Patents by Inventor Rajashekar BENJARAM

Rajashekar BENJARAM 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).

  • Patent number: 11722802
    Abstract: An image sensor may include an array of image pixels. The array of image pixel may be coupled to column readout circuitry. A given image pixel may generate a low light signal and a high light signal for a given exposure. A column line may couple the given image pixel to readout circuitry having amplifier circuitry. The column line may be coupled to an autozeroing transistor for reading out the high light signal and a source follower stage for readout out the low light signal. The amplifier circuitry may receive different common mode voltage depending on whether it is amplifying the low or high light signal. The gain and other operating parameters of the amplifier circuitry may be adjusted based on whether it is amplifying the low or high signal. If desired, separate amplifier circuitry may be implemented for the low and high light signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Rajashekar Benjaram, Gurvinder Singh
  • Publication number: 20220385847
    Abstract: An image sensor may include an array of image pixels. The array of image pixel may be coupled to column readout circuitry. A given image pixel may generate a low light signal and a high light signal for a given exposure. A column line may couple the given image pixel to readout circuitry having amplifier circuitry. The column line may be coupled to an autozeroing transistor for reading out the high light signal and a source follower stage for readout out the low light signal. The amplifier circuitry may receive different common mode voltage depending on whether it is amplifying the low or high light signal. The gain and other operating parameters of the amplifier circuitry may be adjusted based on whether it is amplifying the low or high signal. If desired, separate amplifier circuitry may be implemented for the low and high light signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Rajashekar BENJARAM, Gurvinder SINGH
  • Patent number: 11445137
    Abstract: An imaging system may include an image sensor. The image sensor may have an array of image pixels arranged in rows and columns. Each column of image pixels may be coupled to column readout circuitry via a corresponding column line. The column readout circuitry may include analog-to-digital conversion circuitry. The analog-to-digital conversion circuitry may include split MSB and LSB capacitor banks. The MSB capacitor bank may include capacitors selectively coupled to a coarse reference voltage or a fine reference voltage. The LSB capacitor bank may include capacitors electively coupled to the coarse reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Rajashekar Benjaram
  • Patent number: 11445140
    Abstract: An image sensor may include an array of image pixels. The array of image pixel may be coupled to column readout circuitry. A given image pixel may generate a low light signal and a high light signal for a given exposure. A column line may couple the given image pixel to readout circuitry having amplifier circuitry. The column line may be coupled to an autozeroing transistor for reading out the high light signal and a source follower stage for readout out the low light signal. The amplifier circuitry may receive different common mode voltage depending on whether it is amplifying the low or high light signal. The gain and other operating parameters of the amplifier circuitry may be adjusted based on whether it is amplifying the low or high signal. If desired, separate amplifier circuitry may be implemented for the low and high light signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Rajashekar Benjaram, Gurvinder Singh
  • Patent number: 11146279
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology may provide methods and apparatus for a successive approximation register analog-to-digital converter (SAR ADC). The SAR ADC may provide a first digital calibration circuit configured to correct systemic mismatch and a second digital calibration circuit configured to correct random mismatch. Together, the first and second digital calibration circuits resolve missing codes in the SAR ADC output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Rajashekar Benjaram, Maheedhar Suryadevara
  • Patent number: 10972695
    Abstract: An image sensor may include an array of image pixels. The image pixel pixels may be arranged in columns and rows. Each column of image pixels may be coupled to column readout circuitry via respective column lines. The column readout circuitry may include amplifier circuitry, a first source follower stage, and a second source follower stage. The first and second source follower stages may be interposed between the amplifier circuitry and a sampling capacitor. A switch may be interposed between the first and second source follower stages. The second source follower transistor may be configured to provide an intermediate sampling voltage to the sampling capacitor. The first source follower transistor may be configured to provide a final sampling voltage to the sampling capacitor. In such a manner, kickback from sampling signals using readout circuitry may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Rajashekar Benjaram
  • Publication number: 20210067720
    Abstract: An image sensor may include an array of image pixels. The array of image pixel may be coupled to column readout circuitry. A given image pixel may generate a low light signal and a high light signal for a given exposure. A column line may couple the given image pixel to readout circuitry having amplifier circuitry. The column line may be coupled to an autozeroing transistor for reading out the high light signal and a source follower stage for readout out the low light signal. The amplifier circuitry may receive different common mode voltage depending on whether it is amplifying the low or high light signal. The gain and other operating parameters of the amplifier circuitry may be adjusted based on whether it is amplifying the low or high signal. If desired, separate amplifier circuitry may be implemented for the low and high light signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Rajashekar BENJARAM, Gurvinder SINGH
  • Publication number: 20210021276
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology may provide methods and apparatus for a successive approximation register analog-to-digital converter (SAR ADC). The SAR ADC may provide a first digital calibration circuit configured to correct systemic mismatch and a second digital calibration circuit configured to correct random mismatch. Together, the first and second digital calibration circuits resolve missing codes in the SAR ADC output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Rajashekar BENJARAM, Maheedhar SURYADEVARA
  • Publication number: 20210021781
    Abstract: An imaging system may include an image sensor. The image sensor may have an array of image pixels arranged in rows and columns. Each column of image pixels may be coupled to column readout circuitry via a corresponding column line. The column readout circuitry may include analog-to-digital conversion circuitry. The analog-to-digital conversion circuitry may include split MSB and LSB capacitor banks. The MSB capacitor bank may include capacitors selectively coupled to a coarse reference voltage or a fine reference voltage. The LSB capacitor bank may include capacitors electively coupled to the coarse reference voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Rajashekar BENJARAM
  • Publication number: 20200389614
    Abstract: An image sensor may include an array of image pixels. The image pixel pixels may be arranged in columns and rows. Each column of image pixels may be coupled to column readout circuitry via respective column lines. The column readout circuitry may include amplifier circuitry, a first source follower stage, and a second source follower stage. The first and second source follower stages may be interposed between the amplifier circuitry and a sampling capacitor. A switch may be interposed between the first and second source follower stages. The second source follower transistor may be configured to provide an intermediate sampling voltage to the sampling capacitor. The first source follower transistor may be configured to provide a final sampling voltage to the sampling capacitor. In such a manner, kickback from sampling signals using readout circuitry may be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Rajashekar BENJARAM
  • Patent number: 10840934
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology may provide methods and apparatus for a successive approximation register analog-to-digital converter (SAR ADC). The SAR ADC may provide a first digital calibration circuit configured to correct systemic mismatch and a second digital calibration circuit configured to correct random mismatch. Together, the first and second digital calibration circuits resolve missing codes in the SAR ADC output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Rajashekar Benjaram, Maheedhar Suryadevara
  • Publication number: 20200321971
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology may provide methods and apparatus for a successive approximation register analog-to-digital converter (SAR ADC). The SAR ADC may provide a first digital calibration circuit configured to correct systemic mismatch and a second digital calibration circuit configured to correct random mismatch. Together, the first and second digital calibration circuits resolve missing codes in the SAR ADC output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Rajashekar BENJARAM, Maheedhar SURYADEVARA