US 11,683,603 B2
Image sensor including pixels and reference pixels, operating method of the image sensor, and electronic device including the image sensor
Hwanwoong Kim, Namyangju-si (KR); Jihun Kim, Suwon-si (KR); Jueun Park, Seongnam-si (KR); Jungwook Lim, Hwaseong-si (KR); Youjin Jeong, Suwon-si (KR); and Taesub Jung, Hwaseong-si (KR)
Assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., Suwon-si (KR)
Filed by SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., Suwon-si (KR)
Filed on Nov. 18, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/529,744.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2021-0030306 (KR), filed on Mar. 8, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0286629 A1, Sep. 8, 2022
Int. Cl. H04N 25/63 (2023.01); H04N 25/62 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 25/63 (2023.01) [H04N 25/62 (2023.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image sensor comprising:
a pixel array including pixels and reference pixels;
an analog sensing circuit configured to sense signals from the pixels and the reference pixels; and
a digital logic circuit configured to receive the sensed signals from the analog sensing circuit and configured to compensate signals corresponding to the pixels from among the sensed signals by using signals corresponding to the reference pixels from among the sensed signals,
wherein each of the reference pixels is at least partially surround by the pixels,
wherein the pixel array comprises compensation units,
wherein each of the compensation units includes one reference pixel of the reference pixels and two or more pixels of the pixels, and
wherein a size of a first compensation unit, of the compensation units, is different from a size of a second compensation unit, of the compensation units.