公开(公告)号：US20210337144A1

公开(公告)日：2021-10-28

申请号：US16855850

申请日：2020-04-22

Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Rui Wang ,  Eiichi Funatsu ,  Woon Il Choi ,  Keiji Mabuchi ,  Chin Poh Pang ,  Qingfei Chen ,  Da Meng ,  Vivian Wang

IPC: H04N5/369 ,  H01L27/146 ,  H04N5/355 ,  H04N5/378

Abstract: An imaging device includes a photodiode array. The photodiodes include a first set of photodiodes configured as image sensing photodiodes and a second set of photodiodes configured as phase detection auto focus (PDAF) photodiodes. The PDAF photodiodes are arranged in at least pairs in neighboring columns and are interspersed among the image sensing photodiodes. Transfer transistors are coupled to corresponding photodiodes. The transfer transistors coupled to the image sensing photodiodes included in an active row of are controlled in response to a first transfer control signal or a second transfer control signal that control all of the image sensing photodiodes of the active row. A transfer transistor is coupled to one of a pair of the PDAF photodiodes of the active row. The first transfer transistor is controlled in response to a first PDAF control signal that is independent of the first or second transfer control signals.

公开(公告)号：US20210152756A1

公开(公告)日：2021-05-20

申请号：US16685663

申请日：2019-11-15

Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Rui Wang ,  Hiroaki Ebihara ,  Zhiyong Zhan ,  Liang Zuo ,  Min Qu ,  Wanqing Xin ,  Xuelian Liu

IPC: H04N5/341 ,  H04N5/351 ,  H04N5/378

Abstract: An image sensor includes a pixel array with rows and columns of pixels. Each row of the pixel array has a first end that is opposite a second end of each row of the pixel array. Control circuitry is coupled to the first end of each row of the pixel array to provide control signals to each row of the pixel array from the first end of each row of the pixel array. Far end driver circuitry coupled to the second end of each row of the pixel array to selectively further drive from the second end of each row of the pixel array the control signals provided by the control circuitry from the first end of each row of the pixel array. The control circuitry is further coupled to provide far end control signals to the far end driver circuitry.

公开(公告)号：US10819936B2

公开(公告)日：2020-10-27

申请号：US16275092

申请日：2019-02-13

Applicant: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Hiroaki Ebihara ,  Zheng Yang ,  Rui Wang ,  Teijun Dai

IPC: H04N5/378 ,  H04N5/3745 ,  H04N5/374 ,  H04N5/369

Abstract: An image sensor includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixels. Each pixel is coupled to generate image data in response to incident light. A bit line is coupled to a column of pixels of the pixel array and is separated into first and second portions. Each portion is coupled to a corresponding portion of rows of pixels of the pixel array. A readout circuit coupled to the bit line to read out the image data from the pixel array. The readout circuit includes a cascode device coupled between the first and second portions of the bit line. The cascode device is coupled to be biased to electrically separate the first and second portions of the bit line from one another such that a capacitance of each portion of the bit line does not affect a settling time of an other portion of the bit line.

公开(公告)号：US10290673B1

公开(公告)日：2019-05-14

申请号：US15853463

申请日：2017-12-22

Applicant: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Rui Wang ,  Min Qu ,  Hiroaki Ebihara ,  Zhiyong Zhan

IPC: H04N5/222 ,  H01L27/146 ,  H04N5/378 ,  H04N5/235 ,  H04N5/374

Abstract: A photodiode is adapted to accumulate image charges in response to incident light. A transfer transistor is coupled between the photodiode and a floating diffusion to transfer the image charges from the photodiode to the floating diffusion. A transfer gate voltage controls the transmission of the image charges from a transfer receiving terminal of the transfer transistor to the floating diffusion. A reset transistor is coupled to supply a supply voltage to the floating diffusion. A source follower transistor is coupled to receive voltage of the floating diffusion from a gate terminal of the source follower and provide an amplified signal to a source terminal of the source follower. A row select transistor is coupled to enable the amplified signal from the SF source terminal and output the amplified signal to a bitline. A bitline enable transistor is coupled to link between the bitline and a bitline source node. The bitline source node is coupled to a blacksun voltage generator. A current source generator is coupled between the bitline source node and a ground. The current source generator provides adjustable current to the bitline source node through a bias transistor controlled by a bias control voltage.

公开(公告)号：US10165210B1

公开(公告)日：2018-12-25

申请号：US15909267

申请日：2018-03-01

Applicant: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Rui Wang ,  Hiroaki Ebihara

IPC: H04N3/14 ,  H04N5/335 ,  H04N5/367 ,  H04N5/378 ,  H04N5/217 ,  H04N5/235 ,  H04N5/369 ,  H04N5/357 ,  H04N5/3745

Abstract: A photodiode is adapted to accumulate image charges in response to incident light. A transfer transistor is coupled between the photodiode and a floating diffusion to transfer the image charges accumulated in the photodiode to the floating diffusion. A reset transistor is coupled to supply a supply voltage to the floating diffusion. A source follower transistor is coupled to receive voltage of the floating diffusion from a SF gate terminal and provide an amplified signal to a source follower source terminal. A row select transistor is coupled to receive the amplified signal from the SF source terminal and output the amplified signal to a bitline. A bitline enable transistor controlled by a bitline enable voltage is coupled to link between the bitline and a bitline source node. The bitline is coupled to an idle voltage generator, a blacksun voltage generator, and a clamp voltage generator. These three voltage generators are each constructed out of a plurality of modified dummy pixels based on the dummy pixels in the dummy rows of an image sensor pixel array.

公开(公告)号：US09955091B1

公开(公告)日：2018-04-24

申请号：US15384859

申请日：2016-12-20

Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Tiejun Dai ,  Rui Wang

IPC: H04N5/355 ,  H01L27/146 ,  H04N5/378

CPC classification number: H04N5/3559 ,  H01L27/14612 ,  H01L27/14638 ,  H01L27/14643 ,  H04N5/378

Abstract: A pixel circuit includes a photodiode to accumulate image charge in response to incident light. A transfer transistor is disposed between the photodiode and a floating diffusion disposed in the first semiconductor layer to selectively transfer the image charge accumulated in the photodiode to the floating diffusion. A select circuit is disposed in second semiconductor layer coupled to a control terminal of the transfer transistor through a hybrid bond between the first and second semiconductor layers to select between first and second transfer control signals to control the transfer transistor. The select circuit is coupled to output the first transfer control signal in response to a precharge enable signal during a read out operation of a different row, and output the second transfer control signal in response to a sample enable signal during a read out operation of the row.

公开(公告)号：US09888185B1

公开(公告)日：2018-02-06

申请号：US15384866

申请日：2016-12-20

Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Rui Wang ,  Tiejun Dai

IPC: H04N5/235 ,  H04N5/355

CPC classification number: H04N5/2352 ,  H04N5/35554 ,  H04N5/35563 ,  H04N5/3745 ,  H04N5/376

Abstract: A pixel circuit includes a transfer transistor coupled between a photodiode and a floating diffusion to transfer image charge to the floating diffusion. A precharge offset signal is representative of a difference between a row that includes the transfer transistor and a different row that is being read out. The selection circuit is coupled to select between first and second transfer control signals to control the transfer transistor. The selection circuit is coupled to output the first transfer control signal in response to a precharge enable signal during a read out operation of the different row. The precharge enable signal is generated in response to a comparison of a precharge offset signal and an exposure value signal. The selection circuit is coupled to output the second transfer control signal in response to a sample enable signal during a read out operation of the row that includes the transfer transistor.

公开(公告)号：US09859312B1

公开(公告)日：2018-01-02

申请号：US15427928

申请日：2017-02-08

Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Rui Wang ,  Hiroaki Ebihara ,  Zheng Yang ,  Chun-Ming Tang ,  Chao-Fang Tsai ,  Tiejun Dai

IPC: H01L27/146

CPC classification number: H01L27/14603 ,  H01L27/14634 ,  H01L27/14636 ,  H01L27/1464

Abstract: An image sensor includes a photodiode disposed in a first semiconductor material, and the photodiode is positioned to absorb image light through the backside of the first semiconductor material. A first floating diffusion is disposed proximate to the photodiode and coupled to receive image charge from the photodiode in response to a transfer signal applied to a transfer gate disposed between the photodiode and the first floating diffusion. A second semiconductor material, including a second floating diffusion, is disposed proximate to the frontside of the first semiconductor material. A dielectric material is disposed between the first semiconductor material and the second semiconductor material, and includes a first bonding via extending from the first floating diffusion to the second floating diffusion, a second bonding via disposed laterally proximate to the first bonding via, and a third bonding via disposed laterally proximate to the first bonding via.

公开(公告)号：US09720076B2

公开(公告)日：2017-08-01

申请号：US14473803

申请日：2014-08-29

Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Jian Guo ,  Rui Wang ,  Tiejun Dai

IPC: G01S7/497 ,  G01S17/89 ,  G01S7/483 ,  G06F3/01

CPC classification number: G01S7/497 ,  G01S7/483 ,  G01S17/89 ,  G06F3/017

Abstract: A time of flight imaging system includes a light source coupled to emit light pulses to an object in response a light source modulation signal generated in response to a reference modulation signal. Each pixel cell of a time of flight pixel cell array is coupled to sense light pulses reflected from the object in response a pixel modulation signal. A programmable pixel delay line circuit is coupled to generate the pixel modulation signal with a variable pixel delay programmed in response to a pixel programming signal. A control circuit is coupled to receive pixel information from the time of flight pixel array representative of the sensed reflected light pulses. The control circuit is coupled to vary the pixel programming signal during a calibration mode to synchronize the light pulses emitted from the light source with the pulses of the pixel modulation signal.

公开(公告)号：US20170054931A1

公开(公告)日：2017-02-23

申请号：US14828404

申请日：2015-08-17

Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Rui Wang ,  Le Huang ,  Tianjia Sun ,  Tiejun Dai

IPC: H04N5/378 ,  H04N5/376

CPC classification number: H04N5/378 ,  H04N5/365

Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms to mitigate fixed pattern noise in image sensor data. In an embodiment, readout circuitry includes an adaptive analog-to-digital converter (ADC) comprising a differential amplifier and a feedback path coupled across the differential amplifier, where the ADC is to receive a ramp signal, a control signal associated with a transition rate of the ramp signal, and an analog signal generated by one or more pixels. In another embodiment, the feedback path and/or one or more other circuit elements coupled to the differential amplifier are configured, based on the control signal, to provide one of multiple loop gains with the differential amplifier. The ADC provides a digital output to determine a comparison based on the ramp signal and the analog signal.

Abstract translation: 降低图像传感器数据中固定模式噪声的技术和机制。 在一个实施例中，读出电路包括自适应模数转换器（ADC），该自适应模数转换器（ADC）包括差分放大器和耦合在差分放大器两端的反馈路径，其中ADC将接收斜坡信号，与转换速率相关的控制信号 的斜坡信号，以及由一个或多个像素产生的模拟信号。 在另一个实施例中，耦合到差分放大器的反馈路径和/或一个或多个其他电路元件基于控制信号被配置为提供差分放大器的多个环路增益之一。 ADC提供数字输出，以确定基于斜坡信号和模拟信号的比较。