Image sensor including plurality of auto focusing pixel groups

Abstract

An image sensor according to an example embodiment include a plurality of image pixel groups, a plurality of auto focusing (AF) pixel groups, a first transmission control signal line connected to a first pixel of each of the plurality of image pixel groups, a second transmission control signal line connected to a second pixel of each of the plurality of image pixel groups, a third transmission control signal line connected to a first pixel of each of the plurality of AF pixel groups, and a fourth transmission control signal line connected to a second pixel of each of the plurality of AF pixel groups, wherein the fourth transmission control signal line is electrically separated from the first to the third transmission control signal line, and the each of the plurality of image pixel group and the plurality of AF pixel groups are disposed below a single microlens.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An image sensor comprising:
 a pixel array including a plurality of image pixel groups and a plurality of auto focusing (AF) pixel groups, each of the plurality of image pixel groups and the plurality of AF pixel groups including a plurality of pixels;   a first transmission control signal line connected to a first pixel of each of the plurality of image pixel groups;   a second transmission control signal line connected to a second pixel of each of the plurality of image pixel groups;   a third transmission control signal line connected to a first pixel of each of the plurality of AF pixel groups; and   a fourth transmission control signal line connected to a second pixel of each of the plurality of AF pixel groups,   wherein the fourth transmission control signal line is electrically separated from the first to the third transmission control signal line, and   wherein the each of the plurality of image pixel group and the plurality of AF pixel groups are disposed below a single microlens.   
     
     
         2 . The image sensor of  claim 1 , wherein, in a first mode, signals transmitted through the first to the fourth transmission control signal line are activated, and
 in a second mode, a signal transmitted through the fourth transmission control signal line is deactivated.   
     
     
         3 . The image sensor of  claim 2 , wherein the third transmission control signal line is a same line as at least one of the first transmission control signal line and the second transmission control signal line,
 in the second mode, a signal transmitted through the third transmission control signal line is activated.   
     
     
         4 . The image sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the first transmission control signal line and the second transmission control signal line are electrically separated from each other. 
     
     
         5 . The image sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the first transmission control signal line and the second transmission control signal line are same line. 
     
     
         6 . The image sensor of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fifth transmission control signal line connected to a third pixel of each of the plurality of image pixel groups;   a sixth transmission control signal line connected to a fourth pixel of each of the plurality of image pixel groups;   a seventh transmission control signal line connected to a third pixel of each of the plurality of AF pixel groups; and   an eighth transmission control signal line connected to a fourth pixel of each of the plurality of AF pixel groups,   wherein the eighth transmission control signal line is electrically separated from the fifth to the seventh transmission control signal line.   
     
     
         7 . The image sensor of  claim 6 , wherein, in the first mode, signals transmitted through the fifth to the eight transmission control signal line are activated, and
 in the second mode, a signal transmitted through the eight transmission control signal line is deactivated.   
     
     
         8 . The image sensor of  claim 7 , wherein the seventh transmission control signal line is a same line as at least one of the fifth transmission control signal line and the sixth transmission control signal line,
 in the second mode, a signal transmitted through the seventh transmission control signal line is activated.   
     
     
         9 . The image sensor of  claim 6 , wherein the fifth transmission control signal line and the sixth transmission control signal line are electrically separated from each other. 
     
     
         10 . An image sensor comprising:
 a pixel array including a plurality of pixels on a first row in a first direction and a plurality pixels arranged on a second row in the first direction, the second row being arranged next to the first row in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the plurality of pixels on the first row including a first to an eighth pixels, the plurality of pixels on the second row including a first to an eighth pixels; and   a first transmission control signal line connected to the first pixel, the fifth pixel, and the seventh pixel among the plurality of pixels on the first row,   wherein the first pixel, the fifth pixel, and the seventh pixel among the plurality of pixels on the first row are sequentially arranged in the first direction,   wherein each of the plurality of pixels on the first row is included in a corresponding pixel group among a plurality pixel group, and   each of the plurality of pixel group is disposed below a single microlens.   
     
     
         11 . The image sensor of  claim 10 , further comprising a second transmission control signal line connected to the second pixel, the sixth pixel, and the eighth pixel among the plurality of pixels on the first row, and
 wherein the second pixel, the sixth pixel, and the eighth pixel among the plurality of pixels on the first row are sequentially arranged in the first direction.   
     
     
         12 . The image sensor of  claim 11 , further comprising a third transmission control signal line connected to the third pixel among the plurality pixels on the first row, and
 wherein the third pixel is disposed between the first pixel and the fifth pixel among the plurality of pixels on the first row, and the third transmission control signal line is different from the first transmission control signal line and the second transmission control signal line.   
     
     
         13 . The image sensor of  claim 12 , wherein the third pixel is configured to sense a green color. 
     
     
         14 . The image sensor of  claim 12 , further comprising a fourth transmission control signal line connected to the second pixel, the fourth pixel, and the eighth pixel among the plurality pixels on the second row, and a fifth transmission control signal line connected to the sixth pixel among the plurality pixels on the second row, and
 wherein the second pixel, the fourth pixel, the sixth pixel, and the eighth pixel are sequentially arranged in the first direction.   
     
     
         15 . The image sensor of  claim 14 , wherein the first to eighth pixels of the plurality of pixels on the first row are corresponding to the first to eighth pixels of the plurality of pixels on the second row. 
     
     
         16 . The image sensor of  claim 14 , wherein, in a first mode, signals transmitted through the first to the fifth transmission control signal line are activated, and
 in a second mode, signals transmitted through the third and fifth transmission control signal lines are deactivated.   
     
     
         17 . The image sensor of  claim 16 , wherein the fourth pixel among the plurality pixels on the first row and the fifth pixel among the plurality pixels on the second row are auto focusing pixels. 
     
     
         18 . An image sensor comprising:
 a pixel array including a plurality of first pixels on a first row in a first direction and a plurality of second pixels arranged on a second row in the first direction, the second row being arranged next to the first row in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;   a first transmission control line connected to N numbers of pixels of the plurality of first pixels;   a second transmission control line connected to M numbers of pixels of the plurality of first pixels;   a third transmission control line connected to K numbers of pixels of the plurality first pixels,   wherein each of the plurality of pixels on the first row is included in a corresponding pixel group among a plurality pixel group, and each of the plurality of pixel group is disposed below a single microlens,   wherein the N, the M and the K are integer, and   the K is less than or equal to ⅓ of each of the N and the M.   
     
     
         19 . The image sensor of  claim 18 , the third transmission control line is connected to a plurality auto focusing pixel group among the plurality pixel group. 
     
     
         20 . The image sensor of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of auto focusing pixel groups are configured to sense a green color.