Multi-resolution Image Sensor Array with High Image Quality Pixel Readout Circuitry
First Claim
1. A multi-resolution image sensor array for converting an incoming image light into a corresponding array of image signals, the multi-resolution image sensor array comprises a spatial array of photoelectric sites PESj (j=1, 2, . . . , M with M>
- =2) for converting the incoming image light into the array of image signals, wherein each PESj further comprises;
a) an image output terminal IOTj; and
b) a cluster of switched photo-detector elements SPEk (k=1, 2, . . . , N with N>
=2) each having;
b1) a photo-detector element PEk, having an elemental detector output terminal EDOTk and a photo-detector face PFk of pre-determined shape and size for sensing the incoming image light at a corresponding elemental spatial resolution, for converting the incoming image light into an elemental detector output signal EDOSk and delivering it through the EDOTk; and
b2) a transfer control switch TCSK in series connection with the PEk and the IOTj for,b21) upon switch open, converting the incoming image light into the EDOSk with the PEk; and
,b22) upon switch closure, transferring the EDOSk from the EDOTk to the IOTj whereby, corresponding to a pre-determined multitude of combinations of switch closures amongst the TCSK (k=1, 2, . . . , N), the multi-resolution image sensor array converts the incoming image light into the array of image signals at a corresponding multitude of spatial resolutions.
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Abstract
A configurable, compact multi-resolution linear image sensor array is disclosed. The multi-resolution image sensor array employs a spatial array of photoelectric sites with each site having an image output terminal and a cluster of switched photo-detector elements. To effect a high quality snapshot operation mode for a high pixel count array, a transfer control switch is added bridging each photo-detector element and its correspondingly connected negative input terminal of an operational amplifier to form an active pixel sensor circuit. To minimize a reset kTC noise associated with numerous traditional active pixel sensor circuits, an in-pixel KTC noise-correlated correlated multiple sampling (CMS) circuitry is also proposed to replace an otherwise traditional correlated double sampling (CDS) circuitry.
51 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A multi-resolution image sensor array for converting an incoming image light into a corresponding array of image signals, the multi-resolution image sensor array comprises a spatial array of photoelectric sites PESj (j=1, 2, . . . , M with M>
- =2) for converting the incoming image light into the array of image signals, wherein each PESj further comprises;
a) an image output terminal IOTj; and b) a cluster of switched photo-detector elements SPEk (k=1, 2, . . . , N with N>
=2) each having;b1) a photo-detector element PEk, having an elemental detector output terminal EDOTk and a photo-detector face PFk of pre-determined shape and size for sensing the incoming image light at a corresponding elemental spatial resolution, for converting the incoming image light into an elemental detector output signal EDOSk and delivering it through the EDOTk; and b2) a transfer control switch TCSK in series connection with the PEk and the IOTj for, b21) upon switch open, converting the incoming image light into the EDOSk with the PEk; and
,b22) upon switch closure, transferring the EDOSk from the EDOTk to the IOTj whereby, corresponding to a pre-determined multitude of combinations of switch closures amongst the TCSK (k=1, 2, . . . , N), the multi-resolution image sensor array converts the incoming image light into the array of image signals at a corresponding multitude of spatial resolutions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
- =2) for converting the incoming image light into the array of image signals, wherein each PESj further comprises;
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4. A high image quality pixel readout circuitry for converting an incoming image light pixel into a corresponding output video signal, the high image quality pixel readout circuitry comprises:
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a) an operational amplifier having a positive input terminal, a negative input terminal, an output terminal and a feedback loop circuit coupling the output terminal to the negative input terminal, said feedback loop circuit further configured to convert an inbound photoelectric signal at the negative input terminal into an outbound photoelectric signal at the output terminal; b) a photodiode exposed to the incoming image light pixel, said photodiode having its anode grounded thus accumulating, through its cathode, a charge signal responsive to said incoming image light pixel; and c) a transfer control switch bridging the photodiode cathode and the negative input terminal, said transfer control switch being; c1) set open during a charge accumulation period wherein the charge signal gets accumulated on the photodiode cathode; and c2) set closed during a charge transfer period wherein the thus accumulated charge signal gets transferred into the inbound photoelectric signal at the negative input terminal and converted into the outbound photoelectric signal at the output terminal whereby, when the high image quality pixel readout circuitry gets replicated into a multi-pixel image sensor array of high pixel count and with sequential video signal readout, an otherwise image-degrading effect of inter-pixel differential leakage of the charge signal through the operational amplifier can be substantially reduced with proper sequencing of the corresponding array of transfer control switches thus effecting a snapshot operation mode. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An in-pixel correlated multiple sampling (CMS) circuitry for converting an input photoelectric signal, generated by a switch-resettable photoelectric conversion amplifier in response to an incoming image light pixel, into a corresponding output video signal, the in-pixel CMS circuitry comprises a serial connection of:
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a) an input end being connected to the input photoelectric signal; b) a following parallel connection of; a switched image sampling branch having an image signal storage capacitor and a plurality of image multiplexing switches for providing a sampled image signal corresponding to said input photoelectric signal; and a plurality of switched reset sampling branches (RSB1, RSB2, . . . , RSBj, . . . , RSBN) where N>
=2 with each RSBj further comprises;a reset signal storage capacitor RSCj and a plurality of reset multiplexing switches MSWj for providing a sampled reset signal corresponding to a reset voltage at the output of the switch-resettable photoelectric conversion amplifier upon its reset; c) a following difference amplifier attached to the parallel connection; and d) wherein said image multiplexing switches and said reset multiplexing switches MSWj are further sequenced so as to result in a delivery of the following cyclic sequence of signal pairs to the difference amplifier; (sampled image signal, sampled reset signal from RSB1), (sampled image signal, sampled reset signal from RSB2), . . . , (sampled image signal, sampled reset signal from RSBj), . . . , (sampled image signal, sampled reset signal from RSBN) whereby allows the output video signal, being produced by the difference amplifier as the difference between the sampled image signal and the plurality of sampled reset signal from RSBj, to be substantially free of noise distortion by a Reset kTC noise accompanying the reset voltage. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification