Column circuit and pixel binning circuit for image sensor

• US 8,759,736 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2010
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Incorporated (SK Hynix Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Incorporated (SK Hynix Inc.)
• Inventors: Yoo, Si-Wook
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wyatt, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US12/943,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20120006972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,322 Days
• Field of Search: 250/208.1, 348301-302, 348311-312, 348/319, 348/300
• US Class Current: 250/208.1
• 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 25/46 by combining or binning pixels
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/767 Horizontal readout lines, multiplexers or registers

Abstract

A column circuit for an image sensor includes a first column read circuit configured to read data of a first column line, and a second column read circuit configured to read data of a second column line, wherein, during a binning mode, data from two or more pixels are outputted through the first column line and stored in the first column read circuit in a first phase, data from two or more pixels are outputted through the second column line and stored in the second column read circuit in a second phase, and charges are shared between the first column read circuit and the second column read circuit in a third phase.

Claims

1. A column circuit for an image sensor, comprising:

a first capacitor;

a second capacitor;

a first switch configured to couple a first column line with a first node;

a second switch configured to couple a second column line with a second node;

a first current source coupled with the first node;

a second current source coupled with the second node;

a third switch configured to couple the first capacitor with the first node;

a fourth switch configured to couple the second capacitor with the second node; and

a fifth switch configured to couple the first node with the second node.

2. The column circuit of claim 1, wherein, in a first phase of a binning mode, data are outputted from two or more pixels through the first column line and the first switch, the third switch, and the fifth switch are closed;

in a second phase of the binning mode, data are outputted from two or more pixels through the second column line and the second switch, the fourth switch, and the fifth switch are closed; and

in a third phase of the binning mode, the fifth switch is closed.

3. The column circuit of claim 2, wherein the first current source and the second current source are enabled in the first and second phases of the binning mode, and disabled in the third phase of the binning mode.

4. The column circuit of claim 2, wherein the pixels outputting the data through the first column line and the pixels outputting the data through the second column line in the binning mode are adjacent pixels for detecting an identical color.

5. The column circuit of claim 1, wherein, in a normal mode, the first to fourth switches are closed, and data is outputted from one pixel through the first column line and data is outputted from one pixel through the second column line.

6. A pixel binning circuit, comprising:

a data node configured to receive data of two or more pixels through a first column line in a first phase, and receive data of two or more pixels through a second column line in a second phase;

a discharge unit configured to discharge charges of the data node in the first phase and the second phase;

a first capacitor coupled with the data node in the first phase and a third phase; and

a second capacitor coupled with the data node in the second phase and the third phase.

7. The pixel binning circuit of claim 6, wherein the discharge unit comprises two current sources coupled with the data node, and each of the two current sources supply an identical amount of current used when data of one pixel is read.

8. The pixel binning circuit of claim 6, wherein the discharge unit is enabled in the first phase and the second phase.