Patent · US Active

Image sensor including heterogeneous analog to digital convertor with different noise characteristics

US9537501B2 · kind B2 · utility

9Cited by
9References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 18, 2014
Grant dateJan 3, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 8, 2035

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03M1/56
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An image sensor in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept may include a pixel sensor array which includes an active pixel sensor and an optical black pixel sensor; a first analog to digital converter configured to convert a first sensing signal, which is provided from the active pixel sensor, to a first digital signal; a second analog to digital converter configured to convert a second sensing signal, which is provided from the optical black pixel sensor, to a second digital signal; and an output buffer configured to temporarily store and output the first digital signal and the second digital signal, wherein a plurality of noise characteristics of the second analog to digital converter is different from a plurality of noise characteristics of the first analog to digital converter.

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