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:
Aug. 07, 2001
Filed:
Apr. 15, 1999
David Andrew Martin, Atlantic Highlands, NJ (US);
Krishnaswamy Nagaraj, Somerville, NJ (US);
Texas Instruments Incorporated, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
An image sensor (,) which can be fabricated using conventional CMOS processes uses a comparator circuit (,) at each pixel (,) having a first input coupled to a photodetector (,) and a second input coupled to a ramp signal generator (,). The ramp signal generator (,) is comprised of a counter (,) and a D/A conversion circuit (,) with the analog output of the D/A conversion circuit (,) forming an analog ramp input to the comparator circuit (,). A counter circuit (,) can be used to drive the digital side of the D/A conversion circuit (,) and configured to count from 0 to 2,−1 to 0, N being the resolution of the photodetector (,). The output of the D/A conversion circuit (,) causes comparator circuit (,) to flip when the ramp signal is equal to the value of the output from the photodetector (,). The comparator circuit (,), in turn, drives a load signal to a register (,) which stores the counter values,from pixel (,) at the instant the comparator,flips. In this way an A/D conversion of the image data takes place.
Data source: USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) public patent records. Weekly synchronization. How IDiyas builds this profile