Devices and methods for improving the image quality in an image sensor
US7289148B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 22, 1998 |
| Grant date | Oct 30, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 22, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N25/76
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention is related to an image sensor comprising an array of rows (i) and columns (j) of pixels (Xij), all the pixels of one column of the array being connected to at least one common pixel output line (Ij) having at least one memory element (Mj) and at least a first amplifying element (Aj), all these amplifying elements (Aj) being connected to a common output amplifier (D). According to one preferred embodiment, said image sensor comprises: a second amplifying element (Bj) on the output of the memory element (Mj); said common output amplifier (D) having at least two input terminals; means (S1) for switching the pixel's signal on the common output line (Ij) and the memory element's signal (Mj) to respectively third and second amplifying element (Aj and Bj) of one column; and means (S2) for switching the two output signals of the amplifying elements (Aj, Bj) of one column to respectively first and second input terminals of said common output amplifier (D).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.