Image sensor and associated readout system
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorPaul A. Hosier
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An imaging apparatus, such as useable in a digital camera or input scanner, comprises a first photodiode and a first integrating amplifier associated therewith. A first reset capacitor, selectably associated with the first photodiode, flushes charge on the first photodiode through the first integrating amplifier. A first CDS capacitor is downstream of the first integrating amplifier. A hold capacitor forms a hold node downstream of the first CDS capacitor. A pixel amplifier reads out a signal from the hold node at a predetermined time. The pixel amplifier is selectably controllable between a standby mode and a power mode.
Claims18
An imaging apparatus, comprising:
- a first photodiode;
- a first integrating amplifier associated with the first photodiode;
- a first reset capacitor, selectably associated with the first photodiode to flush charge on the first photodiode through the first integrating amplifier;
- a first CDS capacitor downstream of the first integrating amplifier;
- a hold capacitor forming a hold node downstream of the first CDS capacitor;
- and
- a pixel amplifier for reading out a signal from the hold node at a predetermined time, the pixel amplifier being selectably controllable between a standby mode and a power mode,
- wherein a relative current output of the pixel amplifier between the standby mode and the power mode being about 1:100.
An imaging apparatus, comprising:
- a first photodiode;
- a first integrating amplifier associated with the first photodiode;
- a first reset capacitor, selectably associated with the first photodiode to flush charge on the first photodiode through the first integrating amplifier;
- a first CDS capacitor downstream of the first integrating amplifier;
- a hold capacitor forming a hold node downstream of the first CDS capacitor;
- and
- a pixel amplifier for reading out a signal from the hold node at a predetermined time, the pixel amplifier being selectably controllable between a standby mode and a power mode,
- wherein a ratio of an input capacitance of the pixel amplifier to a capacitance of the hold capacitor being about 1:10.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.