Large-area imager with direct digital pixel output

Details Large-area imager with direct digital pixel output Large-area imager with direct digital pixel output

2006-11-21

2006-11-21

Vu, Ngoc-Yen (Department: 2622)

Television

Camera, system and detail

Solid-state image sensor

C348S308000

Reexamination Certificate

active

07139024

ABSTRACT:
An imager circuit includes an array of pixels, each pixel including a sensor (photodiode) connected to an input terminal of a comparator. The comparators of each pixel row have output terminals connected to a latch. A counter generates a sequence of digital values that are transmitted to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and to the latch of each row. The DAC generates a ramp voltage that is transmitted to a second input terminal of each pixel's comparator. The comparators of a selected pixel column are enabled to generate output signals when the ramp voltage equals each pixel's voltage, causing the associated latches to capture the current digital values. The comparators are formed such that each pixel row shares a cascode mirror circuit that detects differential currents in data line pairs connected to each pixel in that row.

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Yang et al.; “A Nyquist-Rate Pixel-Level ADC for CMOS Image Sensors”; IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, vol. 34, No. 3, Mar. 1999; pp. 348-356.

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