IP Library Granted Patent US 10,565,447
Granted Patent B2
US 10,565,447 · App. 15/866,041 · Granted Feb 18, 2020

Image sensor and electronic apparatus including the same

Inventors: Se Hyeon Kang (Hwaseong-si, KR); Dong Wook Won (Hwaseong-si, KR); Seog Heon Ham (Suwon-si, KR)
Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
G06K9/00604G06K9/2027H04N5/2256H04N5/2354H04N5/3532H04N5/3765H04N5/23219
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,565,447
App. No.
15/866,041
Granted
Feb 18, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image sensor includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixel units, and a controller configured to generate a light control signal for controlling light reflected from an object to expose the plurality of pixel units to the light at least twice during generation of an image frame.

Claims (50)

1. An image sensor comprising:

a pixel array comprising a plurality of pixel units; and

a controller configured to generate a light control signal for controlling light reflected from an object to expose the plurality of pixel units to the light at least twice during generation of an image frame,

wherein the controller is configured to generate the light control signal comprising at least one pulse:

generated in connection with a transmission signal, corresponding to a transmission operation of transmitting accumulated charges corresponding to the generated light, and/or

deactivated not to generate the light at a point of time when a vertical synchronization signal is generated,

wherein the pixel array comprises a plurality of pixel units divided into a plurality of pixel groups,

wherein the controller performs or controls the pixel array to perform each of following operations, sequentially in units of pixel groups:

a reset operation of initializing an electric potential of pixel node in connection with a plurality of reset signals;

an accumulation operation of accumulating the charges corresponding to the light in accumulation time periods;

the transmission operation of transmitting the accumulated charges to the pixel node in connection with a plurality of transmission signals;

a readout operation of generating a pixel signal on based on a potential change in the pixel node corresponding to the accumulated charges in readout time periods; and

an output operation of outputting the pixel signal in connection with a plurality of selection signals,

wherein the controller generates the light control signal such that the light is generated at least once in the accumulation time period of a first pixel group, and is generated at least once in the accumulation time period of a last pixel group, and

wherein, when the accumulation time periods are greater than or equal to the readout time periods, the controller generates the light control signal comprising a first pulse generated in connection with a reset signal for a last pixel group and a second pulse generated in connection with a transmission signal for the last pixel group.

2. The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein the first pulse is deactivated at a point of time when the reset signal for the last pixel group is generated, and

wherein the second pulse is deactivated at a point of time when the transmission signal for the last pixel group is generated.

3. An image sensor comprising:

a pixel array comprising a plurality of pixel units; and

a controller configured to generate a light control signal for controlling light reflected from an object to expose the plurality of pixel units to the light at least twice during generation of an image frame,

wherein the controller is configured to generate the light control signal comprising at least one pulse:

generated in connection with a transmission signal, corresponding to a transmission operation of transmitting accumulated charges corresponding to the generated light, and/or

deactivated not to generate the light at a point of time when a vertical synchronization signal is generated,

wherein the pixel array comprises a plurality of pixel units divided into a plurality of pixel groups,

wherein the controller performs or controls the pixel array to perform each of following operations, sequentially in units of pixel groups:

a reset operation of initializing an electric potential of a pixel node in connection with a plurality of reset signals;

an accumulation operation of accumulating the charges corresponding to the light in accumulation time periods;

the transmission operation of transmitting the accumulated charges to the pixel node in connection with a plurality of transmission signals;

a readout operation of generating a pixel signal on based on a potential change in the pixel node corresponding to the accumulated charges in readout time periods; and

an output operation of outputting the pixel signal in connection with a plurality of selection signals,

wherein the controller generates the light control signal such that the light is generated at least once in the accumulation time period of a first pixel group, and is generated at least once in the accumulation time period of a last pixel group, and

wherein, when the accumulation time periods are shorter than the readout time periods and are greater than or equal to half a sum of the readout time periods and an activation time of the light control signal, the controller generates the light control signal comprising a first pulse generated in connection with a transmission signal for a first pixel group and a second pulse generated in connection with a transmission signal for a last pixel group.

4. The image sensor of claim 3 , wherein the first pulse is deactivated at a point of time when the transmission signal for the first pixel group is generated, and

wherein the second pulse is deactivated from a point of time ahead, by a period which is a result of subtracting the accumulation time periods from the readout time periods, of a point of time when the transmission signal for the last pixel group is generated.

5. An image sensor comprising:

a pixel array comprising a plurality of pixel units; and

a controller configured to generate a light control signal for controlling light reflected from an object to expose the plurality of pixel units to the light at least twice during generation of an image frame,

wherein the controller is configured to generate the light control signal comprising at least one pulse:

generated in connection with a transmission signal, corresponding to a transmission operation of transmitting accumulated charges corresponding to the generated light, and/or

deactivated not to generate the light at a point of time when a vertical synchronization signal is generated,

wherein the pixel array comprises a plurality of pixel units divided into a plurality of pixel groups,

wherein the controller performs or controls the pixel array to perform each of following operations, sequentially in units of pixel groups:

a reset operation of initializing an electric potential of a pixel node in connection with a plurality of reset signals;

an accumulation operation of accumulating the charges corresponding to the light in accumulation time periods;

the transmission operation of transmitting the accumulated charges to the pixel node in connection with a plurality of transmission signals;

a readout operation of generating a pixel signal on based on a potential change in the pixel node corresponding to the accumulated charges in readout time periods; and

an output operation of outputting the pixel signal in connection with a plurality of selection signals,

wherein the controller generates the light control signal such that the light is generated at least once in the accumulation time period of a first pixel group, and is generated at least once in the accumulation time period of a last pixel group,

wherein the controller generates the light control signal in connection with the vertical synchronization signal, and

wherein the controller generates the light control signal comprising a first pulse deactivated not to generate the light at a point of time when the vertical synchronization signal is activated, and a second pulse deactivated not to generate the light at a point of time when the vertical synchronization signal is deactivated.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 9, 2018
From: KANG, SE HYEON; WON, DONG WOOK; HAM, SEOG HEON
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 044576/0633 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2017-0069566 · Jun 5, 2017 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180349697A1 · Dec 6, 2018