Image sensor with rapid read cycle
US7471323B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 5, 2004 |
| Grant date | Dec 30, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 10, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N25/745
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The invention proposes an image sensor comprising a picture capture matrix having N rows and K columns of image dots, a read register at the free end of the K columns. In order to improve the read speed of the matrix, the invention proposes that the horizontal transfer into the read register be continued even while the vertical signals for shifting from one row to the other are operative, without however continuing the horizontal transfer while the transfer gate between columns and horizontal register is open. The unloading time of the horizontal read register therefore overlaps the time reserved for each vertical transfer step, instead of these times being added together. The gain in time, being repeated for each row, will be all the more significant the higher the number of rows. Means are provided for limiting the effect of the column transfer switching operations on the reading of the charges at the output of the read register.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.