Image sensor for reducing horizontal noise and method of driving the same

Abstract

Provided are an image sensor and a method of driving the same. The image sensor includes n optical black pixels which are arranged in the same horizontal line; and m comparators which are matched with the n optical black pixels, wherein n is a natural number greater than or equal to two, and m is a natural number greater than n.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An image sensor comprising:
 n optical black pixels which are arranged in the same horizontal line; and   m comparators which are matched with the n optical black pixels,   wherein n is a natural number greater than or equal to 2, and m is a natural number greater than n.   
     
     
         2 . An image sensor comprising:
 an optical black region, a dummy region, and an active pixel array which are sequentially arranged in a first direction; and   a first sampling region, a second sampling region, and a third sampling region which are sequentially arranged in the first direction,   wherein the optical black region and the first sampling region are disposed adjacent to each other in a second direction, the dummy region and the second sampling region are disposed adjacent to each other in the second direction, the active pixel array and the third sampling region are disposed adjacent to each other in the second direction, and a plurality of optical black signals output from the optical black region are provided to the first sampling region and the second sampling region.   
     
     
         3 . The image sensor of  claim 2 , wherein the dummy region comprises a first margin region, a drain region, a second margin region, and an edge region, which are arranged in the first direction. 
     
     
         4 . The image sensor of  claim 3 , wherein the edge region is wider than the first margin region, the drain region, and the second margin region. 
     
     
         5 . The image sensor of  claim 4 , wherein the optical black signals from the optical black region are provided in the second sampling region which is adjacent to the edge region. 
     
     
         6 . The image sensor of  claim 3 , wherein the first margin region surrounds the optical black region, and the second margin region surrounds the active pixel array. 
     
     
         7 . The image sensor of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a fourth sampling region which is disposed adjacent to a row scanning circuit in the second direction, and is disposed adjacent to the first sampling region.   
     
     
         8 . A method of driving an image sensor, the method comprising:
 arranging a plurality of optical black pixels in the same horizontal line;   arranging at least one of a plurality of comparators in the same vertical lines as the optical black pixels;   outputting a plurality of respective optical black signals from the optical black pixels;   merging the optical black signals into one integrated signal; and   generating a plurality of comparison results by comparing the one integrated signal with a reference signal using the plurality of comparators.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the reference signal comprises a lamp. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein noise of the comparators is removed using the plurality of comparison results. 
     
     
         11 . The image sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the m comparators are configured to process a plurality of outputs from the n optical black pixels. 
     
     
         12 . The image sensor of  claim 1 , wherein n optical black signals output from the n optical black pixels are processed by m analog-to-digital converters. 
     
     
         13 . The image sensor of  claim 12 , wherein noise is reduced between the m analog-to-digital converters in response to the n optical black pixels being processed by the m analog-to-digital converters . 
     
     
         14 . The image sensor of  claim 1 , wherein n optical black signals output from the n optical black pixels are provided to a second sampling region to process the n optical black signals. 
     
     
         15 . The image sensor of  claim 14 , wherein noise is reduced between m analog-to-digital converters in response to the n optical black signals output being provided to the second sampling region.