Image sensor having boosted reset
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An image sensor, comprising:
- a photosensitive region;
a voltage boosting circuit for producing a boosted reset voltage on a reset line at a level higher than a power supply output voltage level, said voltage boosting circuit comprising a first capacitor, a precharge circuit for precharging said first capacitor and an isolating circuit for isolating said capacitor, said isolating circuit is not forward biased by a voltage that is greater than the power supply voltage, wherein a charge on said first capacitor is used as said boosted reset voltage; and
a voltage protection circuit, said voltage protection circuit being connected to said reset line and protecting at least one transistor against being forward biased by said boosted reset voltage.
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Abstract
A power supply reset boosting element which boosts a level of the reset voltage to a level higher than the level of the power supply. The boosted voltage is isolated from both the power supply and from undesired switching by special transistors which can withstand the voltage power supply level.
25 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An image sensor, comprising:
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a photosensitive region; a voltage boosting circuit for producing a boosted reset voltage on a reset line at a level higher than a power supply output voltage level, said voltage boosting circuit comprising a first capacitor, a precharge circuit for precharging said first capacitor and an isolating circuit for isolating said capacitor, said isolating circuit is not forward biased by a voltage that is greater than the power supply voltage, wherein a charge on said first capacitor is used as said boosted reset voltage; and a voltage protection circuit, said voltage protection circuit being connected to said reset line and protecting at least one transistor against being forward biased by said boosted reset voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An image sensor comprising:
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a photosensitive region; and a voltage boosting circuit for producing a first boosted voltage on a first line and a second boosted voltage on a second line, said first voltage being at a first level higher than a power supply output voltage level, said second voltage being at a second level higher than the power supply output voltage level, said voltage boosting circuit comprising; a first capacitor, a second capacitor, a precharge circuit for precharging said first and second capacitors, and an isolating circuit for isolating said capacitors during operation of said boosting circuit, said isolating circuit is not forward biased by a voltage that is greater than the power supply voltage, wherein a charge on said first capacitor is used as said first boosted voltage and a charge on said second capacitor is used as said second boosted voltage. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An image sensor, comprising:
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a voltage boosting circuit for producing a first boosted voltage on a first line, said first boosted voltage having a level higher than a power supply output voltage level, said voltage boosting circuit comprising; a first capacitor, a precharge circuit for precharging said first capacitor, and an isolating circuit for isolating said capacitor, said isolating circuit is not forward biased by a voltage that is greater than the power supply voltage, wherein a charge on said first capacitor is used as said first boosted voltage; and a voltage protection circuit, said voltage protection circuit being connected to said first line and protecting at least one transistor against being forward biased by said first boosted voltage. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification