Comparator, analog-to-digital converting system and method of driving the same
AssigneeSK hynix Inc.
InventorsHyun-Mook Park, Gun-Hee Yun
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A comparator may include: a first comparison unit suitable for generating a comparison voltage by performing a comparison operation between a pixel signal and a ramp signal; a time point detection unit suitable for detecting specific timing points of the comparison operation in response to the comparison voltage and a reference voltage, and generating a detection signal corresponding to the specific timing points; a period determination unit suitable for determining an additional supply period in response to the detection signal and a period determination control signal; and an additional current supply unit suitable for supplying an additional current to the first comparison unit during the additional supply period.
Claims14
A comparator comprising:
- a first comparison unit suitable for generating a comparison voltage by performing a comparison operation between a pixel signal and a ramp signal;
- a time point detection unit suitable for detecting specific timing points of the comparison operation in response to the comparison voltage and a reference voltage, and generating a detection signal corresponding to the specific timing points;
- a period determination unit suitable for determining an additional supply period in response to the detection signal and a period determination control signal;
- and
- an additional current supply unit suitable for supplying an additional current to the first comparison unit during the additional supply period.
An analog-to-digital converting system comprising:
- a comparator suitable for performing a comparison operation using a current during an additional supply period, the current greater than that used in periods other than the additional supply period;
- and
- a counter suitable for counting a comparison result of the comparator,
- wherein the comparator generates a comparison voltage by comparing a pixel signal with a ramp signal, and generates a detection signal by comparing the comparison voltage with a reference voltage, and
- wherein the additional supply period is determined in response to the detection signal,
- wherein the comparator, comprises:
- a first comparison unit suitable for generating a comparison voltage by performing the comparison operation between a pixel signal and a ramp signal;
- a time point detection unit suitable for detecting specific timing points of the comparison operation in response to the comparison voltage and a reference voltage, and generating a detection signal corresponding to the specific timing points;
- a period determination unit suitable for determining the additional supply period in response to the detection signal and a period determination control signal;
- and
- an additional current supply unit suitable for supplying an additional current to the first comparison unit during the additional supply period.
A method of driving an analog-to-digital converting system, the method comprising:
- generating a comparison voltage based on a comparison result between a pixel signal and a ramp signal by selectively using a first current and a third current, which is greater than the first current, during a ramping period;
- and
- counting the comparison voltage,
- wherein the third current is obtained by adding a second current to the first current, and
- wherein the generating of the comparison voltage comprises:
- generating the comparison voltage by performing a comparison operation for comparing the pixel signal with the ramp signal based on the first current during the other periods;
- generating a detection signal corresponding to specific timing points of the comparison operation in response to the comparison voltage and a reference voltage;
- determining the additional supply period in response to the detection signal and a period determination control signal;
- generating the second current and additionally supplying the second current, during the additional supply period;
- and
- generating the comparison voltage by performing a comparison operation between the pixel signal and the ramp signal based on the third current during the additional supply period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.