Analog-to-digital converter and semiconductor device
First Claim
1. An analog-to-digital converter comprising:
- a timing controller which generates a clock signal;
a reference signal generator which receives said clock signal and generates a sloped reference signal in synchronization therewith;
a plurality of image elements arrayed in columns and rows, each of which generates an image signal;
a plurality of comparators each of which is arranged to receive as inputs said reference signal, an image signal and said clock signal;
a reference signal interface unit operative to receive said reference signal and to redistribute same to said comparators; and
a plurality of counters, each of which is associated with a respective one of said comparators,wherein,each comparator is operative to compare an image signal against said reference signal in synchronization with said clock signal,the reference signal supply interface unit supplies the reference signal to said comparators via separate signal lines,the reference signal generator receives control data from said timing controller containing information indicating the slope of the reference signal,the reference signal generator provides the reference signal with color-dependant variation characteristics and initial values to at least one comparator via the reference signal supply interface unit,each counter is operable to measure a comparison time of its respective comparator and to hold a count value at the time of completion of comparison performed by the comparator, andeach counter receives at least one data signal from the timing controller indicating up-counting or down-counting.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic apparatus includes a CMOS image sensor and a signal processor operable to process an output signal from the CMOS image sensor. The CMOS image sensor includes the following elements: an imaging region; a reference signal generator operable to generate a reference signal; a comparator operable to compare the reference signal generated by the reference signal generator with a signal transmitted from the imaging region; a counter operable to count, in parallel with comparison performed by the comparator, a predetermined count clock and to hold a count value at the time of completion of comparison performed by the comparator; and a reference signal supply interface unit operable to supply the reference signal generated by the reference signal generator to a plurality of comparators via different signal lines, respectively.
98 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An analog-to-digital converter comprising:
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a timing controller which generates a clock signal; a reference signal generator which receives said clock signal and generates a sloped reference signal in synchronization therewith; a plurality of image elements arrayed in columns and rows, each of which generates an image signal; a plurality of comparators each of which is arranged to receive as inputs said reference signal, an image signal and said clock signal; a reference signal interface unit operative to receive said reference signal and to redistribute same to said comparators; and a plurality of counters, each of which is associated with a respective one of said comparators, wherein, each comparator is operative to compare an image signal against said reference signal in synchronization with said clock signal, the reference signal supply interface unit supplies the reference signal to said comparators via separate signal lines, the reference signal generator receives control data from said timing controller containing information indicating the slope of the reference signal, the reference signal generator provides the reference signal with color-dependant variation characteristics and initial values to at least one comparator via the reference signal supply interface unit, each counter is operable to measure a comparison time of its respective comparator and to hold a count value at the time of completion of comparison performed by the comparator, and each counter receives at least one data signal from the timing controller indicating up-counting or down-counting. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A semiconductor device for sensing a physical quantity distribution comprising:
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a timing controller which generates a clock signal; a reference signal generator which receives said clock signal and generates a sloped reference signal in synchronization therewith; a plurality of unit elements; a charge generator operable to generate a charge corresponding to incident electromagnetic waves; a unit signal generator operable to generate an analog unit signal in accordance with the charge generated by the charge generator; a plurality of comparators each of which is arranged to receive as inputs said reference signal, an analog unit signal and said clock signal; a reference signal interface unit operative to receive said reference signal and to redistribute same to said comparators; and a plurality of counters, each of which is associated with a respective one of said comparators, wherein, each comparator is operative to compare an analog unit signal against said reference signal in synchronization with said clock signal, the reference signal supply interface unit supplies the reference signal to said comparators via separate signal lines, the reference signal generator receives control data from said timing controller containing information indicating the slope of the reference signal, the reference signal generator provides the reference signal with color-dependant variation characteristics and initial values to at least one comparator via the reference signal supply interface unit, each counter is operable to measure a comparison time of its respective comparator and to hold a count value at the time of completion of comparison performed by the comparator, and each counter receives at least one data signal from the timing controller indicating up-counting or down-counting. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A CMOS image sensor comprising:
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a timing controller which generates a clock signal; a reference signal generator which receives said clock signal and generates a sloped reference signal in synchronization therewith; an imaging region providing an image signal; a plurality of comparators each of which is arranged to receive as inputs said reference signal, an image signal and said clock signal; a reference signal interface unit operative to receive said reference signal and to redistribute same to said comparators; and a plurality of counters, each of which is associated with a respective one of said comparators, wherein, each comparator is operative to compare an image signal against said reference signal in synchronization with said clock signal, the reference signal supply interface unit supplies the reference signal to said comparators via separate signal lines, the reference signal generator receives control data from said timing controller containing information indicating the slope of the reference signal, the reference signal generator provides the reference signal with color-dependant variation characteristics and initial values to at least one comparator via the reference signal supply interface unit, each counter is operable to measure a comparison time of its respective comparator and to hold a count value at the time of completion of comparison performed by the comparator, and each counter receives at least one data signal from the timing controller indicating up-counting or down-counting.
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16. An electronic apparatus comprising:
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a CMOS image sensor including a imaging region; a timing controller which generates a clock signal; a reference signal generator which receives said clock signal and generates a sloped reference signal in synchronization therewith; a signal processor operable to process an image signal from the CMOS image sensor; a plurality of comparators arranged to receive as inputs said reference signal, an image signal and said clock signal; a reference signal interface unit operative to receive said reference signal and to redistribute same to said comparators; and a plurality of counters, each of which is associated with a respective one of said comparators, wherein, each comparator is operative to compare an image signal against said reference signal in synchronization with said clock signal, the reference signal supply interface unit supplies the reference signal to said comparators via separate signal lines, the reference signal generator receives control data from said timing controller containing information indicating the slope of the reference signal, the reference signal generator provides the reference signal with color-dependant variation characteristics and initial values to at least one comparator via the reference signal supply interface unit, each counter is operable to measure a comparison time of its respective comparator and to hold a count value at the time of completion of comparison performed by the comparator, and each counter receives at least one data signal from the timing controller indicating up-counting or down-counting.
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Specification