Patents by Inventor Chiajen Lee
Chiajen Lee has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20240064432Abstract: Disclosed herein are electronic devices and image sensors containing pixel arrays, layouts of electrical signal lines for such pixel arrays, and methods of pixel read out operations, including row read operations, for such pixel arrays. Layouts are disclosed that have reduced sets of shielding or ground lines. In some layouts, shielding ground lines are used only between pairs of adjacent pixel output signal lines (OSLs). Also disclosed is a method of using one OSL within a pair of adjacent pixel OSLs to provide settling assist of the pixel output signal on the other OSL of the adjacent pair of OSLs.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2022Publication date: February 22, 2024Inventors: Hai Yan, Chiajen Lee
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Patent number: 11121165Abstract: One or more cross-wafer capacitors are formed in an electronic component, circuit, or device that includes stacked wafers. One example of such a device is a stacked image sensor. The image sensor can include two or more wafers, with two wafers that are bonded to each other each including a conductive segment adjacent to, proximate, or abutting a bonding surface of the respective wafer. The conductive segments are positioned relative to each other such that each conductive element forms a plate of a capacitor. A cross-wafer capacitor is formed when the two wafers are attached to each other.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2018Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Chiajen Lee, Xiaofeng Fan
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Patent number: 10609348Abstract: Pixel binning is performed by summing charge from some pixels positioned diagonally in a pixel array. Pixel signals output from pixels positioned diagonally in the pixel array may be combined on the output lines. A signal representing summed charge produces a binned 2×1 cluster. A signal representing combined voltage signals produces a binned 2×1 cluster. A signal representing summed charge and a signal representing combined pixel signals can be combined digitally to produce a binned 2×2 pixel. Orthogonal binning may be performed on other pixels in the pixel array by summing charge on respective common sense regions and then combining the voltage signals that represent the summed charge on respective output lines.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2017Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Gennadiy A. Agranov, Claus Molgaard, Ashirwad Bahukhandi, Chiajen Lee, Xiangli Li
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Publication number: 20180342544Abstract: One or more cross-wafer capacitors are formed in an electronic component, circuit, or device that includes stacked wafers. One example of such a device is a stacked image sensor. The image sensor can include two or more wafers, with two wafers that are bonded to each other each including a conductive segment adjacent to, proximate, or abutting a bonding surface of the respective wafer. The conductive segments are positioned relative to each other such that each conductive element forms a plate of a capacitor. A cross-wafer capacitor is formed when the two wafers are attached to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2018Publication date: November 29, 2018Inventors: Chiajen Lee, Xiaofeng Fan
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Patent number: 10026771Abstract: One or more cross-wafer capacitors are formed in an electronic component, circuit, or device that includes stacked wafers. One example of such a device is a stacked image sensor. The image sensor can include two or more wafers, with two wafers that are bonded to each other each including a conductive segment adjacent to, proximate, or abutting a bonding surface of the respective wafer. The conductive segments are positioned relative to each other such that each conductive element forms a plate of a capacitor. A cross-wafer capacitor is formed when the two wafers are attached to each other.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2015Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Chiajen Lee, Xiaofeng Fan
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Publication number: 20180109742Abstract: Pixel binning is performed by summing charge from some pixels positioned diagonally in a pixel array. Pixel signals output from pixels positioned diagonally in the pixel array may be combined on the output lines. A signal representing summed charge produces a binned 2×1 cluster. A signal representing combined voltage signals produces a binned 2×1 cluster. A signal representing summed charge and a signal representing combined pixel signals can be combined digitally to produce a binned 2×2 pixel. Orthogonal binning may be performed on other pixels in the pixel array by summing charge on respective common sense regions and then combining the voltage signals that represent the summed charge on respective output lines.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2017Publication date: April 19, 2018Inventors: Gennadiy A. Agranov, Claus Molgaard, Ashirwad Bahukhandi, Chiajen Lee, Xiangli Li
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Patent number: 9686485Abstract: Pixel binning is performed by summing charge from some pixels positioned diagonally in a pixel array. Pixel signals output from pixels positioned diagonally in the pixel array may be combined on the output lines. A signal representing summed charge produces a binned 2×1 cluster. A signal representing combined voltage signals produces a binned 2×1 cluster. A signal representing summed charge and a signal representing combined pixel signals can be combined digitally to produce a binned 2×2 pixel. Orthogonal binning may be performed on other pixels in the pixel array by summing charge on respective common sense regions and then then combining the voltage signals that represent the summed charge on respective output lines.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2014Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Gennadiy A. Agranov, Claus Molgaard, Ashirwad Bahukhandi, Chiajen Lee, Xiangli Li
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Patent number: 9664747Abstract: Electronic devices may be provided with magnetic sensors for detecting the Earth's magnetic field. The magnetic sensors may include thin magnetic sensors located in magnetically quiet regions of the device. The magnetic sensors may be attached to a device housing or a component such as a battery or a cover structure for a battery. The device may include unidirectional magnetic sensors aligned in three orthogonal directions or sensors with two or three magnetic sensor elements aligned in orthogonal directions. Magnetic field data from the three orthogonally aligned sensors or sensor elements may be combined to form directional compass data for the device. Each magnetic sensor may include one or more magnetic sensor elements for detecting the magnetic field and one or more shielded reference sensor elements for detecting environmental changes that can affect the magnetic sensor element. Reference sensor elements may be shared elements for multiple magnetic sensors elements.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2013Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Henry H. Yang, Chiajen Lee, Shawn Xavier Arnold
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Patent number: 9654689Abstract: A sequence of digital images are produced using an imaging sensor circuit, wherein each of the digital images was a result of light capture by the imaging sensor circuit during a respective pixel integration phase followed by analog to digital conversion during a respective readout phase. A camera actuator is driven while producing the sequence of images, wherein during a part of every respective readout phase for the sequence of digital images the actuator is driven using a linear drive circuit, and wherein during a part of every respective pixel integration phase the actuator is driven using a switch mode drive circuit. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2014Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey N. Gleason, Chiajen Lee, Ryan J. Dunn
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Patent number: 9596420Abstract: An image sensor includes pixels that accumulate charge during a first integration period and pixels that accumulate charge during shorter second integration periods when an image is captured. The pixels having the shorter second integration period accumulate charge at two or more different times during the first integration period. Charge is read out of the pixels associated with the first integration period at the end of the first integration period, while charge is read out of the pixels having the second integration period at the end of each second integration period.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2013Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Xiaofeng Fan, Chiajen Lee, Michael R. Malone, Anup K. Sharma
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Patent number: 9538106Abstract: An image sensor and a method of operating an image sensor to achieve a substantially uniform power signature. An array of pixels may be scanned using analog sensing circuitry to obtain an analog sensor output. The scanning is performed over a first time interval. The analog sensor output is converted to a digital data output using digital logic circuitry. The converting occurs over a second time interval that is subsequent to the first time interval and may be substantially the same duration as the first time interval. While the array of pixels are being scanned, the digital logic circuitry is operated over the first time interval and substantially coincides with the scanning of the array of pixels.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2014Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Andrew Kenneth John McMahon, Chiajen Lee, Michael R. Malone
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Patent number: 9473706Abstract: An image sensor includes an imaging area and one or more flicker detection regions. The imaging area includes pixels that capture one or more images. Each flicker detection region includes pixels that are sampled multiple times while an image is being captured. The samples can be analyzed to detect flicker in the scene being imaged.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2014Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Michael R. Malone, Chiajen Lee, Christopher G. Zeleznik
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Patent number: 9450596Abstract: Successive approximation register (SAR) and ramp analog to digital conversion (ADC) methods, systems, and apparatus are disclosed. An analog voltage signal may be converted into a multiple bit digital value by generating bits of the multiple bit digital value by performing a SAR conversion on the analog voltage signal, where the bits corresponding to a SAR voltage level, and generating other bits of the multiple bit digital value by performing one or more ramp conversions on the analog voltage signal, the ramp conversion comparing the analog voltage signal to a ramp of voltage levels based on the SAR voltage level. The SAR and ramp ADC can provide multi-sampling using one SAR conversion and multiple ramp conversions. The SAR can set the voltage level of a first ramp of a multiple ramp conversion, which can then be used to preset the voltage level prior to subsequent ramps.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2011Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLCInventors: Dongsoo Kim, Taehee Cho, Isao Takayanagi, Ashirwad Bahukhandi, Chiajen Lee
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Patent number: 9293500Abstract: A method of operating an image sensor. Charge accumulated in a photodiode during a first sub-exposure may be selectively stored in a storage node responsive to a first control signal. Charge accumulated in the photodiode during a first reset period may be selectively discarded responsive to a second control signal. Charge accumulated in the photodiode during a second sub-exposure may be selectively stored responsive to the first control signal. Charge stored in the storage node from the first and second sub-exposures may be transferred to a floating diffusion node responsive to a third control signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2013Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Anup K. Sharma, Xiaofeng Fan, Xiangli Li, Chung Chun Wan, Chiajen Lee, Terry L. Gilton
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Publication number: 20160057347Abstract: A sequence of digital images are produced using an imaging sensor circuit, wherein each of the digital images was a result of light capture by the imaging sensor circuit during a respective pixel integration phase followed by analog to digital conversion during a respective readout phase. A camera actuator is driven while producing the sequence of images, wherein during a part of every respective readout phase for the sequence of digital images the actuator is driven using a linear drive circuit, and wherein during a part of every respective pixel integration phase the actuator is driven using a switch mode drive circuit. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2014Publication date: February 25, 2016Inventors: Jeffrey N. Gleason, Chiajen Lee, Ryan J. Dunn
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Publication number: 20150350575Abstract: Pixel binning is performed by summing charge from some pixels positioned diagonally in a pixel array. Pixel signals output from pixels positioned diagonally in the pixel array may be combined on the output lines. A signal representing summed charge produces a binned 2×1 cluster. A signal representing combined voltage signals produces a binned 2×1 cluster. A signal representing summed charge and a signal representing combined pixel signals can be combined digitally to produce a binned 2×2 pixel. Orthogonal binning may be performed on other pixels in the pixel array by summing charge on respective common sense regions and then then combining the voltage signals that represent the summed charge on respective output lines.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2014Publication date: December 3, 2015Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Gennadiy A. Agranov, Claus Molgaard, Ashirwad Bahukhandi, Chiajen Lee, Xiangli Li
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Publication number: 20150312479Abstract: An image sensor and a method of operating an image sensor to achieve a substantially uniform power signature. An array of pixels may be scanned using analog sensing circuitry to obtain an analog sensor output. The scanning is performed over a first time interval. The analog sensor output is converted to a digital data output using digital logic circuitry. The converting occurs over a second time interval that is subsequent to the first time interval and may be substantially the same duration as the first time interval. While the array of pixels are being scanned, the digital logic circuitry is operated over the first time interval and substantially coincides with the scanning of the array of pixels.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2014Publication date: October 29, 2015Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Andrew Kenneth John McMahon, Chiajen Lee, Michael R. Malone
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Publication number: 20150163392Abstract: An image sensor includes an imaging area and one or more flicker detection regions. The imaging area includes pixels that capture one or more images. Each flicker detection region includes pixels that are sampled multiple times while an image is being captured. The samples can be analyzed to detect flicker in the scene being imaged.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2014Publication date: June 11, 2015Inventors: Michael R. Malone, Chiajen Lee, Christopher G. Zeleznik
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Publication number: 20150163422Abstract: An image sensor includes pixels that accumulate charge during a first integration period and pixels that accumulate charge during shorter second integration periods when an image is captured. The pixels having the shorter second integration period accumulate charge at two or more different times during the first integration period. Charge is read out of the pixels associated with the first integration period at the end of the first integration period, while charge is read out of the pixels having the second integration period at the end of each second integration period.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2013Publication date: June 11, 2015Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Xiaofeng Fan, Chiajen Lee, Michael R. Malone, Anup K. Sharma
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Patent number: 8872093Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with an image sensor for capturing digital images. The image sensor may be used as part of image-sensor-based ambient light sensing circuitry for producing ambient light sensor readings. The image-sensor-based ambient light sensing circuitry may include a reference array. The reference array may be formed from an array of light sensor elements that are matched to elements in the image sensor but that are covered with a light blocking material. Control circuitry can measure current flow into the reference array and the image sensor array and can use current measurements from these arrays in producing a calibrated ambient light sensor reading. The control circuitry may make current measurements by measuring a decay time associated with the voltage of a discharging capacitor. A comparator, pulse generator, and switch may be used in periodically recharging the capacitor. The capacitor may be adjusted to ensure accurate readings.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2012Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Chiajen Lee, Anup Sharma, Xiaofeng Fan