Solid state image sensing device and method for subsampling using inter-column analog domain signal summation
First Claim
1. A solid-state image sensing device comprising:
- an Active Pixel Sensor (APS) array in which pixels are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix form, the APS array generating reset signals and video signals of respective columns in a selected row;
a Correlated Double Sampling (CDS) unit receiving reset signals from neighboring columns of the same color, receiving video signals from pixels generating the reset signals, and generating modulation signals respectively corresponding to the differences between the reset signals and the video signals such that each of the modulation signals is activated according to activation of the previous modulation signal; and
a digital signal output circuit generating a corresponding digital signal based on the instant of time when the logic state of the finally activated modulation signal among the modulation signals is changed,wherein the CDS unit generates a modulation signal of a column, which is activated when the difference between the reset signal and the video signal from the column reaches a reference level in response to a ramp signal, and generates a modulation signal of the next column having the same color as that of the column, which is activated when the difference of the reset signal and the video signal of the next column reaches the reference level in response to the ramp signal according to activation of the previously generated modulation signal.
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Abstract
Provided are a solid state image sensing device and method for sub-sampling using inter-column analog domain signal summation, where, in the solid state image sensing device, a CDS unit receives reset signals from neighboring columns of the same color in an APS array, receives video signals from pixels generating the reset signals, and generates modulation signals respectively corresponding to the differences between the reset signals and the video signals, the modulation signals are activated according to activation of the previous modulation signals, and a digital signal output circuit generates a corresponding digital signal based on the final modulation signal corresponding to the sum of inter-column analog video signals among the modulation signals.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A solid-state image sensing device comprising:
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an Active Pixel Sensor (APS) array in which pixels are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix form, the APS array generating reset signals and video signals of respective columns in a selected row; a Correlated Double Sampling (CDS) unit receiving reset signals from neighboring columns of the same color, receiving video signals from pixels generating the reset signals, and generating modulation signals respectively corresponding to the differences between the reset signals and the video signals such that each of the modulation signals is activated according to activation of the previous modulation signal; and a digital signal output circuit generating a corresponding digital signal based on the instant of time when the logic state of the finally activated modulation signal among the modulation signals is changed, wherein the CDS unit generates a modulation signal of a column, which is activated when the difference between the reset signal and the video signal from the column reaches a reference level in response to a ramp signal, and generates a modulation signal of the next column having the same color as that of the column, which is activated when the difference of the reset signal and the video signal of the next column reaches the reference level in response to the ramp signal according to activation of the previously generated modulation signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for driving a solid state image sensing device comprising:
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generating reset signals and video signals of respective columns in a selected row in an APS array in which pixels are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix form; receiving reset signals from neighboring columns of the same color; receiving video signals from pixels generating the reset signals; generating modulation signals respectively corresponding to the differences between the reset signals and the video signals such that each of the modulation signals is activated according to activation of the previous modulation signal; and generating a corresponding digital signal based on the instant of time when the logic state of the finally activated modulation signal among the modulation signals is changed, wherein the generating the modulation signals comprises; generating a modulation signal of a column, which is activated when the difference between the reset signal and the video signal from the column reaches a reference level in response to a ramp signal; and generating a modulation signal of the next column having the same color as that of the column, which is activated when the difference of the reset signal and the video signal of the next column reaches the reference level in response to the ramp signal according to activation of the previously generated modulation signal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An image sensing device comprising:
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active pixel sensing means having pixels disposed in a two-dimensional matrix for generating reset signals and video signals of respective columns in a selected row; correlated double sampling means in signal communication with the active pixel sensing means for receiving the reset signals from neighboring columns of the same color, receiving the video signals from pixels generating the reset signals, and generating a plurality of modulation signals respectively corresponding to the differences between the reset signals and the video signals such that each succeeding one of the plurality of modulation signals is activated in response to the previous modulation signal; and digital signal output means in signal communication with the correlated double sampling means for generating a corresponding digital signal responsive to the instant of time when the logic state of the finally activated modulation signal is changed among the plurality of modulation signals, wherein the correlated double sampling means is disposed for generating a modulation signal of a first column, which is activated when the difference between the reset signal and the video signal from the first column reaches a reference level in response to a ramp signal, and for generating a modulation signal of the next same-color column, which is activated when the difference of the reset signal and the video signal of the next same-color column reaches the reference level in response to the ramp signal and the activation of the first column modulation signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification