Patent ID: 8587700
Filing Date: 2013-11-19
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method of detecting defects in an image sensor which includes a photo diode generating charges corresponding to an image signal; a transmission transistor having a first terminal connected to the photodiode and a second terminal connected to a floating diffusion area, thereby transmitting the charges generated in the photo diode to the floating diffusion area in response to a charge transmission control signal; and a reset transistor having a first terminal connected to a reset voltage and a second terminal connected to the floating diffusion area, thereby transmitting the reset voltage to the floating diffusion area in response to a reset control signal, the method comprising: turning on the reset transistor, performing a reset level sampling on the image sensor during a reset level sampling zone, applying the reset voltage to the reset transistor during the reset level sampling zone and applying a clamping voltage to the floating diffusion area during the reset level sampling zone; performing a signal level sampling on the image sensor during a signal level sampling zone; and detecting whether there is a difference between the sampled reset level and the sampled signal level.