IMAGE SENSOR AND IMAGE DATA PROCESSING METHOD

• US 20090219427A1
• Filed: 04/12/2006
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Planet 82 Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Planet 82 Incorporated
• Inventors: Kim, Hoon, Park, Kwang Sue
• Application Number:
  US12/089,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20090219427A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/308
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14609 Pixel-elements with integrated switching, control, storage or amplification elements scanning details of imagers (circuitry of solid-state image sensors H04N25/00); circuitry of imagers H04N25/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/575 with a response composed of multiple slopes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/616 involving a correlated sampling function, e.g. correlated double sampling [CDS] or triple sampling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/76 Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors

Abstract

An image sensor and a method for processing image data, can reduce a large proportion of data signals corresponding to high illumination and a small proportion of data signals corresponding to low illumination in order to generate an image just like the original, by adjusting the reset sampling period pertaining to the data signals outputted from a unit pixel. The image sensor includes a first switch which is operated by a reset sampling signal for sampling reset voltage when a voltage drop in an image data signal occurs, in which the image data signal is applied from a picture element part, a first capacitor for storing the reset voltage applied from the first switch, a second switch which is operated by a data sampling signal for sampling data voltage after completion of the voltage drop in the image data signal, a second capacitor for storing the data voltage from the second switch, and an image data processing circuit equipped with a comparator for comparing the reset voltage with the data voltage.

Claims

1. An image sensor comprising:

a first switch which is operated by a reset sampling signal for sampling reset voltage when a voltage drop in an image data signal occurs, wherein the image data signal is applied from a picture element part;

a first capacitor for storing the reset voltage applied from the first switch;

a second switch which is operated by a data sampling signal for sampling data voltage after completion of the voltage drop in an image data signal;

a second capacitor for storing the data voltage applied from the second switch; and

an image data processing circuit equipped with a comparator for comparing the reset voltage with the data voltage.

2. The image sensor according to claim 1, wherein the picture element part is formed by the combination of unit pixels comprising one NMOS and one PMOS light receiving element.

3. The image sensor according to claim 1, wherein the reset sampling signal and the data sampling signal are enabled during one row enable signal section applied to the picture element part.

4. A method for processing image data of an image sensor comprising the steps of:

upon the application of a row enable signal, outputting an image data signal from a picture element part;

storing a sampled reset voltage, upon the application of the reset sampling signal when a voltage drop in said outputted image data signal occurs;

storing a sampled data voltage, upon the application of a data sampling signal after completing the voltage drop in the image data signal; and

comparing the reset voltage with the data voltage.

5. The method for processing image data of an image sensor according to claim 4, wherein the reset sampling signal and the data sampling signal are enabled during one row enable signal section applied to the picture element part.