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:
Jan. 08, 2008
Filed:
Oct. 30, 2001
Kwang-bo Cho, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Michael Kaplinsky, Sierra Madre, CA (US);
Sandor L. Barna, Pasadena, CA (US);
Zeynep Toros, Irvine, CA (US);
Igor Subbotin, S. Pasadena, CA (US);
Kwang-Bo Cho, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Michael Kaplinsky, Sierra Madre, CA (US);
Sandor L. Barna, Pasadena, CA (US);
Zeynep Toros, Irvine, CA (US);
Igor Subbotin, S. Pasadena, CA (US);
Micron Technology, Inc., Boise, ID (US);
Abstract
Image sensor with a successive approximation A/D converter that automatically compensates for black level and provides a signal indicative of the difference between the reset level and the signal level. Black level for each of a plurality of color pixels may be obtained. This may be obtained from, for example, an image sensor with intentionally darkened pixels. Levels from these pixels are sampled, and an average of these pixels is used to form a black level for similarly-colored pixels. That black level is stored, and used to drive a D/A converter. Another D/A converter forms the actual conversion, and is compared to a reference. The reference is selected such that the output signal is automatically compensated for black level, and also corresponds to the difference between signal and reset.