Pixel circuit with integrated amplifer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A pixel amplifier circuit including a plurality of devices on a shared substrate, comprising:
- a first gate line;
a second gate line;
a data line;
a bias line;
a photosensor having first and second contacts;
an amplifier transistor, having a source contact connected to said first contact of said photosensor, a gate contact connected to said second contact of said photosensor, and a drain contact;
a thin film pass transistor having a source contact connected to said drain contact of said amplifier transistor, a gate contact connected to said first gate line, and a drain contact connected to said data line; and
a thin film reset transistor having a source contact connected to said data line, a gate contact connected to said second gate line, and a drain contact connected to said second contact of said photosensor.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to the use of a pixel design which incorporates an in-pixel amplifier to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio of an image sensor array while maintaining a high sensor fill factor. In addition, this pixel design allows for the addition of an amplifier without having to modify the fabrication process of current sensor arrays.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A pixel amplifier circuit including a plurality of devices on a shared substrate, comprising:
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a first gate line; a second gate line; a data line; a bias line; a photosensor having first and second contacts; an amplifier transistor, having a source contact connected to said first contact of said photosensor, a gate contact connected to said second contact of said photosensor, and a drain contact; a thin film pass transistor having a source contact connected to said drain contact of said amplifier transistor, a gate contact connected to said first gate line, and a drain contact connected to said data line; and a thin film reset transistor having a source contact connected to said data line, a gate contact connected to said second gate line, and a drain contact connected to said second contact of said photosensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An image sensing apparatus of the type including a data line, bias line, and a plurality of gate lines, comprising:
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a first pixel circuit, comprising; a first-pixel photosensor having first and second contacts; a first-pixel amplifier transistor having a source contact connected to said first contact of said first-pixel photosensor, a gate contact connected to said second contact of said first-pixel photosensor, and a drain contact; a first-pixel pass transistor having a source contact connected to said drain contact of said first-pixel amplifier transistor, a gate contact connected to a first gate line, and a drain contact connected to said data line; and a first-pixel reset transistor having a source contact connected to said data line, a gate contact connected to a second gate line, and a drain contact connected to said second contact of said first-pixel photosensor; and a second pixel circuit, comprising; a second-pixel photosensor having first and second contacts; a second-pixel amplifier transistor having a source contact connected to said first contact of said second-pixel photosensor, a gate contact connected to said second contact of said second-pixel photosensor, and a drain contact; a second-pixel pass transistor having a source contact connected to said drain contact of said second-pixel amplifier transistor, a gate contact connected to said second gate line, and a drain contact connected to said data line; and a second-pixel reset transistor having a source contact connected to said data line, a gate contact connected to a third gate line, and a drain contact connected to said second contact of said second-pixel photosensor. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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Specification