Abstract: A light sensor and a ranging method are provided. The light sensor includes a light source, a sensing sub-pixel, and a control circuit. The sensing sub-pixel includes a diode. The control circuit operates the diode in a Geiger mode or an avalanche linear mode. The control circuit includes a time-to-digital converter, and the time-to-digital converter includes a counting circuit. The counting circuit includes a plurality of counting units. When the time-to-digital converter receives a sensing signal provided by the sensing sub-pixel, the control circuit generates a plurality of count values according to the sensing signal through the counting units of the counting circuit, where the count values are histogram data corresponding to a distance sensing result.

Abstract: An output stage circuit including a current source circuit, a bias circuit, and an output circuit is provided. The bias circuit is coupled between the current source circuit and a ground terminal voltage. The output circuit includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, and a load circuit. A control terminal of the first transistor is coupled to the bias circuit. The load circuit is coupled to a second terminal of the first transistor. A second terminal of the second transistor is coupled to a first terminal of the first transistor. A first terminal of the third transistor is coupled to the second terminal of the first transistor.

Abstract: An image sensor and an operation method thereof are provided. The image sensor includes a first pixel circuit and a ramp signal generator. The first pixel circuit includes a first pixel unit; a first transfer transistor coupled to the first pixel unit and a first floating diffusion node; a first readout transistor coupled to the first floating diffusion node; a first ramp capacitor coupled to the first floating diffusion node and receiving a first ramp signal; and a first reset transistor coupled to the first floating diffusion node and receiving a reset signal. The ramp signal generator is coupled to the first ramp capacitor and configured to provide the first ramp signal. A voltage range or a counting result of the pixel circuit during at least one of a reset period and a readout period has an offset.

Abstract: An image sensor and an image sensing method are provided. The image sensor includes a first pixel circuit, a second pixel circuit, a ramp signal generating circuit, a comparator, and a signal processing circuit. The first pixel circuit has a first floating diffusion node. The second pixel circuit has a second floating diffusion node. The ramp signal generating circuit respectively provides a first ramp signal and a second ramp signal to the first floating diffusion node and the second floating diffusion node during a dark sun detection period. The comparator receives a first node voltage of the first floating diffusion node and a second node voltage of the second floating diffusion node. The signal processing circuit determines whether to output an output signal and determines whether to overwrite a digital value corresponding to a sensing signal according to whether the comparator is triggered.

Abstract: Disclosed are an image sensor and an image sensing method. The image sensor includes a first pixel circuit. The first pixel circuit includes a first driving transistor, a first selection transistor, a first transfer transistor, a first reset transistor and a first sensing unit. A control terminal of the first selection transistor is used for receiving a first selection signal. A control terminal of the first transmitting transistor is used for receiving a first transmitting signal. The image sensing method includes the following steps: receiving a first reset signal during a reset period through a control terminal of the first reset transistor; and receiving a first ramp signal during a sensing period through a control terminal of the first reset transistor.

Abstract: An image sensor, a level shifter circuit, and an operation method thereof are provided. The image sensor includes a pixel circuit and a pixel driving circuit. The pixel driving circuit includes first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth transistors. A first terminal of the first transistor is coupled to a first voltage. A first terminal of the second transistor is coupled to the first voltage, and a control terminal of the second transistor is coupled to a control terminal of the first transistor and a second terminal of the first transistor. A first terminal of the third transistor is coupled to the second terminal of the first transistor, and a second terminal of the third transistor is coupled to a ground voltage. A first terminal of the fourth transistor is coupled to a second terminal of the second transistor and an output terminal.

Abstract: An image sensor and an image sensing method are provided. A readout circuit outputs a first digital sensing signal according to a floating diffusion node voltage of a first pixel circuit reset after a reset stage and a floating diffusion node voltage of a second pixel circuit reset after the reset stage during a reset signal readout period. The readout circuit outputs a second digital sensing signal according to a sensing result of the first pixel circuit and the floating diffusion node voltage of the second pixel circuit reset after the same reset stage during a sensing signal readout period. The image processing circuit judges whether a digital number of at least one of the first digital sensing signal and the second digital sensing signal is abnormal to decide to keep an original digital number, directly set a pixel value, or reset the second digital sensing signal.

Abstract: Disclosed are a chip with automatic clock signal correction and an automatic correction method. The chip includes a transmission interface, an oscillator and a correction logic circuit. The transmission interface provides a first clock signal. The oscillator generates a second clock signal. The correction logic circuit is coupled to the oscillator and the transmission interface, and performs correction operation to count the first clock signal to generate a first clock count value, and count the second clock signal to generate a second clock count value. When the first clock count value is equal to the first count target value, the correction logic circuit stops counting, and calculates a correction value based on the second clock count value and the second count target value. The correction logic circuit outputs the correction value to the oscillator, and the oscillator corrects a frequency of the second clock signal according to the correction value.

Abstract: An image sensor and an operating method thereof are provided. The image sensor includes a first pixel circuit, a first column readout circuit, and a second column readout circuit. The first pixel circuit includes a first pixel unit, a first transfer transistor, a first reset transistor, a first readout transistor, and a first capacitor. The first column readout circuit includes a first circuit node. The second column readout circuit includes a bias transistor. A first terminal of the first reset transistor and a first terminal of the first readout transistor are coupled to the first circuit node, and a second terminal of the first readout transistor is coupled to the bias transistor.

Abstract: An image sensor and an operation method thereof are provided. The image sensor includes a pixel circuit and a column readout circuit. The pixel circuit includes a pixel unit, a transfer transistor, a reset transistor, a readout transistor and a selection transistor. The column readout circuit includes a first circuit node and a second circuit node. A first terminal of the first reset transistor and a first terminal of the first readout transistor are coupled to a first circuit node, and a second terminal of the first select transistor is coupled to a second circuit node.

Abstract: A fingerprint sensing device and a wearable electronic device are provided. The fingerprint sensing device includes an image sensor and a processor. The image sensor is arranged below a fingerprint sensing area. The processor is coupled to the image sensor. The processor senses a finger placed above the fingerprint sensing area through the image sensor during a fingerprint sensing period to obtain a first fingerprint image. The processor continuously senses the finger placed above the fingerprint sensing area through the image sensor during a physiological information sensing period, so as to obtain a physiological characteristic signal.

Abstract: A fingerprint sensing device and a wearable electronic device are provided. The fingerprint sensing device includes an image sensor and a processor. The image sensor is arranged below a fingerprint sensing area. The processor is coupled to the image sensor. The processor senses a finger placed above the fingerprint sensing area through the image sensor during a fingerprint sensing period to obtain a first fingerprint image. The processor continuously senses the finger placed above the fingerprint sensing area through the image sensor during a physiological information sensing period, so as to obtain a physiological characteristic signal.

Abstract: A light sensor and its calibration method are provided. The light sensor includes a light source, a sensing sub-pixel, and a control circuit. The light source emits a sensing light beam. The sensing sub-pixel includes a diode, a quenching resistor, and a time-to-digital converter. The diode has a first terminal coupled to an operation voltage. The quenching resistor is coupled between a second terminal of the diode and a ground voltage. The time-to-digital converter is coupled to the second terminal of the diode. The control circuit is coupled to the sensing sub-pixel and calibrates a sensing sensitivity of the sensing sub-pixel according to at least one of a photon detection probability, an internal gain value, and a resistance value of the quenching resistor corresponding to the diode of the sensing sub-pixel, so that the sensing sub-pixel generates a single-photon avalanche diode sensing signal only when receiving the sensing light beam.

Abstract: An image sensing device and a fingerprint sensing method are provided. The image sensing device is suitable for being installed in an electronic device. The image sensing device includes a light sensor and a controller. The controller is coupled to the light sensor. When the electronic device is operated in a sleep mode, the controller operates the light sensor in a light sensing mode. The controller determines whether a number of signal intensity changes of a photosensitive signal output by the light sensor exceeds a predetermined number of intensity changes within a predetermined length of time, so as to switch the operation of the light sensor in a fingerprint sensing mode.

Abstract: A ranging device and a ranging method are provided. The ranging device includes a light source, an image sensor, and a processor. The light source projects a plurality of projection patterns onto a surface of an object to be measured at different times. The image sensor senses the surface of the object to be measured in synchronization with projection times of the projection patterns to obtain a plurality of sensing images respectively corresponding to the projection patterns. The processor analyzes the sensing images to determine depth information of the object to be measured. The processor performs trigonometric calculations to obtain the depth information.

Abstract: A time-of-flight ranging device suitable for indirect time-of-flight ranging is provided. The time-of-flight ranging device includes a light emitting module, a first sensing pixel, a second sensing pixel, a differential readout circuit, and a processing circuit. The light emitting module emits a light pulse to a sensing target, so that the sensing target reflects a reflected light pulse. The first sensing pixel generates a first sensing signal and a second sensing signal. The second sensing pixel generates a third sensing signal and a fourth sensing signal. The differential readout circuit generates first digital data according to the first sensing signal and the third sensing signal and generates second digital data according to the second sensing signal and the fourth sensing signal. The processing circuit calculates a distance between the time-of-flight ranging device and the sensing target according to the first digital data and the second digital data.

Abstract: An image sensing device and a fingerprint sensing method are provided. The image sensing device is suitable for being installed in an electronic device. The image sensing device includes a light sensor and a controller. The controller is coupled to the light sensor. When the electronic device is operated in a sleep mode, the controller operates the light sensor in a light sensing mode. The controller determines whether a number of signal intensity changes of a photosensitive signal output by the light sensor exceeds a predetermined number of intensity changes within a predetermined length of time, so as to switch the operation of the light sensor in a fingerprint sensing mode.

Abstract: Time of flight device and method are provided. A light-emitting module emits a first light pulse to a sensing target, and a sensing unit receives and integrates a first reflected light pulse of the sensing target. A processing circuit reads an image parameter of the sensing target through a readout circuit. The light-emitting module emits a second light pulse to the sensing target, and the sensing unit receives a second reflected light pulse of the sensing target. The processing circuit obtains a distance parameter between the sensing target and the time of flight device according to a time when the readout circuit reads the second reflected light pulse of the sensing unit. The processing circuit obtains a reflectivity of the sensing target according to the image parameter and a look-up table, and obtains a corrected distance parameter of the sensing target by correcting the distance parameter according to the reflectivity.

Abstract: An image sensing device and an image sensing method are provided. The image sensing device includes a pixel array and a readout circuit. The pixel array includes multiple sensing sub-pixels arranged in an array. During a first exposure period of a frame period, the sensing sub-pixels are simultaneously exposed to respectively store multiple first sensing signals in multiple storage units of the sensing sub-pixels. During multiple first readout periods of the frame period, the readout circuit sequentially reads out the first sensing signals stored in the storage units during different periods. During each of multiple dynamic sensing periods of the frame period, all or part of the sensing sub-pixels are reset and then simultaneously exposed again, and the readout circuit then simultaneously reads out multiple second sensing signals of the sensing sub-pixels.

Abstract: A multimedia system applying ToF ranging and its operating method are provided. The multimedia system includes a plurality of electronic devices. Each of the electronic devices includes a processing module, a ToF module, and a communication module. The ToF module is configured to perform a ToF operation. The communication module is configured to perform wireless communication. The electronic devices communicate via respective communication modules to formulate an operation protocol and respective UIDs and to perform a time slot synchronization between different electronic devices. The electronic devices sequentially perform the ToF ranging operation according to the operation protocol and the respective UIDs.