Photodetecting circuit

• US 7,990,450 B2
• Filed: 07/05/2009
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Moini, Alireza, Yourlo, Zhenya Alexander, Lapstun, Paul, Underwood, Matthew John, Ridley, Nicholas Damon, Henderson, Peter Charles Boyd
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan; Jason
• Assistant Examiner(s): PRABHAKHER, PRITHAM DAVID
• Application Number:
  US12/497,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20100002111A1
• Time in Patent Office: 758 Days
• Field of Search: 348294-324
• US Class Current: 348/294
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/59 by controlling the amount of charge storable in the pixel, e.g. modification of the charge conversion ratio of the floating node capacitance
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/75 Circuitry for providing, modifying or processing image signals from the pixel array

Abstract

A photodetecting circuit is disclosed which includes a photodetector for generating a signal in response to incident light, a storage node, transfer and reset transistors and an output circuit. The storage node has first and second node terminals. The second node terminal is connected to a compensation signal during a read period of the photodetection circuit. The transfer transistor is disposed intermediate the first node terminal of the storage node and the photodetector and is for electrically connecting the first node terminal and the photodetector during an integration period upon receiving a transfer signal to a gate of the transfer transistor, allowing charge stored in the storage node to change based on the signal of the photodetector. The reset transistor has a control node for receiving a reset signal, a first terminal for receiving a reset voltage, and a second terminal electrically connected to the first node terminal, such that the reset voltage is supplied to the first node terminal when the reset signal is asserted at a gate of the reset transistor. The output circuit generates an output signal during the read period of the photodetecting circuit. The output signal is at least partially based on a voltage at the first terminal. The compensation signal is a logically negated version of the transfer signal.

Claims

1. A photodetecting circuit comprising:

a photodetector for generating a signal in response to incident light;

a storage node having first and second node terminals, the second node terminal being connected to a compensation signal during a read period of the photodetection circuit;

a transfer transistor, disposed intermediate the first node terminal of the storage node and the photodetector, for electrically connecting the first node terminal and the photodetector during an integration period upon receiving a transfer signal to a gate of the transfer transistor, allowing charge stored in the storage node to change based on the signal of the photodetector; and

an output circuit for generating an output signal during the read period of the photodetecting circuit, the output signal being at least partially based on a voltage at the first terminal

wherein the compensation signal is a logically negated version of the transfer signal.

2. A photodetecting circuit according to claim 1 further comprising:

a reset transistor having a control node for receiving a reset signal, a first terminal for receiving a reset voltage, and a second terminal electrically connected to the first node terminal, such that the reset voltage is supplied to the first node terminal when the reset signal is asserted at a gate of the reset transistor.

3. A photodetecting circuit according to claim 2 configured to:

receive the reset signal;

integrate charge in the storage node during the integration period following receipt of the reset signal; and

receive the compensation signal at the second terminal of the storage node at least during the read period, the compensation signal increasing the voltage at the first terminal whilst the output circuit generates the output signal.

4. A photodetecting circuit according to claim 1 wherein the storage node includes a capacitor.