KR-20260065348-A - Imaging Device and Method of Operating the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to an imaging device, and more specifically, to an imaging device comprising an active pixel array including a plurality of active pixels, each of which generates a pixel signal corresponding to incident light; an optical black pixel array including a plurality of optical black pixels, each of which generates a dark signal for correcting dark noise of each of the plurality of active pixels; and a memory storing matching data, each of which is information about a plurality of black regions that are matched to each of the plurality of active pixels and are part of the optical black pixel array, and a method of operating the same.

Inventors

• 이곤지
• 한형준

Assignees

• 에스케이하이닉스 주식회사

Dates

Publication Date

20260508

Application Date

20241101

Claims (20)

1. A step in which a first active pixel included in an active pixel array generates a first pixel signal in response to incident light; A step of reading matching data from memory that includes information about a first black region that is matched to the first active pixel and is part of an optical black pixel array; A plurality of first optical black pixels included in the first black region generate first dark signals; and A step of correcting the first pixel signal using the first dark signals; A method of operating an imaging device comprising
2. In paragraph 1, A method of operating an imaging device, wherein the step of reading the matching data includes the operation of determining the positions of the plurality of first optical black pixels included in the first black region.
3. In paragraph 1, The step of generating the pixel signal includes an operation in which the first pixel signal is converted into a first digital signal, and A method of operating an imaging device, wherein the step of generating the above dark signal includes the operation of converting each of the first dark signals into a second digital signal.
4. In paragraph 3, A method of operating an imaging device, wherein the step of correcting the pixel signal includes the operation of calculating a first average, which is the average of the second digital signals.
5. In paragraph 4, A method of operating an imaging device, wherein the step of correcting the pixel signal further includes the operation of subtracting the first average from the first digital signal.
6. In paragraph 1, The step of generating the pixel signal further includes the operation of a second active pixel included in the active pixel array generating a second pixel signal in response to the incident light. The step of reading the matching data further includes the operation of reading the matching data, which further includes information about a second black region that is matched to the second active pixel and is another part of the optical black pixel array. A method of operating an imaging device, wherein the step of generating the dark signals further includes the operation of each of the plurality of second optical black pixels included in the second black region generating a second dark signal.
7. In paragraph 6, A method of operating an imaging device, wherein the step of reading the matching data further includes the operation of determining the positions of the plurality of second optical black pixels included in the second black region.
8. In paragraph 6, The step of generating the pixel signal further includes the operation of converting the second pixel signal into a third digital signal, and A method of operating an imaging device, wherein the step of generating the above dark signal further includes the operation of converting each of the above second dark signals into a fourth digital signal.
9. In paragraph 8, A method of operating an imaging device, wherein the step of correcting the pixel signal further includes an operation of calculating a second average, which is the average of the fourth digital signals.
10. In Paragraph 9, A method of operating an imaging device, wherein the step of correcting the pixel signal further includes the operation of subtracting the second average from the third digital signal.
11. An image sensor comprising a pixel array that generates a plurality of pixel signals in response to incident light and a memory that stores matching data used for correcting the pixel signals; Includes, The pixel array above is, An active pixel array comprising a plurality of active pixels that generate the plurality of pixel signals; and An optical black pixel array comprising a plurality of optical black pixels that generate a plurality of dark signals used for correction of the plurality of pixel signals; Includes, An imaging device comprising the above matching data, which is matched to each of the plurality of active pixels and includes information on a plurality of black regions that are part of the optical black pixel array.
12. In Paragraph 11, An imaging device in which the above matching data includes information regarding the location of each optical black pixel included in the black region among the plurality of optical black pixels.
13. In Paragraph 11, An imaging device comprising information that the matching data includes that the active regions, which are a plurality of regions into which the active pixel array is divided, are each matched to one of the black regions, and that a plurality of active pixels included in the active regions are matched to the same black region among the black regions.
14. In Paragraph 13, An imaging device in which the average of the dark noise of each active pixel included in the active area is the same as the average of the dark noise of each optical black pixel included in the black area that matches the active area.
15. In Paragraph 11, An imaging device comprising an image sensor that further includes a readout circuit for converting each of the plurality of pixel signals and the plurality of dark signals into a digital signal.
16. In paragraph 15, An image signal processor that calculates the average of digital signals converted from each of a plurality of dark signals generated by optical black pixels included in the black area, and corrects the pixel signal by subtracting the average from the digital signal converted from the pixel signal generated by the active pixel matched to the black area; Imaging device further comprising
17. In Paragraph 16, The plurality of active pixels above include a first active pixel that generates a first pixel signal and a second active pixel that generates a second pixel signal, and An imaging device comprising a plurality of black regions, the plurality of black regions including a first black region matching the first active pixel and a second black region matching the second active pixel.
18. In Paragraph 17, An imaging device wherein the plurality of active pixels further include a third active pixel that generates a third pixel signal, and the third active pixel is matched to the first black area.
19. In Paragraph 18, An imaging device in which a portion of the first black region overlaps with a portion of the second black region.
20. In Paragraph 18, An imaging device in which the first black region is spaced apart from the second black region.

Description

Imaging Device and Method of Operating the Same The present invention relates to an imaging device, and more specifically, to an imaging device including an image sensing device. An imaging device is a device that outputs a final image by performing correction operations on a raw image generated by an image sensor embedded in the imaging device in an image processing device. An image sensor is a device that captures raw images by utilizing the properties of light-sensing semiconductor materials that react to light. With the advancement of industries such as automotive, medical, computer, and telecommunications, the demand for high-performance image sensors is increasing in various fields, including smartphones, digital cameras, gaming devices, the Internet of Things (IoT), robots, security cameras, and medical micro-cameras. Image sensors can be broadly classified into Charge Coupled Device (CCD) image sensors and Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors. While CCD image sensors offer better image quality compared to CMOS image sensors, they tend to be larger in size and consume more power. On the other hand, CMOS image sensors can be implemented in smaller sizes and consume less power than CCD image sensors. Furthermore, since CMOS image sensors are manufactured using CMOS manufacturing technology, light-sensing elements and signal processing circuits can be integrated onto a single chip, enabling the production of compact image sensors at a lower cost. For these reasons, CMOS image sensors are being developed for many applications, including mobile devices. The image processing device is embedded in the imaging device and can generate a final image by performing necessary corrections on the raw image. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating, in an exemplary manner, an imaging device and an image test device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart exemplarily illustrating a method in which an image test device in FIG. 1 matches a part of an optical black pixel array with an active pixel to remove a dark noise component of a pixel signal generated from an active pixel placed in an active pixel array of an imaging device. FIG. 3a is a diagram illustrating the result of performing step S110 of FIG. 2. FIG. 3b is a diagram illustrating the results of performing steps S120 and S130 of FIG. 2. FIG. 4a is a diagram illustrating the result of repeating step S110 of FIG. 2. FIG. 4b is a diagram exemplifying the result of repeating steps S120 and S130 of FIG. 2. FIG. 5a is a diagram exemplarily showing a plurality of black regions that are part of the optical black pixel array of FIG. 2. FIG. 5b is a diagram illustrating the result of performing step S140 of FIG. 2. FIG. 5c is a diagram illustrating the result of performing step S150 of FIG. 2. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation method of the imaging device of FIG. 1 in an exemplary manner. Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to exemplary drawings. It should be noted that in assigning reference numerals to the components of each drawing, the same components are given the same reference numeral whenever possible, even if they are shown in different drawings. Furthermore, in describing the embodiments of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of related known components or functions would hinder understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, such detailed description is omitted. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating, exemplarily, an imaging device (1) and an image test device (50) according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the imaging device (1) according to the present invention may include an image sensor (11) and an image signal processor (12). The imaging device (1) may be an example of an electronic device including a shooting function, such as a camera or a smartphone. The image sensor (11) may include a timing control circuit (110), a driving control circuit (120), a pixel array (130), a readout circuit (140), and a memory (150). Although the memory (150) may exist separately from the image sensor (11) within the imaging device (1), the following description will be illustrative of an embodiment in which it is placed within the image sensor (11). The timing control circuit (110) can provide timing signals and control signals to at least one of the drive control circuit (120) and the read-out circuit (140). The driving control circuit (120) can activate the pixel array (130) to perform specific operations on the pixels included in the corresponding row based on the timing signal and control signal provided from the timing control circuit (110). In one embodiment, the driving control circuit (120) may supply a signal to control at least one pixel arranged in at least one row of the pixel array (130) to perform a specific operation. The driving control circuit