- Patent Title: Programmable current source for a time of flight 3D image sensor
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Application No.: US14464453Application Date: 2014-08-20
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Publication No.: US09658336B2Publication Date: 2017-05-23
- Inventor: Tianjia Sun , Rui Wang , Tiejun Dai
- Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
- Applicant Address: US CA Santa Clara
- Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
- Current Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
- Current Assignee Address: US CA Santa Clara
- Agency: Blakely Sokoloff Taylor & Zafman LLP
- Main IPC: G01S17/89
- IPC: G01S17/89 ; G01S17/10 ; G01S7/486

Abstract:
A programmable current source for use with a time of flight pixel cell includes a first transistor. A current through the first transistor is responsive to a gate-source voltage of the first transistor. A current control circuit is coupled to the first transistor and coupled to a reference current source to selectively couple a reference current of the reference current source through the first transistor during a sample operation. A sample and hold circuit is coupled to the first transistor to sample a gate-source voltage of the first transistor during the sample operation. The sample and hold circuit is coupled to hold the gate-source voltage during a hold operation after the sample operation substantially equal to the gate-source voltage during the sample operation. A hold current through the first transistor during the hold operation is substantially equal to the reference current.
Public/Granted literature
- US20160054447A1 PROGRAMMABLE CURRENT SOURCE FOR A TIME OF FLIGHT 3D IMAGE SENSOR Public/Granted day:2016-02-25
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