Patent · US Active

Image sensor and driving method thereof

US11025844B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
11References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 5, 2019
Grant dateJun 1, 2021
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 5, 2039

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N25/771
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method of driving an image sensor includes integrating an overflowed charge from a photodiode in the floating diffusion area and a dynamic range capacitor. The dynamic range capacitor is formed between the floating diffusion area and a power supply voltage. The method further includes sampling a first voltage formed in the floating diffusion area by the integrated overflowed charge, resetting the photodiode, the floating diffusion area, and the dynamic range capacitor, sampling a reset level of the reset floating diffusion area, transferring a charge accumulated in the photodiode to the floating diffusion area, and sampling a second voltage formed in the floating diffusion area.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.