Switched capacitor input stage for imaging front-ends

Details Switched capacitor input stage for imaging front-ends Switched capacitor input stage for imaging front-ends

2008-11-25

2011-10-11

Le, Que T (Department: 2878)

Radiant energy

Photocells; circuits and apparatus

Photocell controlled circuit

C250S208100

Reexamination Certificate

active

08035073

ABSTRACT:
Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus and control method for an analog front end (AFE) amplifier for controlling DC restore operations. According to the exemplary method, a first input stage of the AFE is controlled to operate as a continuous time amplifier that has high input impedance and draws substantially no input leakage current for a first predetermined area of an imaging sensor image array. The first input stage is controlled to operate as a sample and hold amplifier with DC restore functionality for a second predetermined area of the imaging sensor image array. According to an embodiment, the AFE input stage operates as a continuous time amplifier when reading pixels from the sensor's active image array but operates as a sample and hold amplifier with DC restore when reading pixels from the image array that correspond to so-called ‘black-level’ pixels or pixels that otherwise fall outside the sensor's active image field.

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International Search Report dated Feb. 23, 2010, in counterpart international application No. PCT/US2009/065667.

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