US 12,262,132 B2
Image sensor with boosting driver
Yong Suk Choi, Suwon-si (KR)
Assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Gyeonggi-do (KR)
Filed by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Suwon-si (KR)
Filed on May 3, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/654,548.
Application 18/654,548 is a continuation of application No. 18/329,353, filed on Jun. 5, 2023, granted, now 12,003,876.
Application 18/329,353 is a continuation of application No. 17/500,468, filed on Oct. 13, 2021, granted, now 11,711,632, issued on Jul. 25, 2023.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2021-0015798 (KR), filed on Feb. 4, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0292128 A1, Aug. 29, 2024
Int. Cl. H04N 25/75 (2023.01); H04N 25/709 (2023.01); H04N 25/772 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 25/75 (2023.01) [H04N 25/709 (2023.01); H04N 25/772 (2023.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for operating an image sensor, the method comprising:
providing the image sensor, the image sensor including
a first row driver which is configured to output a transfer control signal,
a first row line which is connected to the first row driver and extends in a first direction,
a first pixel, a second pixel, a third pixel and a fourth pixel which are connected to the first row line and sequentially arranged in the first direction, the first pixel includes a first transfer transistor configured to be gated by the transfer control signal, the second pixel includes a second transfer transistor configured to be gated by the transfer control signal, the third pixel includes a third transfer transistor configured to be gated by the transfer control signal, and the fourth pixel includes a fourth transfer transistor configured to be gated by the transfer control signal,
a first column line which is connected to the first pixel and is configured to receive a first output signal from the first pixel,
a second column line which is connected to the second pixel and is configured to receive a second output signal from the second pixel,
a third column line which is connected to the third pixel and is configured to receive a third output signal from the third pixel,
a fourth column line which is connected to the fourth pixel and is configured to receive a fourth output signal from the fourth pixel,
a boosting circuit connected to the first to fourth column lines,
a second row line which is connected to the boosting circuit and extends in the first direction,
a first boosting driver connected to a first terminal of the second row line in a direction opposite to the first direction, the first boosting driver configured to output a first boosting enable signal, and
a second boosting driver connected to a second terminal of the second row line in the first direction, the second boosting driver configured to output a second boosting enable signal;
providing the transfer control signal to the first transfer transistor, the second transfer transistor, the third transfer transistor, and the fourth transfer transistor using the first row driver;
stopping providing the transfer control signal to the first transfer transistor, the second transfer transistor, the third transfer transistor, and the fourth transfer transistor;
providing the first boosting enable signal to the second row line using the first boosting driver;
providing the second boosting enable signal to the second row line using the second boosting driver;
adjusting a voltage of the first output signal and a voltage of the second output signal based on the first boosting enable signal received from the first boosting driver; and
adjusting a voltage of the third output signal and a voltage of the fourth output signal based on the second boosting enable signal received from the second boosting driver.