Method, apparatus and system to reduce readout delay in a sensor
First Claim
1. A method of reading out a signal to an output from a pixel in an active pixel sensor (APS), comprising:
- converting a detected charge in the pixel into a voltage;
driving a source follower transistor in response to the voltage;
driving a bias transistor to source a reduced current when the voltage results from a readout of a reset value of the pixel; and
driving the bias transistor to source an enhanced current when the voltage results from a readout of a sensed signal value, the bias transistor coupled in series with the source follower transistor and having the output therebetween.
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Abstract
Methods, devices, and systems for improving (i.e., reducing) the settling time of an output signal read from a photo sensor and improving the PSRR of the supply voltage are disclosed, wherein a detected charge in a pixel is converted to a voltage and drives a source follower transistor. A bias transistor is coupled in series with the source follower transistor and includes an output therebetween. The bias transistor is driven to source a reduced current when the voltage results from a readout of a reset value of the pixel and the bias transistor is driven to source an enhanced current when the voltage results from a readout of a sensed signal value.
31 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of reading out a signal to an output from a pixel in an active pixel sensor (APS), comprising:
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converting a detected charge in the pixel into a voltage; driving a source follower transistor in response to the voltage; driving a bias transistor to source a reduced current when the voltage results from a readout of a reset value of the pixel; and driving the bias transistor to source an enhanced current when the voltage results from a readout of a sensed signal value, the bias transistor coupled in series with the source follower transistor and having the output therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A readout circuit for an active pixel sensor (APS) circuit, comprising:
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a bias transistor configured for coupling in a source follower configuration with an output transistor of a pixel and having an output therebetween, the output transistor responsive to a voltage generated by a photo sensor of the pixel; and a minimum current selector coupled to a gate of the bias transistor and configured to drive the bias transistor to source a reduced current when the voltage results from a readout of a reset value and further configured to drive the bias transistor to source an enhanced current when the voltage results from a readout of a sensed signal value of one of the plurality of pixels. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An active pixel sensor (APS) circuit, comprising:
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a plurality of pixels in at least one column of an array, each of the plurality of pixels including a photo sensor, an output transistor and a row select transistor, the output transistor responsive to a voltage generated by the photo sensor; and a readout circuit connected to at least one column of the plurality of pixels, the readout circuit including; a bias transistor connected in a source follower arrangement with the output transistor and the row select transistor, the bias transistor coupled in series with the output transistor and having the output therebetween; and a minimum current selector coupled to drive the bias transistor, the minimum current selector configured to drive the bias transistor to source a reduced current when the voltage results from a readout of a reset value and further configured to drive the bias transistor to source an enhanced current when the voltage results from a readout of a sensed signal value of one of the plurality of pixels. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An imaging device, comprising:
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an active pixel sensor (APS) circuit including a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, the active pixel sensor (APS) circuit including a readout circuit connected to each of the plurality of columns of the plurality of pixels and further configured to generate an output signal representative of a signal stored in one of the plurality of pixels wherein the readout circuit is driven to source the output signal from a reduced current when a reset value is read from one of the plurality of pixels and the readout circuit is driven to source the output signal from an enhanced current when a sensed signal value is read from one of the plurality of pixels; a row decoder operably coupled to the active pixel sensor (APS) circuit and configured for selecting each row of the plurality of rows; and a column decoder operably coupled to the active pixel sensor (APS) circuit and configured for receiving in parallel, at least one signal from each pixel of a selected row. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An electronic system, comprising:
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a processor-based device; and an imaging device coupled to the processor-based device, the imaging device configured to read out a signal to an output from a pixel in an active pixel sensor (APS) circuit, the imaging device including a source follower circuit comprised of a source follower transistor and a bias transistor wherein a detected charge in the pixel drives the source follower transistor and the bias transistor is either driven to source a reduced current when the voltage results from a readout of a reset value of the pixel or driven to source an enhanced current when the voltage results from a readout of a sensed signal value, the bias transistor and the source follower transistor include the output therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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Specification