Patent ID: 9001107
Filing Date: 2015-04-07
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method of controlling an image pixel including a light receiving unit configured to generate photocharges through receiving light and accommodate the generated photocharges, a buffer unit configured to accommodate the photocharges, a first transistor configured to electrically connect the light receiving unit and the buffer unit and a second transistor configured to electrically connect the buffer unit and a power source supplying an initialization voltage, comprising: performing an initialization process comprising initializing the light receiving unit by applying the initialization voltage to the light receiving unit; performing an excess value sampling process comprising sampling a voltage level corresponding to a quantity of photoelectrons in excess of a photoelectron accommodation capacity of the light receiving unit; performing an initialization level sampling process comprising applying the initialization voltage to the buffer unit and sampling the initialization voltage of the buffer unit and performing a data level sampling process comprising distributing the photoelectrons accommodated in the light receiving unit to the buffer unit and sampling the voltage level of the buffer unit, wherein in the excess value sampling process, the second transistor is turned off, a gate voltage of the first transistor is maintained at a pre-set level to transfer the photoelectrons in excess of a photoelectron accommodation capacity of the light receiving unit to the buffer unit, and a voltage level of the buffer unit is sampled, wherein the pre-set level of the gate voltage of the first transistor in the excess value sampling process is equal to or higher than a threshold voltage of the first transistor, and wherein in the data level sampling process, the second transistor is turned off, and the first transistor is turned on to allow the photoelectrons of the light receiving unit to be shared by the buffer unit, and the voltage level of the buffer unit is sampled.