Image sensors with isolated flushed pixel reset
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- transferring a signal level from an active sensor pixel to a readout circuit;
performing a flushed reset of the pixel; and
electrically isolating the pixel from the readout circuit during an entire period required to perform the flushed reset of the pixel.
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Abstract
Techniques for use with image sensors include transferring a signal level from an active sensor pixel to a readout circuit, performing a flushed reset of the pixel, and isolating the pixel from the readout circuit during resetting of the pixel.
16 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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transferring a signal level from an active sensor pixel to a readout circuit; performing a flushed reset of the pixel; and electrically isolating the pixel from the readout circuit during an entire period required to perform the flushed reset of the pixel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method comprising:
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transferring a signal level from an active sensor pixel to a readout circuit; performing a flushed reset of the pixel; and electrically isolating the pixel from the readout circuit during every an entire period required to perform the flushed reset of the pixel, the isolating occurring during an entirety of each period required to perform the flushed reset of the pixel, wherein performing a flushed reset includes discharging a power supply capacitance present at a node coupled to a drain of a pixel reset switch.
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10. An integrated circuit chip comprising:
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an array of active sensor pixels each of which is associated with a row and a column in the array, each pixel including a reset switch and a row selection switch; readout circuits each of which is associated with and is coupled to a respective subset of pixels in the array; and a controller for causing a flushed reset of pixels in a selected row, said controller comprising; a first control signal to enable the row selection switches in a selected row of pixels to transfer signal levels from the pixels in the selected row to the associated readout circuits; and a second control signal subsequent to the first control signal to enable the reset switches in the selected row of pixels, and for causing the first control signal to isolate the row selection switches in the selected row of pixels from the associated readout circuits during every period required to perform the resetting of the pixels in the selected row, the isolating occurring during an entire period required to perform the resetting of the pixels in the selected row. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. An integrated circuit chip comprising:
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an array of active sensor pixels each of which is associated with a row and a column in the array, each pixel including a photosensitive element, a source-follower transistor coupled to an output of the photosensitive element, a reset switch and a row selection switch; readout circuits, each of which is associated with and is coupled to a respective column of pixels in the array, each readout circuit including a load transistor for source follower transistors in the pixels in the associated column; means for causing a flushed reset of pixels in a selected row; and
means for isolating pixels in the selected row from the associated readout circuits during an entire period required to perform the flushed reset of the pixels. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification