Image sensors
AssigneeSTMicroelectronics Ltd., Country of Incorporation
InventorsRobert Henderson, Matthew Purcell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The image sensor makes use of a distributed amplifier having its non-inverting input provided by a pixel amplifier transistor, and its inverting input and output provided in the pixel's column circuitry. The distributed amplifier is directly integrated with the image sensor's ADC circuit, and sampling and autozero are performed in a single step, thus reducing the number of noise contributions made by the components of the image sensor's readout chain.
Claims24
1-25. (canceled)
An image sensor comprising:
- pixel circuitry;
- readout circuitry;
- and
- a distributed amplifier comprising a first input provided within the pixel circuitry, and a second input and output provided within the readout circuitry;
- a ramp voltage generator;
- an analog to digital converter (ADC);
- the second input being connected to the ramp voltage generator, and the output being connected to the ADC;
- and
- a switch between the output and second input, and being selectively operable by an autozero signal.
An integrated circuit comprising:
- an image sensor including
- pixel circuitry,
- readout circuitry, and
- a distributed amplifier comprising a first input provided within the pixel circuitry, and a second input and output provided within the readout circuitry,
- a ramp voltage generator,
- an analog to digital converter (ADC),
- the second input being connected to the ramp voltage generator, and the output being connected to the ADC, and
- a switch between the output and second input, and being selectively operable by an autozero signal.
An imaging device comprising:
- an image sensor including
- pixel circuitry,
- readout circuitry, and
- a distributed amplifier comprising a first input provided within the pixel circuitry, and a second input and output provided within the readout circuitry,
- a ramp voltage generator,
- an analog to digital converter (ADC),
- the second input being connected to the ramp voltage generator, and the output being connected to the ADC, and
- a switch between the output and second input, and being selectively operable by an autozero signal.
A method of sensing an image with an image sensor comprising pixel circuitry and readout circuitry, the method comprising:
- providing a distributed amplifier comprising a first input within the pixel circuitry, and a second input and output within the readout circuitry;
- connecting the second input to a ramp voltage generator;
- connecting the output to an analog to digital converter (ADC);
- and
- selectively applying an autozero signal to operate a switch provided between the output and second input.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.