Digital pixel sensor with reduced noise

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United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 8779346
APP PUB NO 20130299674A1
SERIAL NO

13471384

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Abstract

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An apparatus and method for forming a digital image are disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of pixel sensors and a controller. Each sensor includes a photodiode, a floating diffusion node that can be selectively connected to said photodiode or a reset voltage, and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) connected to the floating diffusion node, the ADC converting a voltage on the floating diffusion node to a digital value. Each pixel sensor also includes an output circuit that connects the ADC to a bus. The apparatus also includes a controller that causes the ADCs to operate in parallel to convert the voltages on the floating diffusion nodes to the digital values in a time that is less than the time needed for the floating diffusion node to acquire ten electron equivalents of noise. The optional apparatus includes circuitry that allows correlated double sampling to be performed in each sensor.

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Patent Owner(s)

  • BAE SYSTEMS IMAGING SOLUTIONS INC.

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Fowler, Boyd Sunnyvale, US 50 1269
Liu, Xinqiao Mountain View, US 135 2338

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