Omnivision Technologies, Inc.

Henry Yang

Jizhang Shan

Xinping James He

A CMOS image sensor having blooming reduction mechanisms is disclosed. The image sensor can include a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and a timing and control circuit in electrical communication with the plurality of pixels. The timing and control circuit includes a readout module configured for outputting a first row of pixels exposed for a first exposure period, outputting a second row of pixels exposed for the first exposure period after outputting the first row of pixels, and thereafter outputting a third row of pixels exposed for a second exposure period different than the first exposure period, the third row of pixels being between the first and second rows of pixels.

Image sensors with blooming reduction mechanisms

A DC clamping circuit acting on an input signal to clamp the input signal to a voltage reference is disclosed. The DC clamping circuit comprises a comparator providing an output that decreases whenever the input signal is less than the output. A capacitor is connected to the output of the comparator for absorbing the charge output by the comparator. Finally, a differential amplifier is provided for subtracting the output of the comparator from the input signal and for adding the voltage reference.

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Santa Clara, CA, United States of America

Henry Yang