AUTO-ZERO TECHNIQUES FOR LATERAL OVERFLOW INTEGRATING CAPACITOR (LOFIC) READOUT IMAGE SENSOR

Switching techniques for fast voltage settling in image sensors are described. In one embodiment, an image sensor includes a plurality of lateral overflow integrating capacitor (LOFIC) pixels arranged in rows and columns of a pixel array. The plurality of pixels includes an active pixel configured f...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors Gao, Zhe, Dai, Tiejun
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
Published 19.05.2022
Subjects
BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
BASIC ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
CODE CONVERSION IN GENERAL
CODING
DECODING
ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
ELECTRIC SOLID STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
ELECTRICITY
PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
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Summary:Switching techniques for fast voltage settling in image sensors are described. In one embodiment, an image sensor includes a plurality of lateral overflow integrating capacitor (LOFIC) pixels arranged in rows and columns of a pixel array. The plurality of pixels includes an active pixel configured for exposure to light, and a dummy pixel at least partially protected from exposure to light. A common bitline (BL) is couplable to the active pixel and the dummy pixel. A comparator (OA1) is coupled to the bitline. The comparator is configured to receive a pixel voltage (Vx) from the active pixel on one input and a ramp voltage (Vy) on another input. Charge accumulated by the active pixel is determined at least in part by an intersection between the ramp voltage and the pixel voltage.
Bibliography:Application Number: US202017098230