摘要:
An analog to digital converter oversamples an image signal, and uses the oversampled information to obtain additional resolution. The analog to digital converter is included in an image sensor device having a photosensor array of photosensitive of pixels and a plurality of analog to digital converters. Each of the analog to digital converters is adapted to produce a digital output with a first specified bit resolution. An interpolator is adapted to receive an output thus produced from an analog to digital converter and produce a digital output with a second specific bit resolution.
摘要:
A pinned photodiode is operated without a transfer gate. This is done by forming a pinned photodiode which has a selective connection to the substrate. When the connection is turned on, the photodiode is pinned to the substrate, and kept at a specified potential. When the connection is off, the photodiode is disconnected from the substrate and hence floats. In this way, the area above the photoreceptor can be used both for a reception area and for a charge transfer area.
摘要:
A digital imaging system, such as an active pixel sensor (APS) system, includes an array of sensors arranged into lines that form rows and columns. Each sensor in the array includes a photosensor that collects electric charge when exposed to light. Each sensor also includes a select circuit that generates an output signal indicating the amount of charge collected by the photosensor during a given time, and a reset circuit that clears collected charge from the sensor at a selected time. The APS system also includes a line decoder circuit that produces select and reset signals and delivers the signals to the select circuits over control lines. Each control line connects to two adjacent lines, e.g., rows or columns, of the array, delivering a select signal to the image sensors in one of the two lines and delivering a reset signal to the image sensors in the other line.
摘要:
A lock in pinned photodiode photodetector includes a plurality of output ports which are sequentially enabled. Each time when the output port is enabled is considered to be a different bin of time. A specified pattern is sent, and the output bins are investigated to look for that pattern. The time when the pattern is received indicates the time of flight A CMOS active pixel image sensor includes a plurality of pinned photodiode photodetectors that use a common output transistor. In one configuration, the charge from two or more pinned photodiodes may be binned together and applied to the gate of an output transistor.
摘要:
An active pixel sensor includes mixed analog and digital signal integration on the same substrate. The analog part of the array forms the active pixel sensor, and the digital part of the array does digital integration of the signal.
摘要:
A new kind of pixel is formed of two floating diffusions of different sizes and different conductivity type. The two floating diffusions have different image characteristics, and hence form a knee-shaped slope.
摘要:
A new kind of pixel is formed of two floating diffusions of different sizes and different conductivity type. The two floating diffusions have different image characteristics, and hence form a knee-shaped slope.
摘要:
A CMOS image sensor obtains color through the use of two or three superposed layers. Each pixel in the image sensor includes a plurality of superposed photosensitive p-n junctions with individual charge integration regions. The combination of each of the superposed layers provides increased sensitivity and resolution of a single chip color imager.
摘要:
An active pixel sensor includes mixed analog and digital signal integration on the same substrate. The analog part of the array forms the active pixel sensor, and the digital part of the array does digital integration of the signal.
摘要:
A method for operating a pixel circuit is disclosed, wherein a saturation control signal is used to control the photoresponse of four-transistor (4-T), five-transistor (5-T) and shared floating diffusion pixel circuits. The saturation control signal is a variable voltage signal, and is transmitted to a transfer transistor or anti-blooming transistor, wherein the signal opens or partially opens the transistor to allow excess electrons to flow from the photodiode region during an integration period. As a result, the effective dynamic range of the pixel circuit can be extended.