Image sensor and method of operating the same with resetting of a dummy reset array and reading of a dummy read array

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11265488-B2
Application number	US-202016938419-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 24, 2020
Priority date	Jul 25, 2019
Publication date	Mar 1, 2022
Grant date	Mar 1, 2022

Abstract

An image sensor includes an active pixel array, at least one dummy reset array, a dummy read array, and an image processor. The image processor sequentially resets respective rows of pixels included in the at least one dummy reset array in a period in which pixels of the active pixel array do not perform a reset operation, and sequentially reads respective rows of pixels included in the dummy read array in a period in which the pixels of the active pixel array do not perform a read operation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image sensor, comprising:
an active pixel array;
at least one dummy reset array;
a dummy read array; and
an image processor,
wherein the image processor is configured to:
sequentially reset respective rows of pixels included in the at least one dummy reset array in a period in which pixels of the active pixel array do not perform a reset operation, and
sequentially read respective rows of pixels included in the dummy read array in a period in which the pixels of the active pixel array do not perform a read operation.

2. The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein the respective rows of pixels of the at least one dummy reset array and the respective rows of pixels of the dummy read array are not activated in a period in which the pixels of the active pixel array perform both the reset operation and the read operation.

3. The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein the active pixel array comprises at least two pixels corresponding to different rows, and
wherein coupling coefficients caused by the at least two pixels that are activated are different from each other.

4. The image sensor of claim 3 , wherein
a number of the at least one dummy reset array corresponds to a multiple of a minimum unit of rows in which a same coupling coefficient is repeated.

5. The image sensor of claim 4 , wherein
the at least two pixels share a floating diffusion (FD) node or are connected to different column output lines.

6. The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein the active pixel array is positioned in an upper area in an entire area of a pixel array, and
wherein the dummy read array and the at least one dummy reset array are arranged to be adjacent to and in a lower position than the active pixel array.

7. The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein the at least one dummy reset array is arranged in an upper area in an entire area of a pixel array,
wherein the dummy read array is arranged in a lower area in the entire area of the pixel array, and
wherein the active pixel array is arranged between the at least one dummy reset array and the dummy read array.

8. The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein
a number of shared pixels included in the dummy read array is different from a number of shared pixels included in the at least one dummy reset array.

9. The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein
the image processor is further configured to set an integration time to increase for a first frame that is processed after a point in time at which intensity of illumination is determined to be less than a certain value, and
in response to the reset operation being simultaneously performed for the first frame and a second frame, adjacent to the first frame, based on the increased integration time, control an operation of the at least one dummy reset array to be bypassed for the second frame.

10. The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein,
when the active pixel array simultaneously resets a plurality of rows, a number of the plurality of rows that are simultaneously reset corresponds to a number of the at least one dummy reset array that performs the reset operation when the active pixel array is in the period in which the pixels of the active pixel array do not perform the reset operation.

11. A method of operating an image sensor comprising an active pixel array, at least one dummy reset array, and a dummy read array, the method comprising:
sequentially resetting respective rows of pixels included in the at least one dummy reset array in a period in which pixels of the active pixel array do not perform a reset operation; and
sequentially reading respective rows of pixels included in the dummy read array in a period in which the pixels of the active pixel array do not perform a read operation.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the respective rows of pixels of the at least one dummy reset array and the respective rows of pixels of the dummy read array are not activated in a period in which the pixels of the active pixel array perform both the reset operation and the read operation.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the active pixel array comprises at least two pixels corresponding to different rows, and
coupling coefficients caused by the at least two pixels that are activated are different from each other.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein
a number of one or more dummy reset arrays corresponds to a multiple of a minimum unit of rows in which a same coupling coefficient is repeated.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein
the at least two pixels share a floating diffusion (FD) node or are connected to different column output lines.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the active pixel array is positioned in an upper area in an entire area of a pixel array, and
wherein the dummy read array and the at least one dummy reset array are arranged to be adjacent to and in a lower position than the active pixel array.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one dummy reset array is arranged in an upper area in an entire area of a pixel array,
wherein the dummy read array is arranged in a lower area in the entire area of the pixel array, and
wherein the active pixel array is arranged between the at least one dummy reset array and the dummy read array.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
setting integration time to increase for a first frame that is processed after a point in time at which intensity of illumination is determined to be less than a certain value; and
in response to the reset operation being simultaneously performed for the first frame and a second frame, adjacent to the first frame, based on the increased integration time, controlling an operation of the at least one dummy reset array to be bypassed for the second frame.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein, when the active pixel array simultaneously resets a plurality of rows, a number of the plurality of rows that are simultaneously reset corresponds to a number of the at least one dummy reset array that performs the reset operation when the active pixel array is in the period in which the pixels of the active pixel array do not perform the reset operation.

20. A method of operating an image sensor comprising an active pixel array, at least one dummy reset array, and a dummy read array, the method comprising:
sequentially performing a reset operation and a read operation in respective rows of the active pixel array;
sequentially performing the read operation in respective rows of the dummy read array in a period in which the active pixel array does not perform the read operation; and
sequentially performing the reset operation in respective rows of the at least one dummy reset array in a period in which the active pixel array does not perform the reset operation.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Eom Jaeha
• Kim Mooyoung
• Lee Kwanghyun

Classifications

• G01J1/42 Primary

  using electric radiation detectors (optical or mechanical part G01J1/04; by comparison with a reference light or electric value G01J1/10) · CPC title

• H04N25/441

  by reading contiguous pixels from selected rows or columns of the array, e.g. interlaced scanning · CPC title

• H04N25/766

  comprising control or output lines used for a plurality of functions, e.g. for pixel output, driving, reset or power · CPC title

• H04N25/531 Primary

  by controlling rolling shutters in CMOS SSIS · CPC title

• H04N25/617

  for reducing electromagnetic interference, e.g. clocking noise · CPC title