The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 08, 2020
Filed:
Nov. 06, 2018
Semiconductor Components Industries, Llc, Phoenix, AZ (US);
Ishwar Chandra Mudegowdar, Antwerp, BE;
SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC, Phoeniz, AZ (US);
Abstract
An image sensor pixel may include a photodiode, a floating diffusion, and a transfer gate. Column readout circuitry coupled to the image sensor pixel via a column line. Voltage settling circuitry may be coupled to the column line. Voltage settling circuitry may include a pre-charging circuit, a reset voltage slew boosting circuit, and an image signal voltage slew boosting circuit. The pre-charging circuit may pull down the column line voltage to a grounding voltage. The reset voltage slew boosting circuit may pull up the column line voltage to a reference voltage near a reset level voltage. The image signal voltage slew boosting circuit may pull down the column line voltage to an additional reference voltage near an image signal voltage. With the use of the voltage settling circuitry, a faster pre-charge and clamping of the column line can be achieved.