Patent · US Expired

Low-noise CMOS active pixel

US7126636B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
4References
20Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 14, 2003
Grant dateOct 24, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 27, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N25/65
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A low-noise CMOS active pixel for image sensors comprises a photosensitive element (PD), a feedback capacitive element (CF) with a capacitance CF, and four transistors, namely a first transistor (M1), two reset transistors (M3, M4) and one pixel selection transistor (M2). These components are laid out and controlled in such a way that the first transistor (M1) is mounted as an amplifier during the pixel reset phase and as a follower during the read phase. The reset transistors (M3, M4) are parallel-connected so that one of them (M4) compensates for the negative effects of the other transistor (M3) on the node common to the two transistors.

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