A reconfigurable 256 × 256 image sensor controller that is compatible for depth measurement

This paper presents an image sensor controller that is compatible for depth measurement, which is based on the continuous-wave modulation time-of-flight technology. The image sensor controller is utilized to generate reconfigurable control signals for a 256 × 256 high speed CMOS image sensor with a conventional image sensing mode and a depth measurement mode. The image sensor controller generates control signals for the pixel array to realize the rolling exposure and the correlated double sampling functions. An refined circuit design technique in the logic level is presented to reduce chip area and power consumption. The chip, with a size of 700 × 3380 μm², is fabricated in a standard 0.18 μm CMOS image sensor process. The power consumption estimated by the synthesis tool is 65 mW under a 1.8 V supply voltage and a 100 MHz clock frequency. Our test results show that the image sensor controller functions properly. (semiconductor integrated circuits)