel, the first access operation of the second pixel occurring (i) prior to the second access operation of the first pixel, and (ii) concurrently with the first count operation of the first pixel.
A method for controlling an image sensor, said method comprising:
- performing a first count operation based on binary values received from a selection circuit that selectively communicates with a first register, the first register being connected to a first sense circuit associated with a first pixel;
- and
- performing a second count operation based on binary values received from the selection circuit that selectively communicates with a second register, the second register being connected to a second sense circuit associated with a second pixel
- wherein,
- the first count operation and the second count operation are performed by a common count circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.