Hyundai Electronics Industries Co. Ltd.

Magnachip Semiconductor, Inc.

Chan-Ki Kim

Kang-Jin Lee

Jae-Won Eom

Do-Young Lee

Ki-Nam Park

Woodward Yang

Ki-Yong Kim

An image sensor has improved functions so as to automatically eliminate a flicker noise. For the purpose, the image sensor includes a pixel array for capturing information about an image provided from the outside and having N pixel rows and M pixel columns for maximizing a feature of reacting to light, wherein M and N are integers, respectively, a flicker noise detective pixel unit containing X pixel rows, which has a form extended from the N pixel rows of the pixel array, and M pixel columns, wherein each pair of X pixel rows has an identical exposure time and X is an even number, and a flicker noise for controlling an exposure point for the flicker noise detective pixel unit and detecting the flicker noise by using outputs of the flicker noise detective pixel unit.

Image sensor for detecting flicker noise and method thereof

An image sensor is an apparatus for sensing a light beam to generate a digital image data. The image sensor includes a pixel array for sensing a light beam to generate an analog image data, a control and interface unit for managing an interface with external circuits and generating control signals, a decoding unit for decoding the column address signal to generate a column selection signal, and a conversion unit for converting the analog image data into a digital image data. The conversion unit includes a ramp voltage generation circuit for generating a ramp voltage signal, a comparison circuit for comparing a voltage level of the ramp voltage signal with that of the analog image data to generate a latch enable signal, a storage circuit for storing the digital count signal in response to the latch enable signal and outputting stored digital count signal to a bit line in response to the control signals, and an acceleration circuit for detecting a voltage variation of the bit line to accelerate the voltage variation of the bit line.

Image sensor for implementing data read operation at high speed

A method for fabricating a color image sensor for scanning and converting an optical image into electrical signals, includes the steps of: (a) forming a P-type semiconductor layer on a substrate; (b) forming field oxide layers on the P-type semiconductor layer to define regions for red, green and blue photodiodes; (c) providing an ion implantation mask having different mask patterns for the red, the green and the blue photodiodes; (d) implanting impurity ions into the P-type semiconductor layer through the use of said ion implantation mask to form N-type diffusion regions in the P-type semiconductor layer; and (e) applying a thermal process to the resulting structure to form different first, second and third depletion regions corresponding to the red, the green and the blue photodiodes.

Color image sensor and method for fabricating the same

A programmable analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for use in a CMOS imaging system, the CMOS imaging system having an array of pixels, and the ADC configured to provide a enhanced conversion resolution for pixels providing a low analog voltage level and a relatively coarser conversion resolution for pixels providing a relatively higher analog voltage level.

Image sensor with analog-to-digital converter that generates a variable slope ramp signal

A CMOS image sensor based on a correlated double sampling method includes a pixel array having M&times;N unit pixels, arranged in a matrix, for sensing an image to generate an analog image data with a reset voltage level and a data voltage level as an output signal, a ramp voltage generator for generating a updated reference voltage in response to a control signal, a comparator for comparing the reset voltage level with the reference voltage level, a double buffer for storing the digital value, and a reference voltage control means for comparing the reference voltage with the reset voltage level to generate the control signal.

Growing community of inventors

Ichon-shi, South Korea

Chan-Ki Kim