초록 ▼

A totally digital single chip camera includes communications to operate most of its structure in serial communication mode. The digital single chip camera include a D/A converter for converting an input digital word into an analog reference signal. The chip includes all of the necessary circuitry fo

A totally digital single chip camera includes communications to operate most of its structure in serial communication mode. The digital single chip camera include a D/A converter for converting an input digital word into an analog reference signal. The chip includes all of the necessary circuitry for operating the chip using a single pin.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A single-chip camera apparatus, comprising: a substrate, having integrated thereon a sensor array of photosensitive elements; an A to D converter circuit, operating to convert outputs of said sensor array to a digital value; timing and control and support circuitry, including a serial commun

1. A single-chip camera apparatus, comprising: a substrate, having integrated thereon a sensor array of photosensitive elements; an A to D converter circuit, operating to convert outputs of said sensor array to a digital value; timing and control and support circuitry, including a serial communication network, said substrate including an external periphery with a plurality of sides, including connection pins extending from said periphery to circuitry inside said periphery, said chip being capable of operation with only power, ground, serial, clock, and output pins, wherein all of said necessary pins are located on one of said sides of said periphery, wherein said support circuitry includes an analog reference voltage associated therewith, wherein a digital word is input to said input pin indicating said analog reference, and said support circuitry includes a digital-to-analog converter, located on said substrate, for producing said analog reference. 2. A system as in claim 1 wherein said analog reference is a reference for a successive approximation A to D converter. 3. A system as in claim 1 wherein said reference is an exposure time for said camera. 4. A system as in claim 1 wherein said reference is a sample and hold time. 5. A system as in claim 1 wherein said reference is a time for a warm-up timer. 6. A totally digital single-chip camera apparatus, comprising: a substrate, having integrated thereon a sensor array of photosensitive elements; an A to D converter circuit, on said substrate, operating to convert outputs of said sensor array to a digital value as an output; and timing and control and support circuitry, on said substrate, including a serial communication network, receiving digital values as input, wherein at least one circuit on said substrate includes an analog reference voltage associated therewith, wherein a digital word is input indicating said analog reference, and said support circuitry includes a digital-to-analog converter, on said substrate chip, for producing said analog reference based on said digital word.