Patent · US Expired

On-chip design-for-testing structure for CMOS APS (active pixel sensor) image sensor

US6797933B1 · kind B1 · utility

108Cited by
8References
1Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 29, 2001
Grant dateSep 28, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 9, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N25/76
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for testing an active pixel sensor ensure that a signal proportional to the quantity of light energy impinging on the active pixel sensor is reliably and accurately captured and made available for further on processing the rest of the APS system circuitry. The apparatus and method determines the capacitance of a photo-conversion device of the active pixel sensor. The apparatus and method determines that an active pixel sensor is functioning correctly. The apparatus and method determines the performance of an active pixel sensor. Where the performance of the active pixel sensor is a measure of linearity of the active pixel sensor and a connected chain of circuitry that process the signal converted by the photo-conversion device of the active pixel sensor.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.