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:
Nov. 20, 2012
Filed:
Oct. 21, 2009
Applicants:
Sandor L. Barna, Pasadena, CA (US);
Guy Moffat, Manlius, NY (US);
Inventors:
Sandor L. Barna, Pasadena, CA (US);
Guy Moffat, Manlius, NY (US);
Assignee:
Micron Technology, Inc., Boise, ID (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 3/14 (2006.01); H04N 5/335 (2006.01); H04N 9/04 (2006.01); H04N 9/083 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract
An imager with a switch circuit located between, and connected to, the pixel array and associated readout chains. In one embodiment the switch is located within the column sample and hold circuitry; in another embodiment the switch is located between the column sample and hold circuitry and the readout chains. The switch circuit ensures that signals from the column sample and hold circuitry are directed to enabled readout chains, which allows selective enabling/disabling of readout chains. By disabling readout chains, the imager's power consumption is reduced.