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Sony patents camera sensor design to speed up image processing

Sony has filed a patent for an imaging device that uses switches to control how a reference signal is sent to comparators within the sensor. This design aims to reduce the electrical load on the wiring, which allows the sensor to convert light into digital data faster. The result is a camera that can capture images at higher frame rates while using less power.

Why it mattersThis improvement could lead to cameras that handle fast-moving action more smoothly and drain battery life slower, which is useful for both phones and professional video equipment.

In the filing’s own words

By reducing the load of the signal wiring of a reference signal, it is possible to realize speeding up AD conversion, an increase in a frame rate, and a reduction in power consumption. An imaging device includes: a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a first direction and a second direction intersecting each other, each of the photoelectric conversion elements accumulating an electric charge corresponding to a light amount of incident light; a plurality of pixel circuits that outputs pixel signals corresponding to electric charges accumulated in the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, respectively; a plurality of comparators that compares each of the plurality of pixel signals output from the plurality of pixel circuits with a reference signal; a digital signal generator that generates a digital signal obtained by analog-digital conversion of the plurality of pixel signals on the basis of comparison results of the plurality of comparators; and a plurality of switches that switches whether or not to input the reference signal to the plurality of comparators.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. An imaging device comprising: a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a first direction and a second direction intersecting each other, each of the photoelectric conversion elements accumulating an electric charge corresponding to a light amount of incident light; a plurality of pixel circuits that outputs pixel signals corresponding to electric charges accumulated in the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, respectively; a plurality of comparators that compares each of the plurality of pixel signals output from the plurality of pixel circuits with a reference signal; a digital signal generator that generates a digital signal obtained by analog-digital conversion of the plurality of pixel signals on a basis of comparison results of the plurality of comparators; and a plurality of switches that switches whether or not to input the reference signal to the plurality of comparators.

Facts

Company
Sony (SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION)
Official title
IMAGING DEVICE
Publication number
US20260261780A1
Application number
19490006
Filed
Jun 14, 2024
Published
Sep 3, 2026
Inventors
3
Claims
20

Classified under

H04N 25/772 Electricity & electronicsH04N 25/771 Electricity & electronicsH04N 25/7795 Electricity & electronicsH04N 25/78 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.