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US 8,796,608 B2Granted
Dual stage active pixel devices and related methods
AssigneeArizona Board of Regents, a body corporate of the State of Arizona, Acting for and on Behlf of Arizona State University
InventorsEdward H. Lee, David R. Allee, George R. Kunnen
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Abstract
Embodiments of dual stage active pixel devices are described herein. Other examples, implementations, and related methods are also disclosed herein.
Claims25
A device comprising:
- a first pixel comprising:
- a photosensor sensitive to a photoimpact;
- an output amplifier stage configured to output a sensor signal of the first pixel;
- and
- an intermediate amplifier stage coupled between the photosensor and the output amplifier stage;
- wherein:
- the intermediate amplifier stage comprises:
- a first intermediate transistor;
- and
- a second intermediate transistor;
- the first intermediate transistor comprises:
- a channel width of the first intermediate transistor;
- a channel length of the first intermediate transistor;
- a first terminal of the first intermediate transistor, coupled to an intermediate voltage node;
- a second terminal of the first intermediate transistor, coupled to an intermediate node;
- and
- a control terminal of the first intermediate transistor, coupled to a read signal node;
- and
- the second intermediate transistor comprises:
- a channel width of the second intermediate transistor;
- a channel length of the second intermediate transistor;
- a first terminal of the second intermediate transistor, coupled to the intermediate node;
- a second terminal of the second intermediate transistor, coupled to a ground;
- and
- a control terminal of the second intermediate transistor, coupled via an input node to the photosensor.
22 more elements
A method comprising:
- providing a first active pixel of an array of one or more active pixels;
- wherein providing the first active pixel comprises:
- providing a photosensor sensitive to a photoimpact;
- providing an intermediate amplifier stage coupled to the photosensor and configured to restrict an input reference noise of the first active pixel;
- and
- providing an output amplifier stage coupled to the intermediate amplifier stage and configured to:
- output a first current magnitude when the photosensor is exposed to the photoimpact;
- and
- output a second current magnitude when the photosensor is unexposed to the photoimpact.
6 more elements
A device comprising:
- a plurality of active pixels coupled to an external amplifier to detect and register a photoimpact;
- wherein:
- the plurality of active pixels comprises a first pixel;
- the first pixel comprises:
- a photosensor configured to detect the photoimpact when the photoimpact is incident on the photosensor;
- an output amplifier stage configured to output a sensor signal indicative of the photoimpact at the first pixel;
- an intermediate amplifier stage coupled between the photosensor and the output amplifier stage;
- and
- a reset transistor coupled to the photosensor;
- the output amplifier stage comprises first and second transistors;
- the intermediate amplifier stage comprises third and fourth transistors;
- the first transistor comprises:
- a first terminal of the first transistor, coupled to a first voltage node;
- a second terminal of the first transistor, coupled to the second transistor;
- and
- a control terminal of the first transistor, coupled to the intermediate amplifier stage;
- the second transistor comprises:
- a first terminal of the second transistor, coupled to the second terminal of the first transistor;
- a second terminal of the second transistor, coupled to the external amplifier;
- and
- a control terminal of the second transistor, coupled to a read signal node to receive a read signal;
- the third transistor comprises:
- a first terminal of the third transistor, coupled to a second voltage node;
- a second terminal of the third transistor, coupled to the control terminal of the first transistor;
- and
- a control terminal of the third transistor, coupled to the read signal node to receive the read signal;
- the fourth transistor comprises:
- a first terminal of the fourth transistor, coupled to the second terminal of the third transistor and to the control terminal of the first transistor;
- a second terminal of the fourth transistor, coupled to a ground;
- and
- a control terminal of the fourth transistor, coupled to the photosensor and to the reset transistor;
- the reset transistor comprises:
- a first terminal of the reset transistor, coupled to a third voltage node;
- a second terminal of the reset transistor, coupled to the photosensor and to the fourth transistor;
- and
- a control terminal of the reset transistor, coupled to a reset signal node;
- and
- the photosensor comprises:
- a cathode terminal coupled to the control terminal of the fourth transistor and to the second terminal of the reset transistor;
- and
- an anode terminal coupled to the ground.
38 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.