Imaging systems having successive approximation register (sar) analog-to-digital converters with reduced non-linearity

Abstract

An image sensor may contain an array of imaging pixels arranged in rows and columns. Each column of imaging pixels may be coupled to an analog-to-digital converter for converting analog imaging signals from the pixels to digital signals. The analog-to-digital converter may be implemented as a split successive approximation register (SAR) analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The split SAR ADC may include a coarse section and a fine section. During a reset sampling phase, a reset level is sampled with a predetermined pedestal value is applied to the coarse and fine sections. During reset conversion, a reset code is obtained. During a signal sampling phase, a signal level is sampled using inverted bits of the reset code for only the fine section. During signal conversion, a signal code is obtained. Operated in this way, differential non-linearity of the ADC is minimized.