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:
Apr. 21, 2009
Filed:
Apr. 13, 2005
Toshinobu Sugiyama, Kanagawa, JP;
Shinichi Yoshimura, Tokyo, JP;
Ryoji Suzuki, Kanagawa, JP;
Kazuhiro Hoshino, Kanagawa, JP;
Toshinobu Sugiyama, Kanagawa, JP;
Shinichi Yoshimura, Tokyo, JP;
Ryoji Suzuki, Kanagawa, JP;
Kazuhiro Hoshino, Kanagawa, JP;
Sony Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An arithmetic circuit, which is retained by each pixel in a conventional image sensor, is shared by each column. Signal processing circuits of different configurations are provided on signal transmission paths in an upward direction and a downward direction of a vertical signal line for extracting an image signal from each pixel, whereby image output processing and arithmetic processing are performed completely separately by the different circuit blocks. Thus, image quality of an actual image is improved and optimum design for arithmetic processing is made possible. Specifically, an I-V converter circuit unit, a CDS circuit unit and the like are provided on the image output side. A current mirror circuit unit, an analog memory array unit, a comparator unit, a bias circuit unit, a data latch unit, an output data bus unit and the like are provided on the arithmetic processing side.