Image sensor
US6646249B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 25, 2001 |
| Grant date | Nov 11, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 12, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N25/78
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An image sensor comprises rows and columns of pixels. Each pixel comprises an image sensing element and a switching device. The switching device enables a signal of the image sensing element to be provided to the associated column conductor. The switching device has two inputs—a first input defined by the row conductor, and a second input. Two adjacent columns of pixels are associated with each column conductor, and the two columns of pixels between adjacent column conductors are associated with a respective shared control line providing the second input. The switch arrangement with two inputs enables individual pixels to be isolated. The sharing of control lines between pairs of columns of pixels means that each pixel requires the same number of connections as in a conventional array with only a single switch control input.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.