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Increasing readout speed in CMOS APS sensors through block readout

  • US 8,054,362 B2
  • Filed: 10/01/2009
  • Issued: 11/08/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A CMOS active-pixel image sensor, comprising:

  • a pixel array arranged in rows and columns comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising a photosensor and a source follower transistor; and

    column selection circuitry connecting the pixel array to a master output bus and dividing the columns of the pixel array into a plurality of blocks, wherein the plurality of blocks comprises greater than 8 blocks and each of the plurality of blocks comprises a respective plurality of consecutive columns, the column selection circuitry comprising;

    column output circuits connecting the columns in each block to a respective one of a plurality of block output lines;

    block select switches connecting the block output lines to the master output bus; and

    control circuitry connected to the block select switches operable to actively couple a single one of the blocks to the master output bus at a time.

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