Solid-state image sensor and image sensing system with readout unit including current source
US9876975B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 19, 2015 |
| Grant date | Jan 23, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 19, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N25/78
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A sensor has an image sensing unit including pixel blocks, and a readout unit for reading out a signal from the image sensing unit. The pixel block includes a photoelectric converter, first and second transistors, and a current source. First main electrodes of the first and second transistors are connected to a common node, and the current source is provided between the common node and a predetermined voltage. A signal readout operation includes an operation in which a voltage corresponding to charges in the photoelectric converter is supplied to a control electrode of the first transistor, and a temporally changing reference voltage is supplied to a control electrode of the second transistor. The readout unit reads out a signal from the image sensing unit via a second main electrode of the first transistor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.