Image sensor including photodiode array
AssigneeSTMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
InventorNeale DUTTON
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Abstract
A sensor has plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and columns with row control circuitry for controlling which one of said rows is activated and column control circuitry for controlling which of said pixels in said activated row is to be activated. The column circuitry has memory configured to store information indication as to which of the pixels are defective, wherein each of the pixels has a photodiode and a plurality of transistors which control the activation of the photodiode. A first transistor is configured to be controlled by a column enable signal while a second transistor is configured to be controlled by a row select signal.
Claims20
A sensor, comprising:
- a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, each pixel including:
- a photodiode;
- a first transistor coupled to the photodiode and configured to receive a column enable signal;
- and
- a second transistor coupled to the photodiode and configured to receive a column disable signal.
The sensor of claim 4, wherein each pixel includes a buffer having:
- an input coupled to the photodiode;
- and
- an output.
A sensor, comprising:
- a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, each pixel including:
- a photodiode;
- a first transistor coupled to the photodiode and configured to receive a column disable signal;
- and
- a second transistor coupled to the photodiode in parallel with the first transistor and configured to receive a row disable signal;
- and
- a plurality of pixel output circuits each coupled to two or more of the pixels.
A method, comprising:
- enabling a pixel of a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns by providing a column enable signal to a first transistor of the pixel;
- sensing light with a photodiode of the pixel, wherein the photodiode is coupled to the first transistor;
- and
- disabling the pixel by:
- providing a column disable signal to a second transistor of the pixel coupled to the photodiode;
- and
- providing a row disable signal to a third transistor of the pixel coupled in parallel with the second transistor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.