PUMPS FOR CMOS IMAGERS
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pixel for an imaging device is described. The pixel includes a photosensitive device provided within a substrate for providing photo-generated charges, a circuit associated with the photosensitive device for providing at least one pixel output signal representative of the photo-generated charges, the circuit includes at least one operative device that is responsive to a first control signal during operation of the associated circuit and a pump circuit. The pump circuit may include substrate pumps, charge pumps and/or voltage pumps. The pixel may also be embedded in an imaging system.
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Citations
131 Claims
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1-105. -105. (canceled)
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106. A method of operating a pixel cell of an imaging device, said method comprising:
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receiving an external supply voltage; applying a first pumped voltage based on the received external supply voltage to a first gate to store photo-generated charges at a storage node; and applying a second pumped voltage based on the received external supply voltage to a second gate to produce a pixel output signal from the stored photo-generated charges. - View Dependent Claims (107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116)
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117. A method of operating a pixel cell of an imaging device, said method comprising:
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generating a pumped supply voltage from a substrate pump; applying the pumped supply voltage to the cell; applying a first pumped control voltage to a first gate to store photo-generated charges at a storage node; applying a second pumped control voltage to a second gate to produce a pixel output signal from the stored photo-generated charges; and applying a third pumped control voltage to a third gate to reset the storage node. - View Dependent Claims (118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128)
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129. A method of operating a pixel cell of an imaging device, said method comprising:
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receiving an external supply voltage; using a first pumped voltage based on the received external supply voltage to reset a storage node; and using a second pumped voltage based on the received external supply voltage to transfer photo-generated charges to the storage node. - View Dependent Claims (130, 131)
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Specification