Patents Assigned to Gigajot Technologies, Inc.
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Publication number: 20250150736Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to enable fast readout from an image sensor to support pixel-wise conversion gain selection for high dynamic range imaging. In embodiments, an image sensor integrated circuit performs the pixel-wise gain selection with its readout circuitry, so that the image sensor outputs pixels with only the selected gain option. In this manner, the image sensor is able to achieve faster frame rates and lower power consumption. Depending on the embodiment, the conversion gain may be selected by the readout logic, an image signal processor, or an auto-exposure engine. The gain selection may be made based on a previous image captured by the camera or other pixels in the same image. The image signal processor may interpolate a high-gain and a low-gain portion of the image to obtain full resolution images in the two gain options, and merge the two to obtain the final image.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2025Publication date: May 8, 2025Applicant: Gigajot Technology, Inc.Inventor: Jiaju Ma
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Patent number: 12244950Abstract: First and second readout circuits, each having a respective floating diffusion node, are coupled to a photodetection element within a pixel of an integrated-circuit image sensor. Following an exposure interval in which photocharge is accumulated within the photodetection element, a first portion of the accumulated photocharge is transferred from the photodetection element to the first floating diffusion node to enable generation of a first output signal within the first readout circuit, and a second portion of the accumulated photocharge is transferred from the photodetection element to the second floating diffusion node to enable generation of a second output signal within the second readout circuit. A digital pixel value is generated based on the first and second output signals.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2024Date of Patent: March 4, 2025Assignee: Gigajot Technology, Inc.Inventors: Jiaju Ma, Saleh Masoodian
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Patent number: 12237817Abstract: Charge leakage/injection suppression circuitry within a capacitive programmable gain amplifier provides a low-impedance expulsion path for residual carriers within a feedback-path amplifier-mode switch and equalizes a voltage across a critical-leakage-path component of that amplifier-mode switch, reducing charge injection and leakage into an otherwise isolated amplifier input node to yield a low-noise amplifier output.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2024Date of Patent: February 25, 2025Assignee: Gigajot Technology, Inc.Inventor: Dexue Zhang
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Patent number: 12231793Abstract: An image capturing device may include a ramp generator circuit that may be used in performance of analog-to-digital conversion of image signals from pixels of an image sensor. The ramp generator circuit may generate a voltage having one or more rising and/or falling portions, using a reference voltage and an integration current. The ramp generator circuit may include a first sample-and-hold switch and/or a second sample-and-hold switch. The ramp generator circuit may selectively turn off the first and/or the second sample-and-hold switches to hold the reference voltage and/or a bias voltage that is used for generating the integration current during analog-to-digital conversion of the image signals. As a result, reference voltage, bias voltage, and/or integration current may be held and substantially stabilized during the analog-to-digital conversion.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2022Date of Patent: February 18, 2025Assignee: Gigajot Technology, Inc.Inventor: Dexue Zhang
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Patent number: 12231798Abstract: A sub-ranging programmable gain amplifier resolves an incoming signal into one of multiple amplitude sub-ranges and dynamically steps down the PGA output according to the identified sub-range.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2023Date of Patent: February 18, 2025Assignee: Gigajot Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Xin Yue, Dexue Zhang, Jiaju Ma
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Patent number: 12225315Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to enable fast readout from an image sensor to support pixel-wise conversion gain selection for high dynamic range imaging. In embodiments, an image sensor integrated circuit performs the pixel-wise gain selection with its readout circuitry, so that the image sensor outputs pixels with only the selected gain option. In this manner, the image sensor is able to achieve faster frame rates and lower power consumption. Depending on the embodiment, the conversion gain may be selected by the readout logic, an image signal processor, or an auto-exposure engine. The gain selection may be made based on a previous image captured by the camera or other pixels in the same image. The image signal processor may interpolate a high-gain and a low-gain portion of the image to obtain full resolution images in the two gain options, and merge the two to obtain the final image.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2022Date of Patent: February 11, 2025Assignee: Gigajot Technology, Inc.Inventor: Jiaju Ma
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Patent number: 12225316Abstract: An image sensor may a plurality of pixels, one or more analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) circuits, and at least one quantization circuit. The pixels may generate analog signals based on photoelectrons accumulated by the pixels when exposed to light. The ADC circuits may convert the analog signals to digital signals, wherein the digital signals may include (a) a first set of digital signals individually having a value corresponding to an integer number of discrete photoelectrons and (b) a second set of digital signals individually having a value between values of the first set of digital signals so as to correspond to a non-integer number of discrete photoelectron. The quantization circuit may convert the second set of digital signals to a third set of digital signals, wherein the third set of digital signals individually has a value corresponding to an integer number of discrete photoelectrons.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2022Date of Patent: February 11, 2025Assignee: Gigajot Technology, Inc.Inventor: Jiaju Ma
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Patent number: 12218172Abstract: A sensing device includes a light source to emit light, a light sensor to detect reflection of the emitted light and distance determination circuitry responsive to reflected-light detection within the light sensor. The light sensor includes a photodetector having a photocharge storage capacity in excess of one electron and an output circuit that generates an output signal responsive to light detection within the photodetector with sub-hundred nanosecond latency. The distance determination circuitry measures an elapsed time based on transition of the output signal in response to photonic detection within the photodetector and determines, based on the elapsed time, a distance between the sensing device and a surface that yielded the reflection of the emitted light.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2023Date of Patent: February 4, 2025Assignee: Gigajot Technology, Inc.Inventors: Saleh Masoodian, Jiaju Ma
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Patent number: 12184300Abstract: Clock and other cyclical signals are driven onto respective capacitively-loaded segments of a distribution path via inverting buffer stages that self-correct for stage-to-stage duty cycle error, yielding a balanced signal duty cycle over the length of the distribution path.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2023Date of Patent: December 31, 2024Assignee: Gigajot Technology, Inc.Inventor: Dexue Zhang
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Patent number: 12149841Abstract: Integrated-circuit imagers selectively multi-sample pixel array outputs according to luminance level indicated by an initial sample, avoiding the additional power/time required for multi-sampling in high-luminance, shot-noise-dominated conditions and, conversely, multi-sampling in readout-noise-dominated low-luminance conditions.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2022Date of Patent: November 19, 2024Assignee: Gigajot Technology, Inc.Inventor: Jiaju Ma
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Patent number: 12149847Abstract: Correlated double sampling column-level readout of an image sensor pixel (e.g., a CMOS image sensor) may be provided by a charge transfer amplifier that is configured and operated to itself provide for both correlated-double-sampling and amplification of floating diffusion potentials read out from the pixel onto a column bus after reset of the floating diffusion (i) but before transferring photocharge to the floating diffusion (the reset potential) and (ii) after transferring photocharge to the floating diffusion (the transfer potential). A common capacitor of the charge transfer amplifier may sample both the reset potential and the transfer potential such that a change in potential (and corresponding charge change) on the capacitor represents the difference between the transfer potential and reset potential, and the magnitude of this change is amplified by the charge change being transferred between the common capacitor and a second capacitor selectively coupled to the common capacitor.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2022Date of Patent: November 19, 2024Assignee: Gigajot Technology, Inc.Inventors: Jiaju Ma, Saleh Masoodian
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Patent number: 12075180Abstract: An amplifier transistor within an image-sensor pixel is implemented upside down relative to conventional orientation such that a substrate-resident floating diffusion node of the pixel forms the gate of the amplifier transistor—achieving increased pixel conversion gain by eliminating the conventional metal-layer interconnection between the floating diffusion node and amplifier-transistor gate and concomitant parasitic capacitance.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2022Date of Patent: August 27, 2024Assignee: Gigajot Technology, Inc.Inventors: Jiaju Ma, Donald Hondongwa
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Publication number: 20240275351Abstract: Charge leakage/injection suppression circuitry within a capacitive programmable gain amplifier provides a low-impedance expulsion path for residual carriers within a feedback-path amplifier-mode switch and equalizes a voltage across a critical-leakage-path component of that amplifier-mode switch, reducing charge injection and leakage into an otherwise isolated amplifier input node to yield a low-noise amplifier output.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2024Publication date: August 15, 2024Applicant: Gigajot Technology, Inc.Inventor: Dexue Zhang
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Publication number: 20240267653Abstract: First and second readout circuits, each having a respective floating diffusion node, are coupled to a photodetection element within a pixel of an integrated-circuit image sensor. Following an exposure interval in which photocharge is accumulated within the photodetection element, a first portion of the accumulated photocharge is transferred from the photodetection element to the first floating diffusion node to enable generation of a first output signal within the first readout circuit, and a second portion of the accumulated photocharge is transferred from the photodetection element to the second floating diffusion node to enable generation of a second output signal within the second readout circuit. A digital pixel value is generated based on the first and second output signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2024Publication date: August 8, 2024Applicant: Gigajot Technology, Inc.Inventors: Jiaju Ma, Saleh Masoodian
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Patent number: 12015862Abstract: According to some embodiments, an image sensor pixel includes a floating diffusion, a transistor gate configured to transfer charge with respect to the floating diffusion, and a doped pinning region disposed between the floating diffusion and the transistor gate, to reduce or eliminate the effective capacitive coupling between the floating diffusion and the transistor gate. The transistor gate may be an in-pixel transfer gate configured to selectively transfer photocharge from an in-pixel charge accumulation region to the floating diffusion. Alternatively, or additionally, the transistor gate may be an in-pixel reset gate configured to selectively reset the electrostatic potential of the floating diffusion.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2019Date of Patent: June 18, 2024Assignee: Gigajot Technology, Inc.Inventors: Jiaju Ma, Saleh Masoodian
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Patent number: 11991467Abstract: First and second readout circuits, each having a respective floating diffusion node, are coupled to a photodetection element within a pixel of an integrated-circuit image sensor. Following an exposure interval in which photocharge is accumulated within the photodetection element, a first portion of the accumulated photocharge is transferred from the photodetection element to the first floating diffusion node to enable generation of a first output signal within the first readout circuit, and a second portion of the accumulated photocharge is transferred from the photodetection element to the second floating diffusion node to enable generation of a second output signal within the second readout circuit. A digital pixel value is generated based on the first and second output signals.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2023Date of Patent: May 21, 2024Assignee: Gigajot Technology, Inc.Inventors: Jiaju Ma, Saleh Masoodian
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Patent number: 11979126Abstract: Charge leakage/injection suppression circuitry within a capacitive programmable gain amplifier provides a low-impedance expulsion path for residual carriers within a feedback-path amplifier-mode switch and equalizes a voltage across a critical-leakage-path component of that amplifier-mode switch, reducing charge injection and leakage into an otherwise isolated amplifier input node to yield a low-noise amplifier output.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2021Date of Patent: May 7, 2024Assignee: Gigajot Technology, Inc.Inventor: Dexue Zhang
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Publication number: 20240128301Abstract: A sensing device includes a light source to emit light, a light sensor to detect reflection of the emitted light and distance determination circuitry responsive to reflected-light detection within the light sensor. The light sensor includes a photodetector having a photocharge storage capacity in excess of one electron and an output circuit that generates an output signal responsive to light detection within the photodetector with sub-hundred nanosecond latency. The distance determination circuitry measures an elapsed time based on transition of the output signal in response to photonic detection within the photodetector and determines, based on the elapsed time, a distance between the sensing device and a surface that yielded the reflection of the emitted light.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2023Publication date: April 18, 2024Applicant: Gigajot Technology, Inc.Inventors: Saleh Masoodian, Jiaju Ma
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Publication number: 20240120934Abstract: Clock and other cyclical signals are driven onto respective capacitively-loaded segments of a distribution path via inverting buffer stages that self-correct for stage-to-stage duty cycle error, yielding a balanced signal duty cycle over the length of the distribution path.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2023Publication date: April 11, 2024Applicant: Gigajot Technology, Inc.Inventor: Dexue Zhang
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Patent number: 11888013Abstract: A sensing device includes a light source to emit light, a light sensor to detect reflection of the emitted light and distance determination circuitry responsive to reflected-light detection within the light sensor. The light sensor includes a photodetector having a photocharge storage capacity in excess of one electron and an output circuit that generates an output signal responsive to light detection within the photodetector with sub-hundred nanosecond latency. The distance determination circuitry measures an elapsed time based on transition of the output signal in response to photonic detection within the photodetector and determines, based on the elapsed time, a distance between the sensing device and a surface that yielded the reflection of the emitted light.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2022Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: Gigajot Technology, Inc.Inventors: Saleh Masoodian, Jiaju Ma