BACKGROUND

Embodiments of the inventive concept relate to an image sensor, and more particular, to an image sensor module and an image device including the same.

An image sensor performs an operation converting light from the outside into an electrical signal. Image sensors are classified into a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor and a charge coupled device (CCD) image sensor. Since the CMOS image sensor is manufactured using general-purpose semiconductor manufacturing equipment, the CMOS image sensor is relatively cheap compared to the CCD image sensor. The quality of image obtained by the CCD image sensor is higher that obtained by the CMOS image sensor.

An image sensor module may include at least one image sensor which includes a plurality of pixels. The plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix of rows and columns. An image frame is generated by combining pieces of data which are generated by each pixel of the image sensor module. Since the image sensor module includes hundreds of thousands or tens of millions of pixels, various sensing manners for receiving data from the pixels efficiently and generating an image frame based on the received data are being developed. Such sensing manners include a global shutter manner in which all pixels are sensed at the same time, a flutter shutter manner in which all pixels are sensed at the same time and an exposure time is adjusted, a rolling shutter manner or a coded rolling manner in which pixels are controlled by the row, and the like.

With the advancement of technologies, the resolution of the image sensor module has been increased. In this case, a sensing time about a high-resolution image sensor increase may cause delay of signal processing and noise. Therefore, there is required a new sensing technique to obtain an image or picture signal with increased quality.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the inventive concept are directed to provide an image sensor module, which is capable of dividing a plurality of sub-pixels in a pixel array by a pixel unit and reading a plurality of sub-frames based on the pixel unit, and an image sensor device including the same, thereby increasing performance thereof.

One aspect of embodiments of the inventive concept is directed to provide an image sensor module including a pixel array including a plurality of sub-pixels arranged along a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns an analog to digital converter connected to the pixel array through a plurality of data lines and converting signals output from the plurality of sub-pixels into digital signals, a row decoder connected to the pixel array through a plurality of selection lines, a plurality of transfer lines, and a plurality of reset lines, and a control logic circuit configured to control the analog to digital converter and the row decoder to allow a plurality of sub-frames to be sequentially outputted from the plurality of sub-pixels. Each of the plurality of sub-frames is generated based on signals output from different sub-pixels among the plurality of sub-pixels.

In example embodiments, a first sub-pixel among the plurality of sub-pixels comprises a first color filter configured to pass light having a predetermined color, a first photodiode configured to generate charges in response to the light passing through the first color filter, a first transfer transistor configured to be placed between one end of the first photodiode and a first node and operate in response to a signal on a first transfer line among the plurality of transfer lines, a first reset transistor configured to be placed between a power supply voltage and the first node and operate in response to a first reset line among the plurality of reset lines, a first selection transistor configured to be placed between the power supply voltage and a second node and operate in response to a voltage on the first node, and a first access transistor configured to be placed between the second node and a first data line among the plurality of data lines and operate in response to a signal on a first selection line among the plurality of selection lines.

In example embodiments, a second sub-pixel, placed at the same row as the first sub-pixel, among the plurality of sub-pixels comprises, a second color filter configured to pass light having a predetermined color, a second photodiode configured to generate charges in response to the light passing through the second color filter, a second transfer transistor configured to be placed between one end of the second photodiode and a third node and operate in response to a signal on a second transfer line among the plurality of transfer lines, a second reset transistor configured to be placed between the power supply voltage and the third node and operate in response to the first reset line, a second selection transistor configured to be placed between the power supply voltage and a fourth node and operate in response to a voltage on the third node, and a second access transistor configured to be placed between the fourth node and a second data line among the plurality of data lines and operate in response to a signal on the first selection line.

One aspect of embodiments of the inventive concept is directed to provide an image sensor device including a first image sensor module generating a first frame in a first read manner, and a second image sensor module generating a plurality of sub-frames corresponding to the first frame in a second read manner while the first frame of the first image sensor module is generated.

In example embodiments, the second image sensor module comprises a pixel array including a plurality of sub-pixels, and wherein the plurality of sub-pixels of the pixel array is arrayed based on a color filter array of a 4PD-Bayer pattern.

In example embodiments, a first sub-frame among the plurality of sub-frames is generated based on signals output from sub-pixels, placed on a first sub-array, from among the plurality of pixels. A second sub-frame among the plurality of sub-frames is generated based on signals output from sub-pixels, placed on a second sub-array different from the first sub-array, from among the plurality of pixels. A third sub-frame among the plurality of sub-frames is generated based on signals output from sub-pixels, placed on a third sub-array different from the first and second sub-arrays, from among the plurality of pixels. A fourth third sub-frame among the plurality of sub-frames is generated based on signals output from sub-pixels, placed on a fourth sub-array different from the first, second, and third sub-arrays, from among the plurality of pixels.

One aspect of embodiments of the inventive concept is directed to provide an image sensor module comprising a pixel array including a plurality of sub-pixels arranged along a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, an analog to digital converter connected to the pixel array through a plurality of data lines and converting signals output from the plurality of sub-pixels into digital signals, a row decoder connected to the pixel array through a plurality of selection lines, a plurality of transfer lines, and a plurality of reset lines, and a control logic circuit configured to control the analog to digital converter and the row decoder to allow a first sub-frame to be outputted from sub-pixels, placed on odd-numbered rows and odd-numbered columns, from among the plurality of sub-pixels, a second sub-frame to be outputted from sub-pixels, placed on the odd-numbered rows and even-numbered columns, from among the plurality of sub-pixels, a third sub-frame to be outputted from sub-pixels, placed on even-numbered rows and the odd-numbered columns, from among the plurality of sub-pixels, and a fourth sub-frame to be outputted from sub-pixels, placed on the even-numbered rows and the even-numbered columns, from among the plurality of sub-pixels.

