Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Image sensor with controllable conversion gain
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Application No.: US16511159Application Date: 2019-07-15
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Publication No.: US11089253B2Publication Date: 2021-08-10
- Inventor: Eun Sub Shim , Kyungho Lee
- Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
- Applicant Address: KR Suwon-si
- Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
- Current Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
- Current Assignee Address: KR Suwon-si
- Agency: F. Chau & Associates, LLC
- Priority: KR10-2018-0163920 20181218
- Main IPC: H04N5/335
- IPC: H04N5/335 ; H04N5/378 ; H03M1/12 ; H01L27/146 ; H04N5/355

Abstract:
An image sensor includes a pixel that includes a photoelectric conversion element converting an incident light to an electrical signal, a switch adjusting a capacitance of a floating diffusion (FD) node at which charges corresponding to the electrical signal are stored, and a readout circuit outputting an output voltage based on the FD node. An A/D converter may sample the output voltage transferred from the readout circuit through an output line respectively at a first time and a second time and generate a digital code based on a difference therebetween. A conversion gain controller may generate a conversion gain control signal by comparing the output voltage transferred from the readout circuit through the output line with a threshold voltage at a third time between the first and second times and provide the conversion gain control signal to the switch to set conversion gain of the pixel.
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