Patents Assigned to OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
  • Camera system with PWM-activated, burst-self-refresh, DRAM to reduce standby power consumption
    Patent number: 11182319
    Abstract: A low-power image capture device includes a first image buffer in SRAM coupled to receive images from an image sensor, and a second image buffer receiving images transferred in bursts from the first image buffer, the second image buffer implemented in PASR DRAM, the image buffers together operating as a first-in, first-out, (FIFO) buffer. The device includes an activation detector. The PASR DRAM is powered while receiving bursts of images from the first image buffer, and when the image capture device is in the activated mode; and in ultra-low power PASR mode otherwise. A method includes capturing images into the first image buffer, transferring the images in bursts into a second image buffer in PASR DRAM powered while receiving the images in bursts, the PASR DRAM otherwise in ultra-low power PASR mode; and, upon activating, an image processor receiving images from the second image buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei-Feng Huang, Yuguo Ye, Chin Tong Thia, Biao He
  • Medical micro-cable structure and connection method with mini camera cube chip
    Patent number: 11172806
    Abstract: A novel endoscope includes a camera module, an electrical cable, and an electrical connector. The camera module includes an analog image signal output terminal. The cable includes an analog image signal line having a first end connected to the analog image signal output terminal of the camera module. The electrical connector includes a set of electrical contacts configured to engage a complimentary set of electrical contacts of a host system. The set of electrical contacts includes at least an analog image signal contact connected to a second end of the analog image signal line of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Teng-Sheng Chen, Wei-Feng Lin, Xiang-Dong Xiong
  • Image sensor chip-scale-package
    Patent number: 11164900
    Abstract: An image sensor chip-scale package includes a pixel array, a cover glass covering the pixel array, a dam, and an adhesive layer. The pixel array is embedded in a substrate top-surface of a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate includes a plurality of conductive pads in a peripheral region of the semiconductor substrate surrounding the pixel array. The dam at least partially surrounds the pixel array and is located (i) between the cover glass and the semiconductor substrate, and (ii) on a region of the substrate top-surface between the pixel array and the plurality of conductive pads. The adhesive layer is (i) located between the cover glass and the semiconductor substrate, (ii) at least partially surrounding the dam, and (iii) configured to adhere the cover glass to the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Chun-Sheng Fan
  • Data readout with active reset feedback amplifier for stacked image sensor
    Patent number: 11165983
    Abstract: An image sensor comprises a pixel array of pixel cells. A pixel cell comprises a photodiode, a reset transistor, a transfer transistor, at least one source follower transistor, a sample and hold circuit, an active reset transistor, and a readout transistor. A readout circuitry reads out image data from each columns of pixel cells. A column differential amplifier in the readout circuitry feeds back a column reset drive voltage to each pixel cells arranged in the same column. Signal data of each pixel cells in the same column are read out globally when all the active reset transistors are switched off. Determined by switching configurations of each active reset transistors of pixel cells in the same column, noise data of each pixel cells in the same column are read out either globally or row-by-row. Final image data is achieved by applying the method of correlated double sampling (CDS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Geunsook Park, Chih-Wei Hsiung
  • Image sensor with micro-structured color filter
    Patent number: 11158661
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a two-dimensional photodiode-array formed in a semiconductor substrate, a first waveguide, and a first color filter. The first waveguide is aligned to a first photodiode of the photodiode-array, located above a top substrate surface of the semiconductor substrate. A first core of the first waveguide has a first core width that is less than a pitch of the photodiode-array in a first direction and a second direction corresponding to respective orthogonal dimensions of the photodiode-array. The first color filter is on a top waveguide surface of the first waveguide and has a first non-uniform thickness above the first core. The first waveguide is between the top substrate surface and the first color filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alireza Bonakdar, Zhiqiang Lin
  • Tunnel contact for a pixel cell in an imaging system
    Patent number: 11152404
    Abstract: A pixel cell includes an electrically conductive tunnel contact formed across a surface of a source follower gate, the tunnel contact having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion between the first and second ends. The first end is coupled to a floating diffusion FD, the second end is coupled to the first doped region of a reset transistor RST. The tunnel contact is formed in physical and in electrical contact with the surface of the source follower gate for a length of the intermediate portion substantially equal to a width of the source follower gate. Methods of forming the pixel cell are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Qin Wang, Woon il Choi
  • Low-height projector assembly
    Patent number: 11131858
    Abstract: A low-height projector assembly includes a biconvex lens, a converging lens, an aperture stop, and a beam-steerer between the biconvex lens and the converging lens. The biconvex lens has a principal plane, a focal length, and a first optical axis. The converging lens has a second optical axis laterally offset from the first. The beam-steerer is configured to steer light from the biconvex lens to the converging lens. An aperture-stop plane intersects the second optical axis and the aperture stop. On the second optical axis, at least one of a front surface and a back surface of the converging lens is between the aperture-stop plane and the beam-steerer. The axial chief ray's propagation distance from the principal plane to the aperture stop differs from the focal length by less than half the depth of focus of the biconvex lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tingyu Cheng, Jau-Jan Deng
  • Circuit and method for control of counter start time
    Patent number: 11128307
    Abstract: An analog to digital conversion (ADC) circuit includes a ramp circuit coupled to output a ramp signal, and the ramp signal is offset from a starting voltage by an offset voltage. The ramp signal ramps towards the starting voltage. A counter circuit is coupled to the ramp circuit to start counting after the ramp signal returns to the starting voltage, and a comparator is coupled to the counter circuit and a bitline to compare the ramp signal to a pixel signal voltage on the bitline. In response to the ramp signal equaling the pixel signal voltage, the comparator stops the counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Rui Wang, Yu-Shen Yang, Shan Chen, Min Qu
  • Metal vertical transfer gate with high-k dielectric passivation lining
    Patent number: 11121169
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an image sensor includes, for each of a plurality of photosensitive pixels of the image sensor, forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate of the image sensor, and depositing temporary transfer gate material in and above the trench. The method further includes, after the step of depositing temporary transfer gate material, high-temperature annealing at least a portion of the semiconductor substrate. In addition, the method includes, after the step of high-temperature annealing, (a) removing the temporary transfer gate material, thereby reopening the trench, (b) depositing a passivation lining, having a high-k dielectric, in the reopened trench, and (c) depositing metal on the high-k dielectric passivation lining to form a metal vertical transfer gate in the trench and extending above the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chiao-Ti Huang, Shiyu Sun, Gang Chen
  • Image sensor with voltage buffer for self-test
    Patent number: 11122259
    Abstract: A test voltage sample and hold circuitry is disclosed in a readout circuitry of an image sensor. This circuitry samples a voltage at demand value based on a ramp voltage shared by the ADC comparators of the readout circuitry. The value of the sampled voltage is controlled by a control circuitry which is able to predict and calculate at what time a ramp generator may carry the demand voltage value. The sampled voltage is held by a hold capacitor during readout of one row and is accessed during the next row by the control circuitry as test data to drive a device under test (DUT) which may be any portion of the image sensor to be tested. Measured data out of the DUT is compared with expected data. Based on the result of the comparison, a signal indicates the pass or fail of the self-test concludes a self-test of the DUT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhiyong Zhan, Tongtong Yu, Xin Wang, Liang Zuo, Kenny Geng
  • Cavityless chip-scale image-sensor package
    Patent number: 11114483
    Abstract: A cavityless chip-scale image-sensor package includes a substrate, a microlens array, and a low-index layer. The substrate includes a plurality of pixels forming a pixel array. The microlens array includes a plurality of microlenses each (i) having a lens refractive index, (ii) being aligned to a respective one of the plurality of pixels and (iii) having a non-planar microlens surfaces facing away from the respective one of the plurality of pixels. The low-index layer has a first refractive index less than the lens refractive index. The low-index layer also includes a bottom surface, at least part of which is conformal to each non-planar microlens surface. The microlens array is between the pixel array and the low-index layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chien-Chan Yeh, Ying-Chih Kuo, Wei-Feng Lin, Chun-Sheng Fan
  • MEDICAL MICRO-CABLE STRUCTURE AND CONNECTION METHOD WITH MINI CAMERA CUBE CHIP
    Publication number: 20210259528
    Abstract: A novel endoscope includes a camera module, an electrical cable, and an electrical connector. The camera module includes an analog image signal output terminal. The cable includes an analog image signal line having a first end connected to the analog image signal output terminal of the camera module. The electrical connector includes a set of electrical contacts configured to engage a complimentary set of electrical contacts of a host system. The set of electrical contacts includes at least an analog image signal contact connected to a second end of the analog image signal line of the cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Applicant: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Teng-Sheng Chen, Wei-Feng Lin, Xiang-Dong Xiong
  • High-dynamic range image sensor and image-capture method
    Patent number: 11102422
    Abstract: A method for capturing a high-dynamic-range image includes: (i) storing a plurality of pixel values representing a first image captured by an image sensor that includes a pixel array, each pixel value having been generated by a respective pixel of a pixel subarray of the pixel array, each pixel being set to one of N1 first exposure values, N1?1; (ii) determining an exposure-count N2 based on the plurality of pixel values; (iii) setting each pixel to one of a second plurality of exposure values, N2 in number, such that, for each of the second plurality of exposure values, at least one pixel is set to that exposure value, one of the second plurality of exposure values differing from each of the N1 first exposure values by more than a threshold value; and after setting (iv), capturing a second image with the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chengming Liu, Tiejun Dai, Richard Mann
  • Image Sensor With Voltage Buffer For Self-Test
    Publication number: 20210258563
    Abstract: A test voltage sample and hold circuitry is disclosed in a readout circuitry of an image sensor. This circuitry samples a voltage at demand value based on a ramp voltage shared by the ADC comparators of the readout circuitry. The value of the sampled voltage is controlled by a control circuitry which is able to predict and calculate at what time a ramp generator may carry the demand voltage value. The sampled voltage is held by a hold capacitor during readout of one row and is accessed during the next row by the control circuitry as test data to drive a device under test (DUT) which may be any portion of the image sensor to be tested. Measured data out of the DUT is compared with expected data. Based on the result of the comparison, a signal indicates the pass or fail of the self-test concludes a self-test of the DUT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicant: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhiyong Zhan, Tongtong Yu, Xin Wang, Liang Zuo, Kenny Geng
  • Image sensor with electronic global shutter and differential sensing using reset-sampling capacitor shared among multiple image storage capacitors
    Patent number: 11095842
    Abstract: An image sensor has an array of pixel blocks, and each pixel block having associated shutter transistors with each coupled to transfer an image signal comprising a charge dependent on light exposure of a selected pixel onto an image storage capacitor of a plurality of image storage capacitors associated with the pixel block, the image storage capacitors of the pixel block configured to be read through a differential amplifier into an analog to digital converter. The differential amplifier of each pixel block receives a second input from a single reset-sampling capacitor associated with the pixel block. The single reset-sampling capacitor is loaded when the pixels of the pixel block are reset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Keiji Mabuchi, Sohei Manabe, Lindsay Grant
  • Multiple camera calibration chart
    Patent number: 11082566
    Abstract: A chart for calibrating a system of multiple cameras, the chart comprising: a background; an array of dots contrasting the background, wherein the array of dots are arranged in rows and columns, wherein the array of dots comprise a first dot array, and a second dot array, wherein the first dot array fully occupies a first region of evenly spaced dots with a first dot density, the second dot array fully occupies a second region of evenly spaced dots with a second dot density, and wherein the second region is enclosed within the first region; a group of first markers in the first region, a group of second markers in the second region, and a third marker at the center of the chart, wherein each second marker is closer to the third marker than each first marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shan Xu, Xinting Gao, Bin Chen, Ye Tao, Guansong Liu, Lu Chang
  • Anti-reflective coating with high refractive index material at air interface
    Patent number: 11075239
    Abstract: An optical element comprising a transparent substrate and an anti-reflective coating, wherein the anti-reflective coating further comprises at least a transparent, high refractive index layer and a transparent, low refractive index layer, wherein the high refractive index layer is in contact with the low refractive index layer; and wherein the high refractive index layer is situated at an interface between the anti-reflective coating and air. Further, the low refractive index layer may be silicon oxide; the high refractive index layer may be tantalum oxide or silicon nitride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chun-Sheng Fan, Chen-Wei Tsai, Wei-Feng Lin
  • LCOS display with light absorbing material between pixels
    Patent number: 11073709
    Abstract: An example liquid crystal display device includes a circuit substrate, an array of conductive mirrors formed on the substrate, a light absorbing material disposed between the conductive mirrors, a transparent plate disposed over the array of conductive mirrors, and liquid crystal material disposed between the conductive mirrors and the transparent plate. The light absorbing material can also be disposed around the peripheral region of the array of the conductive mirrors. In an example display, the light absorbing material is black and/or has a light absorbing efficiency of at least fifty percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Pei-Wen Ko, Chun-Sheng Fan
  • DAM OF IMAGE SENSOR MODULE HAVING SAWTOOTH PATTERN AND INCLINED SURFACE ON ITS INNER WALL AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME
    Publication number: 20210225914
    Abstract: An image sensor module comprises an image sensor having a light sensing area, a cover glass for covering the light sensing area, a dam between the image sensor and the cover glass, which surrounds the light sensing area, and has an outer wall and an inner wall, where a cross-section of the inner wall parallel to the surface of the light sensing area of the image sensor forms a sawtooth pattern and/or, where a cross-section of the inner wall orthogonal to the surface of the light sensing area of the image sensor forms an inclined surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Applicant: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei-Feng Lin, En-Chi Li, Chi-Chih Huang
  • Imaging system and bimodal zoom lens thereof
    Patent number: 11061211
    Abstract: A bimodal zoom lens includes three coaxially aligned lenses including a first lens, a third lens, and a second lens therebetween. The first lens is a negative lens, each of the second lens and the third lens is a positive lens. The three coaxially aligned lenses form (i) a first configuration when the second lens and the first lens are separated by an axial distance L11 and (ii) a second configuration when the second lens and the first lens are separated by an axial distance L12, which exceeds axial distance L11. The second configuration has a second effective focal length that exceeds a first effective focal length of the first configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tingyu Cheng, Jau-Jan Deng