公开(公告)号：US20240073557A1

公开(公告)日：2024-02-29

申请号：US18451764

申请日：2023-08-17

Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Andreas Suess ,  Tomas Geurts

IPC: H04N25/671 ,  H04N25/616

CPC classification number: H04N25/671 ,  H04N25/616

Abstract: Fixed pattern noise (FPN) reduction techniques in image sensors operated with pulse illumination are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes, during a first sub-exposure period of a frame, (a) operating a first tap of a pixel to capture a first signal corresponding to first charge at a first floating diffusion, the first charge corresponding to first light incident on a photosensor, and (b) operating a second tap of the pixel to capture a first parasitic signal corresponding to FPN at a second floating diffusion. The method further includes, during a second sub-exposure period of the frame, (a) operating the second tap to capture a second signal corresponding to second charge at the second floating diffusion, the second charge corresponding to second light incident on the photosensor, and (b) operating the first tap to capture a second parasitic signal corresponding to FPN at the first floating diffusion.

公开(公告)号：US12200390B2

公开(公告)日：2025-01-14

申请号：US18364416

申请日：2023-08-02

Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Tomas Geurts ,  Amit Mittra ,  Kevin Johnson

IPC: H04N25/78 ,  H04N25/59 ,  H04N25/616 ,  H04N25/771 ,  H04N25/79

Abstract: Multiple read image sensors, and associated methods for the same, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method comprises reading out a reset level from a pixel to a corresponding sample and hold circuit; storing the reset level to a first storage device and to a second storage device of the sample and hold circuit; reading out a signal level from the pixel to the sample and hold circuit; and storing the signal level to a third storage device and to a fourth storage device of the sample and hold circuit. The reset level and the signal level can correspond to a same correlated double sampling of an image data signal captured by the pixel. The method can further include reading out the reset level from the first storage device; reading out the signal level from the third storage device; and recovering a first copy of the image data signal.

公开(公告)号：US12200388B2

公开(公告)日：2025-01-14

申请号：US18313957

申请日：2023-05-08

Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Zhe Gao ,  Tomas Geurts ,  Ling Fu ,  Tiejun Dai

IPC: H04N25/78

Abstract: An imaging system includes a pixel array with odd and even pixel cells. Each of the odd and even pixel cells includes a photodiode, a floating diffusion, a transfer transistor, a reset transistor, a lateral overflow integration capacitor (LOFIC), and an overflow gate (OFG) transistor. The imaging system further includes a readout circuit with a sample and hold (SH) circuit and an analog to digital converter. The OFG transistor of each of the odd and even pixel cells is configured to direct the image charge photogenerated by the respective photodiode away from the respective transfer transistor and reduce photodiode exposure shift during LOFIC readouts during a global transfer period.

公开(公告)号：US20240381002A1

公开(公告)日：2024-11-14

申请号：US18313957

申请日：2023-05-08

Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Zhe Gao ,  Tomas Geurts ,  Ling Fu ,  Tiejun Dai

IPC: H04N25/78

Abstract: An imaging system includes a pixel array with odd and even pixel cells. Each of the odd and even pixel cells includes a photodiode, a floating diffusion, a transfer transistor, a reset transistor, a lateral overflow integration capacitor (LOFIC), and an overflow gate (OFG) transistor. The imaging system further includes a readout circuit with a sample and hold (SH) circuit and an analog to digital converter. The OFG transistor of each of the odd and even pixel cells is configured to direct the image charge photogenerated by the respective photodiode away from the respective transfer transistor and reduce photodiode exposure shift during LOFIC readouts during a global transfer period.

公开(公告)号：US20240073556A1

公开(公告)日：2024-02-29

申请号：US18451754

申请日：2023-08-17

Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Andreas Suess ,  Tomas Geurts

IPC: H04N25/67 ,  H04N25/616 ,  H04N25/706 ,  H04N25/709 ,  H04N25/76 ,  H04N25/78

CPC classification number: H04N25/67 ,  H04N25/616 ,  H04N25/706 ,  H04N25/709 ,  H04N25/7795 ,  H04N25/78

Abstract: Fixed pattern noise (FPN) reduction techniques in image sensors operated with pulse illumination are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes, during a first sub-exposure period of a frame, (a) operating a first tap of a pixel to capture a first signal corresponding to first charge at a first floating diffusion, the first charge corresponding to first light incident on a photosensor, and (b) operating a second tap of the pixel to capture a first parasitic signal corresponding to FPN at a second floating diffusion. The method further includes, during a second sub-exposure period of the frame, (a) operating the second tap to capture a second signal corresponding to second charge at the second floating diffusion, the second charge corresponding to second light incident on the photosensor, and (b) operating the first tap to capture a second parasitic signal corresponding to FPN at the first floating diffusion.

公开(公告)号：US20250097607A1

公开(公告)日：2025-03-20

申请号：US18970894

申请日：2024-12-05

Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Tomas Geurts ,  Amit Mittra ,  Kevin Johnson

IPC: H04N25/78

Abstract: Multiple read image sensors, and associated methods for the same, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method comprises reading out a reset level from a pixel to a corresponding sample and hold circuit; storing the reset level to a first storage device and to a second storage device of the sample and hold circuit; reading out a signal level from the pixel to the sample and hold circuit; and storing the signal level to a third storage device and to a fourth storage device of the sample and hold circuit. The reset level and the signal level can correspond to a same correlated double sampling of an image data signal captured by the pixel. The method can further include reading out the reset level from the first storage device; reading out the signal level from the third storage device; and recovering a first copy of the image data signal.

公开(公告)号：US20250016474A1

公开(公告)日：2025-01-09

申请号：US18349014

申请日：2023-07-07

Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Tomas Geurts

IPC: H04N25/771 ,  H04N23/56 ,  H04N25/53 ,  H04N25/78

Abstract: A gated imaging system includes a pulsed illuminator configured to generate a plurality of light pulses and a pixel circuit. The pixel circuit includes a photodiode configured to collect photogenerated image charge in response to incident light, a floating diffusion coupled to receive the image charge from the photodiode, a sense node amplifier includes a gate terminal coupled to the floating diffusion, and a storage network coupled between the photodiode and the floating diffusion. The storage network includes a plurality of memory nodes coupled between the photodiode and the floating diffusion in parallel. The storage network is configured to capture a plurality of depth slices between two successive ones of the light pulses.

公开(公告)号：US20240292131A1

公开(公告)日：2024-08-29

申请号：US18364416

申请日：2023-08-02

Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Tomas Geurts ,  Amit Mittra ,  Kevin Johnson

IPC: H04N25/78

CPC classification number: H04N25/78

Abstract: Multiple read image sensors, and associated methods for the same, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method comprises reading out a reset level from a pixel to a corresponding sample and hold circuit; storing the reset level to a first storage device and to a second storage device of the sample and hold circuit; reading out a signal level from the pixel to the sample and hold circuit; and storing the signal level to a third storage device and to a fourth storage device of the sample and hold circuit. The reset level and the signal level can correspond to a same correlated double sampling of an image data signal captured by the pixel. The method can further include reading out the reset level from the first storage device; reading out the signal level from the third storage device; and recovering a first copy of the image data signal.