Hynix Semiconductor Inc.

Hyundai Electronics Industries Co. Ltd.

Gyu-Tae Hwang

Suk-Joong Lee

Oh-Bong Kwon

Hyun-Eun Kim

Disclosed is an apparatus for converting an analog image data into a digital image data in a CMOS image sensor including a pixel array having M (row line)&#xd7;N (column line) color pixels, wherein the color pixels include a first color pixel for sensing a first color, a second color pixel for sensing a second color and a third pixel for sensing a third color. The apparatus includes an analog reference voltage generating unit for generating different analog reference voltages according to the analog image data of the color pixels, wherein the different analog reference voltage has different value and different decline rate, a selecting unit, in response to a select control signal, for selecting one of the corresponding analog reference voltages according to the color pixels, and a comparing unit for comparing the analog reference voltage and the analog image data to generate the digital image data corresponding to the color pixels, whereby a conversion operation of the analog image data into the digital image data is differently carried out according to the color characteristic.

Apparatus for converting analog image data into digital image data in CMOS image sensor

A method for automatically controlling an exposure time in image sensor having a pixel array includes the steps of producing total pixel value of the green pixels from the pixel array, producing a mean value of the green pixels dividing the total pixel value of the green pixels by the number of the green pixels, producing a deviation value, wherein the deviation value is an absolute value of a difference between the mean value and a predetermined reference value, comparing the deviation value with a predetermined boundary value, in case where the deviation value is smaller than the predetermined boundary value, capturing a next image according to a current exposure time, and in case where the deviation value is larger than the predetermined boundary value, calculating an exposure control rate and determining whether an automatic exposure control mode is enabled, and in case where the automatic exposure control mode is disabled, capturing the next image according to the current exposure time, and in case where the automatic exposure control mode is enabled, capturing the next image according a next exposure time, wherein the next exposure time is calculated multiplying the current exposure time by the exposure control rate.

Growing community of inventors

Ichon-shi, South Korea

Gyu-Tae Hwang