Image sensor and method of correcting output signal of the image sensor based on signals from different pixel rows

An image sensor, comprising:

• a row driver to generate a storage control signal, a transfer control signal, a reset control signal, and a row selecting signal;
• a pixel array including a plurality of rows of pixels to receive optical signals and to convert the optical signals to electrical signals, and to output the electrical signals as image signals in response to the storage control signal, the transfer control signal, the reset control signal, and the row selecting signal;
• an analog-to-digital converter to perform an analog-to-digital conversion on the image signals to generate first signals;
• and
• an output correcting circuit to compare sizes of signals corresponding to pixels in rows having optical signals among the first signals with sizes of signals corresponding to pixels in rows not having optical signals, and to correct the signals corresponding to the rows having the optical signals to generate second signals, wherein the pixels in the rows not having optical signals used to correct the signals from pixels in rows having optical signals are color pixels to generate an image, and
• wherein the image sensor is to transmit signals from photodiode regions to corresponding storage diode regions in the pixels of first rows, read signals of storage diode regions included in the pixels of the first rows and pixels of second rows subtract values of signals output from the pixels of the second rows from corresponding values of signals output from the pixels of the first rows, and correct the signals output from the pixels of the first rows.

A method for correcting signals from an image sensor, the method comprising:

• transmitting a signal from a photodiode region to a storage diode region in each of a plurality of pixels in first rows of the image sensor;
• reading a signal of a storage diode region in each of the pixels of the first rows and each of a plurality of pixels in second rows of the image sensor;
• and
• subtracting values of signals from the pixels of the second rows from corresponding values of signals output from the pixels of the first rows among the readout signals, wherein:
• the pixels in the first and second rows are color pixels for generating an image,
• the signal readout from the storage diode region in each of the pixels of the first rows is based on charge generated from a corresponding photodiode, and
• the signal read out from the storage diode region in each of the pixels in the second rows is based on leakage current and is independent from charge generated from a corresponding photodiode.