Patent ID: 11947046
Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Field: nan (nan)
Classification: CPC nan | IPC G  H

Claim 5:
6. The image sensor of claim 3, wherein the time-resolving sensor further comprises a plurality of pixels, at least one pixel of the plurality of pixels comprising:
at least one single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD), each SPAD being responsive to an active shutter signal to generate an output signal based on detecting one or more photons that are incident on the SPAD and that have been reflected from the object;
a logic circuit coupled to the output signal of the at least one SPAD, the logic circuit to generate a first enable signal and a second enable signal, the first enable signal being active in response to a beginning of the active shutter signal and being inactive in response to the output signal of the at least one SPAD, and the second enable signal being in active in response to the output signal of the at least one SPAD and being inactive in response to an end of the active shutter signal; and
a differential time-to-charge converter (DTCC) circuit coupled to the first and second enable signals, the DTCC circuit comprising:
a capacitive device having a first terminal and a second terminal, the second terminal being coupled to a ground voltage;
a first switching device having first, second and third terminals, the first terminal of the first switching device being coupled to the first terminal of the capacitive device, the second terminal of the first switching device being coupled to a first floating diffusion, and the third terminal of the first switching device being coupled to the first enable signal, the first switching device being responsive to the first enable signal to transfer a first charge on the capacitive device to the first floating diffusion;
a second switching device having first, second and third terminals, the first terminal of the second switching device being coupled to the first terminal of the capacitive device, the second terminal of the second switching device being coupled to a second floating diffusion, and the third terminal of the second switching device being coupled to the second enable signal, the second switching device being responsive to the second enable signal to transfer a remaining charge on the capacitive device to the second floating diffusion; and
an output circuit to output the pair of first and second signals, the first signal comprising a first voltage that is based on the first charge on the first floating diffusion and the second signal comprising a second voltage that is based on the remaining charge on the second floating diffusion.