Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Method and system for reducing noise in an image sensor using a parallel multi-ramps merged comparator analog-to-digital converter
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Application No.: US14992953Application Date: 2016-01-11
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Publication No.: US10015429B2Publication Date: 2018-07-03
- Inventor: Olivier Bulteel
- Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
- Applicant Address: US CA Santa Clara
- Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
- Current Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
- Current Assignee Address: US CA Santa Clara
- Agency: Christensen O'Connor Johnson Kindness PLLC
- Main IPC: H04N5/378
- IPC: H04N5/378

Abstract:
A method of reducing noise in an image sensor using a parallel multi-ramps merged comparator analog-to-digital converter (ADC) starts with a pixel array capturing image data. The pixel array includes pixels to generate pixel data signals, respectively. An ADC circuitry acquires the pixel data signals. The ADC circuitry includes ADC circuits. Each of the ADC circuits includes a comparator and latches. The comparator includes a multi-input first stage. The comparator in each ADC circuit compares one of the pixel data signals to ramp signals received from a logic circuitry to generate comparator output signals. The latches in each ADC circuit latches the counter based on the comparator output signals, respectively, to generate ADC outputs. Other embodiments are described.
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