Highly sensitive solid-state image sensor

Details Highly sensitive solid-state image sensor Highly sensitive solid-state image sensor

2005-09-26

2009-06-23

Porta, David P (Department: 2884)

Radiant energy

Photocells; circuits and apparatus

Photocell controlled circuit

C250S395000

Reexamination Certificate

active

07550705

ABSTRACT:
A solid-state image sensor (1) with very high sensitivity approaching the single-photon limit is realized with three modular building blocks: (a) a pixel (2.11, 2.12,. . . ) with a photo-site, intermediate photo-charge storage capability as used for correlated double sampling, and an electronic circuit for signal buffering or amplification, (b) a column or row signal line (3.1) to which a plurality of such pixels (2.11, 2.21,. . . ) is connected using transistor switches, incorporating a low-pass filter (30.1), and (c) a readout circuit (4) to which the row signal lines (3.1, 3.2,. . . ) are connected, consisting of a plurality of analog amplifiers (41.1, 41.2,. . . ) with an analog multiplexer (42). Photo-generated signals are read out and the reset level is subtracted either in the analog or in the digital domain, to implement a correlated-double-sampling method.

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