US 12,250,487 B2
Image readout device
Pai-Hsiang Hsu, Hsinchu (TW); Chao-Yu Meng, Hsinchu (TW); and Yueh-Ru Lee, Hsinchu (TW)
Assigned to Novatek Microelectronics Corp., Hsinchu (TW)
Filed by NOVATEK MICROELECTRONICS CORP., Hsinchu (TW)
Filed on May 11, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/315,579.
Prior Publication US 2024/0381003 A1, Nov. 14, 2024
Int. Cl. H04N 25/78 (2023.01); H04N 25/77 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 25/78 (2023.01) [H04N 25/77 (2023.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image readout device comprising:
a plurality of comparator circuits, wherein each of the plurality of comparator circuits comprises:
an amplifier, having a first input node, a second input node, a first output node, and a second output node, configured to compare a pixel signal received from an image sensor array to a reference signal to generate a comparison signal;
a first input capacitor having a first end coupled to the first input node of the amplifier and a second end coupled to the pixel signal or the reference signal;
a first auto-zero switch having a first end coupled to the first input node of the amplifier, a second end coupled to the first output node of the amplifier, and a control end coupled to an auto-zero control signal which is configured to couple or decouple the first input node of the amplifier to the first output node of the amplifier; and
at least one first control capacitor, each of the at least one first control capacitor having a first end coupled to the first input node of the amplifier and a second end coupled to a respective first control signal.