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US 8,026,969 B2Granted
Pixel for boosting pixel reset voltage
AssigneeAptina Imaging Corporation
InventorsRichard A. Mauritzson, Joey Shah
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pixel cell in which a capacitance is coupled between a storage node and a row select transistor. The pixel cell utilizes a readout timing sequence between operation of a reset transistor and a row select transistor to boost a reset voltage.
Claims12
A pixel, said pixel comprising:
- a photosensor for generating charge during an integration period;
- a storage node for receiving said generated charge from said photosensor;
- an output transistor coupled to said storage node for converting a charge signal at said storage node to an output voltage;
- a reset transistor for applying a reset voltage to said storage node;
- a row select transistor coupled to said output transistor for selectively enabling said pixel circuit to output said output voltage;
- and
- a capacitive connection between said row select transistor and said storage node for boosting a reset voltage applied to said storage node by said reset transistor when said row select transistor is activated, wherein said capacitive coupling comprises a capacitor directly connected to said storage node and a source of said row select transistor.
4 more elements
An imager, comprising:
- a pixel array comprising a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns, at least one of said pixels comprising:
- a photosensor for generating charge during an integration period;
- a storage node for receiving said generated charge from said photosensor;
- a reset transistor for applying a reset voltage to said storage node;
- a readout circuit for reading out a reset voltage of said storage node, said readout circuit including a row select transistor for selectively enabling said pixel circuit to output an output voltage;
- and
- a capacitor directly connected between a source of said row select transistor and said storage node.
4 more elements
A method of reading out signals from a pixel, said method comprising:
- resetting a storage node adapted to receive photogenerated charge to a predetermined voltage state;
- with the storage node at said predetermined state, adding an additional voltage to said storage node to produce a boosted reset voltage;
- and
- reading out said boosted reset voltage as said storage node as a reset level output signal, wherein the additional voltage is added by a direct capacitive coupling between a row select transistor and said storage node and wherein the direct capacitive coupling comprises a capacitor connected between said storage node and a source of said row select transistor.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.