Sensor, data processing system, and operating method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9118856-B2
Application number	US-201213541973-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 5, 2012
Priority date	Jul 8, 2011
Publication date	Aug 25, 2015
Grant date	Aug 25, 2015

Abstract

An image sensor includes a unit pixel including a plurality of color pixels with a depth pixel. A first signal line group of first signal lines is used to supply first control signals that control operation of the plurality of color pixels, and a separate second signal line group of second signal lines is used to supply second control signals that control operation of the depth pixel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sensor comprising:
a pixel array including a unit pixel including a plurality of color pixels with a depth pixel;
a first signal line group of first signal lines that supply first control signals controlling operation of the plurality of color pixels; and
a second signal line group of second signal lines that supply second control signals controlling operation of the depth pixel,
wherein the plurality of color pixels and the depth pixel share an output line.

2. The sensor of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first row driver disposed on one side of the pixel array that generates the first control signals; and
a second row driver disposed on an opposing side of the pixel array that generates the second control signals.

3. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein a size of each one of the plurality of color pixels is the same as a size of the depth pixel.

4. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein a size of at least one of the plurality of color pixels is different from a size of the depth pixel.

5. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein a size of at least one of the plurality of color pixels is less than a size of the depth pixel.

6. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein the depth pixel is one of a one-tap structure and a two-tap structure.

7. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein more than one of the plurality of color pixels transmit output signals through the shared output line.

8. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of color pixels transmits output signals through the shared output line.

9. A data processing system comprising:
an image sensor and a processor that controls operation of the image sensor, wherein the image sensor comprises:
a pixel array including a unit pixel including a plurality of color pixels with a depth pixel;
a first signal line group of first signal lines that supply first control signals controlling operation of the plurality of color pixels; and
a second signal line group of second signal lines that supply second control signals controlling operation of the depth pixel,
wherein the plurality of color pixels and the depth pixel share an output line.

10. The data processing system of claim 9 , wherein the sensor further comprises:
a first row driver that generates the first control signals, and a second row driver that generates the second control signals.

11. The data processing system of claim 9 , wherein the data processing system is a gesture sensing apparatus.

12. The data processing system of claim 9 , wherein more than one of the plurality of color pixels transmit output signals through the shared output line.

13. The data processing system of claim 9 , wherein one of the plurality of color pixels transmits output signals through the shared output line.

14. A mobile communication device comprising:
an image sensor and a processor that controls operation of the image sensor, wherein the image sensor generates a signal output and comprises a pixel array including a unit pixel including a plurality of color pixels with a depth pixel, a first signal line group of first signal lines that supply first control signals controlling operation of the plurality of color pixels, and a second signal line group of second signal lines that supply second control signals controlling operation of the depth pixel; and
an image signal processor that processes the signal output to display a processed signal via a display,
wherein the plurality of color pixels and the depth pixel share an output line.

15. The mobile communication device of claim 14 , wherein the sensor further comprises:
a first row driver that generates the first control signals, and a second row driver that generates the second control signals.

16. The mobile communication device of claim 14 , wherein more than one of the plurality of color pixels transmit output signals through the shared output line.

17. The mobile communication device of claim 14 , wherein one of the plurality of color pixels transmits output signals through the shared output line.

Assignees

• Kim Won Joo
• Ko Hyoung Soo
• Park Doo Cheol
• Park Hee Woo
• Lee Kwang-Min
• Jung Ju Hwan
• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Won Joo
• Ko Hyoung Soo
• Park Doo Cheol
• Park Hee Woo
• Lee Kwang-Min
• Jung Ju Hwan

Classifications

• H04N25/705 Primary

  Pixels for depth measurement, e.g. RGBZ · CPC title

• H04N25/70

  SSIS architectures; Circuits associated therewith · CPC title

• H04N13/30

  Image reproducers (optical systems for producing stereoscopic or other three-dimensional [3D] effects G02B30/00) · CPC title

• H10F39/803 Primary

  Pixels having integrated switching, control, storage or amplification elements · CPC title

• H04N5/3696 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic