Row driver for selectively supplying operating power to imager pixel
US7196304B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 29, 2004 |
| Grant date | Mar 27, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 30, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N25/766
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An imaging system includes a pixel that does not require a row select transistor. Instead, an operating voltage is selectively provided to the pixel's readout circuitry, and the readout circuitry provides output signals based on charge or voltage of a storage node. The operating voltage can be selectively provided to each row of a pixel array by a row driver. Each pixel includes a source follower transistor that provides an output signal on a column output line for readout. An anti-blooming transistor may be linked to each pixel's photosensor to provide an overflow path for electrons during charge integration, prior to transfer of charge to the pixel's storage node by a transfer transistor. Electrons not produced by an image are introduced to the photosensor prior to image acquisition, filling traps in the photosensor to reduce image degradation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.