High speed sampling of signals in active pixel sensors using...

Details High speed sampling of signals in active pixel sensors using... High speed sampling of signals in active pixel sensors using...

2006-06-23

2010-10-26

Chan, Jason (Department: 2622)

Television

Camera, system and detail

Solid-state image sensor

C348S208100, C348S291000, C348S292000

Reexamination Certificate

active

07821557

ABSTRACT:
Techniques are disclosed for enhancing the speed at which pixel levels are read out and sampled for processing. A method of processing pixel levels includes clamping a pixel readout line to a voltage level less than a voltage corresponding to a signal sensed by an n-MOS pixel. Subsequently, the pixel readout line is coupled to an output of an n-MOS source-follower and the pixel signal is read out onto the pixel readout line through the n-MOS source-follower. The pixel signal that was read out is passed through a p-MOS source-follower to a processing circuit. Before passing the pixel signal through the p-MOS source-follower to the processing circuit, a capacitive storage node in the processing circuit is clamped to a voltage greater than a signal at an input to the p-MOS source-follower. Subsequently, an output of the p-MOS source-follower is coupled to the processing circuit, and a signal corresponding to the pixel signal is stored by the processing circuit. Similar techniques are provided for reading out and sampling p-MOS pixels.

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