Digital double sampling method, a related CMOS image sensor, and a digital camera comprising CMOS image sensor
AssigneeSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
InventorsDong-Myung Lee, Gun-Hee Han, Seog-Heon Ham
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Abstract
A digital double sampling method, a related complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor, and a digital camera comprising the CMOS image sensor are disclosed. The method includes generating first digital data corresponding to an initial voltage level apparent in a pixel in response to a reset signal, inverting the first digital data, outputting a detection voltage corresponding to image data received from outside of the CMOS image sensor, and counting in synchronization with a clock signal, starting from an initial value equal to the inverted first digital data, and for an amount of time responsive to a voltage level of the detection voltage.
Claims20
An image sensor comprising:
- a pixel configured to receive image data, and to output an analog signal;
- a ramp voltage generator configured to generate a ramp signal;
- a comparator configured to receive the analog signal and the ramp signal, to compare the analog signal with the ramp signal;
- and
- a counter configured to store a value that is an inverted value of a first counting value corresponding to a reset signal of the pixel and generate a second counting value corresponding to the image data based on the inverted first counting value.
An image sensor comprising:
- a pixel configured to receive image data, and to output an analog signal;
- a ramp voltage generator configured to generate a ramp signal;
- a comparator configured to receive the analog signal and the ramp signal, to compare the analog signal with the ramp signal;
- and
- a counter configured to count a first counting value in response to a clock signal during a first period, and configured to invert the first counting value in response to a control signal and to store the inverted first counting value during a second period.
An image sensor comprising:
- a pixel configured to receive image data, and to output an analog signal;
- a ramp voltage generator configured to generate a ramp signal;
- a comparator configured to receive the analog signal and the ramp signal, to compare the analog signal with the ramp signal;
- and
- a counter configured to count in response to a clock signal during a first period and a third period, and to invert a counting value in response to a control signal during a second period between the first period and the third period,
- wherein the clock signal is configured to be activated during the first period and the third period, and be deactivated during the second period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.