Noise floor reduction in image sensors
AssigneeVision Sciences, Inc.
InventorMoshe Stark
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An image sensor array including a first plurality of unit cells coupled to a first sense amplifier, and a second plurality of unit cells coupled to a second sense amplifier, where the first plurality and the second plurality are substantially electrically isolated from each other.
Claims21
An image sensor array comprising:
- a first plurality of unit cells coupled to a first sense amplifier;
- and
- a second plurality of unit cells coupled to a second sense amplifier, wherein said first plurality and said second plurality are substantially electrically isolated from each other.
An image sensor array comprising:
- a plurality of columns, each column comprising a plurality of unit cells coupled to a column line;
- a first sense amplifier coupled to a first plurality of said unit cells in each of said columns;
- and
- a second sense amplifier coupled to a second plurality of said unit cells in each of said columns,
- wherein said first and second pluralities of of said unit cells in each of aid columns are substantially electrically isolated from each other.
A method for reducing noise floor in an image sensor, the method comprising:
- sensing a first plurality of unit cells with a first sense amplifier;
- and
- sensing a second plurality of unit cells with a second sense amplifier.
An image sensor array comprising:
- a first plurality of unit cells coupled to a first sense amplifier;
- and
- a second plurality of unit cells coupled to a second sense amplifier, wherein said first plurality and said second plurality are substantially electrically isolated from each other;
- wherein:
- each of said first and second pluralities of unit cells comprises at least one column line.
An image sensor array comprising:
- a first plurality of unit cells coupled to a first sense amplifier;
- and
- a second plurality of unit cells coupled to a second sense amplifier, wherein said first plurality and said second plurality are substantially electrically isolated from each other;
- wherein:
- said unit cells are arranged in two or more clusters of two or more of said unit cells each, and
- said unit cells within each of said clusters are coupled to a cluster line which is coupled to said column line.
An image sensor array comprising:
- a first plurality of unit cell means coupled to a first sense amplifier;
- and
- a second plurality of unit cell means coupled to a second sense amplifier, wherein said first plurality and said second plurality are substantially electrically isolated from each other.
A method for reducing noise floor in an image sensor, the method comprising:
- sensing a first plurality of unit cells with a first sense amplifier;
- and
- sensing a second plurality of unit cells with a second sense amplifier;
- wherein each of said sensing steps comprises sensing its associated plurality of unit cells in substantial electrical isolation from the other said plurality of unit cells.
A method for reducing noise floor in an image sensor, the method comprising:
- sensing a first plurality of unit cells with a first sense amplifier;
- and
- sensing a second plurality of unit cells with a second sense amplifier;
- wherein said sensing steps include at least sensing different subsets of said unit cells at different times.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.