Sony patents camera sensor design that cuts noise using existing power lines
Sony has filed a patent for an imaging device that reduces noise in camera sensors. The design uses a specific circuit to limit the voltage on the signal line by borrowing power from nearby pixels, which helps keep the image data stable.
In the filing’s own words
Imaging devices with noise suppression are disclosed. In one example, an imaging device includes photoelectric conversion elements that accumulate electric charges according to an amount of incident light arranged in a first direction and an intersecting second direction. Pixel circuits generate an analog pixel signal according to the accumulated electric charges, and a signal line transmits the analog pixel signal output from two or more of the pixel circuits arranged in the second direction. A clip circuit clips a voltage of the signal line to a predetermined lower limit voltage level using a power supply voltage line of any of the two or more of the pixel circuits connected to the signal line.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. An imaging device comprising: a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements that is arranged in a first direction and a second direction intersecting each other, and accumulates electric charges according to a light amount of incident light; a plurality of pixel circuits that generates an analog pixel signal according to the electric charges accumulated in the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements; a signal line that transmits the analog pixel signal output from the two or more pixel circuits arranged in the second direction; and a clip circuit that clips a voltage of the signal line to a predetermined lower limit voltage level using a power supply voltage line of any of the two or more pixel circuits connected to the signal line.
Facts
- Company
- Sony (Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation)
- Official title
- IMAGING DEVICE
- Publication number
- US20260281577A1
- Application number
- 19472302
- Filed
- Mar 25, 2024
- Published
- Sep 17, 2026
- Inventors
- 3
- Claims
- 19
Classified under
H04N 25/709 Electricity & electronicsH04N 25/772 Electricity & electronicsH04N 25/778 Electricity & electronicsH04N 25/79 Electricity & electronicsH10F 39/809 Electricity & electronicsH10F 39/811 Electricity & electronicsMore from Sony in Cameras & imaging
- Sony patents camera chips that sign photos to prove they are real Sep 15, 2026
- Sony patents camera setup that learns to mimic a virtual view Sep 1, 2026
- Sony patents camera method to reduce lag in burst mode photos Sep 1, 2026
- Sony patents camera sensor design to improve global shutter image quality Sep 1, 2026
- Sony patents camera lens that subtracts light waves to cut data processing Sep 8, 2026
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.