Signal readout circuit and method therefor

A method for a signal readout circuit, wherein the signal readout circuit comprises:

• a pixel array, a readout row selector circuit, a reset row selector circuit, and at least one pixel subarray readout feedback circuit, wherein the pixel array comprises at least one pixel subarray, each pixel subarray is electrically connected to a corresponding pixel subarray readout feedback circuit in the at least one pixel subarray readout feedback circuit, and the method comprises the following operations:
• sending, by the readout row selector circuit, a row readout signal to a selected row of pixel units in the pixel array, to gate the selected row of pixel units;
• outputting, by a first pixel unit in the selected row of pixel units, an electrical signal to the corresponding pixel subarray readout feedback circuit, wherein the electrical signal is converted from an optical signal;
• receiving, by the corresponding pixel subarray readout feedback circuit, the electrical signal, and in response to determining based on the electrical signal that a signal generation condition is met, generating an output signal, and generating a reset signal and outputting the reset signal to the first pixel unit;
• and
• sending, by the reset row selector circuit, a row reset signal to the row of pixel units, to cause the first pixel unit to reset in response to the row reset signal and the reset signal;
• wherein the first pixel unit comprises:
• a reset signal receiving circuit, a photosensitive integration circuit, and an electrical signal output circuit;
• wherein the reset signal receiving circuit is configured to receive the row reset signal to gate the first reset switch, and receive the reset signal to gate the second reset switch for performing the reset operation and to turn on the photosensitive integration circuit;
• wherein the photosensitive integration circuit is configured to:
• in an on state, convert the optical signal into the electrical signal and output the electrical signal to the electrical signal output circuit;
• wherein the electrical signal output circuit is configured to:
• in response to the row readout signal, output the electrical signal to the corresponding pixel subarray readout feedback circuit;
• wherein the reset signal receiving circuit comprises a reset signal latch circuit, and the reset signal latch circuit is configured to receive the reset signal from the corresponding pixel subarray readout feedback circuit, latch the reset signal in response to the row reset signal, and reset the photosensitive integration circuit in an effective duration of the row reset signal;
• and
• wherein the electrical signal output circuit is configured to:
• in response to the row readout signal, output the electrical signal to the corresponding pixel subarray readout feedback circuit, to cause the corresponding pixel subarray readout feedback circuit to compare the electrical signal with a threshold, and based on a comparison result:
• (i) generate the reset signal and feed the reset signal back to the reset signal latch circuit, and (ii) generate the output signal for output.

A device, comprising a signal readout circuit, wherein the signal readout circuit comprises:

• a pixel array, a readout row selector circuit, a reset row selector circuit, and at least one pixel subarray readout feedback circuit, wherein
• the pixel array comprises at least one pixel subarray, and each pixel subarray is electrically connected to a corresponding pixel subarray readout feedback circuit in the at least one pixel subarray readout feedback circuit;
• the readout row selector circuit is configured to send a row readout signal to a selected row of pixel units in the pixel array, to gate the selected row of pixel units;
• the reset row selector circuit is configured to send a row reset signal to the selected row of pixel units, to gate first reset switches of the selected row of pixel units, the selected row of pixel units comprise a first pixel unit, and the first pixel unit is configured to convert an optical signal into an electrical signal, and output the electrical signal to the corresponding pixel subarray readout feedback circuit;
• the corresponding pixel subarray readout feedback circuit is configured to receive the electrical signal from the first pixel unit, and in response to determining based on the electrical signal that a signal generation condition is met, generate a reset signal and send the reset signal to the first pixel unit, to gate a second reset switch of the first pixel unit, wherein the reset signal and the row reset signal cause the first pixel unit to perform a reset operation, and generate an output signal;
• the first pixel unit comprises:
• a reset signal receiving circuit, a photosensitive integration circuit, and an electrical signal output circuit;
• the reset signal receiving circuit is configured to receive the row reset signal to gate the first reset switch, and receive the reset signal to gate the second reset switch for performing the reset operation and to turn on the photosensitive integration circuit;
• the photosensitive integration circuit is configured to:
• in an on state, convert the optical signal into the electrical signal and output the electrical signal to the electrical signal output circuit;
• the electrical signal output circuit is configured to:
• in response to the row readout signal, output the electrical signal to the corresponding pixel subarray readout feedback circuit;
• the reset signal receiving circuit comprises a reset signal latch circuit, and the reset signal latch circuit is configured to receive the reset signal from the corresponding pixel subarray readout feedback circuit, latch the reset signal in response to the row reset signal, and reset the photosensitive integration circuit in an effective duration of the row reset signal;
• and
• the electrical signal output circuit is configured to:
• in response to the row readout signal, output the electrical signal to the corresponding pixel subarray readout feedback circuit, to cause the corresponding pixel subarray readout feedback circuit to compare the electrical signal with a threshold, and based on a comparison result:
• (i) generate the reset signal and feed the reset signal back to the reset signal latch circuit, and (ii) generate the output signal for output.