Radiant energy – Photocells; circuits and apparatus – Photocell controlled circuit
Patent
1998-06-17
2000-08-01
Allen, Stephone B.
Radiant energy
Photocells; circuits and apparatus
Photocell controlled circuit
348300, H04N 314
Patent
active
060970227
ABSTRACT:
In a first embodiment an active pixel sensor includes a photodiode for capturing photocharge, a reset transistor for resetting the photodiode to a reset potential, and a readout transistor, and in a second embodiment an active pixel sensor includes a photodiode for capturing photocharge, a reset transistor for resetting the photodiode to a reset potential, a transfer transistor for transferring captured photocharge, and a readout transistor. In both embodiments, the readout transistor has a drain that is coupled to a first supply voltage during integration of photocharge and a second supply voltage during readout of the photocharge. Accordingly, the sensitivity of an active pixel sensor is increased by increasing the fill factor, the noise an active pixel sensor is reduced by increasing the relative size of the readout transistor, and the gain is compressive as the relative light intensity in an active pixel sensor increases.
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Lyon Richard F.
Merrill Richard B.
Allen Stephone B.
Foveon, Inc.
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