Patent ID: 8159589

Claim:
An image sensor comprising: a pixel array comprising a plurality of pixels each configured to output a respective analog signal corresponding to an amount of light impinging upon a respective one of the pixels; an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert analog signals output from a row of the pixel array in units of lines into an N-bit digital signal where N is 2 or a natural number greater than 2; a line memory block configured to temporarily store the N bit digital signal in unit of lines; and a sense amplifying unit configured to sense and amplify an N bit signal output from the line memory block, wherein the line memory block comprises: first through N-th line memories each comprising a plurality of memory cells each of which stores a corresponding 1 bit signal of the N bit digital signal of a corresponding pixel among the plurality of pixels; first through N-th data line pairs configured to respectively connect the first through N-th line memories to the sense amplifying unit; and first through N-th data line prechargers each comprising at least two precharge units separately connected with a corresponding one of the first through N-th data line pairs to precharge the corresponding data line pair with a predetermined precharge voltage.