Patent ID: 6410899
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: H01L,H04N

Abstract:
An integrated active pixel sensor array arranged in a plurality of rows and columns comprising:a plurality of row select lines, each of said row select lines associated with one row in the array and coupled to a source of a row-select signal; a plurality of source-follower drain row lines, each of said source-follower drain row lines associated with one row in said array and coupled to a source of a source-follower drain row signal; a plurality of column output lines, each of said column lines associated with one column in said array; a reset line coupled to a source of a reset signal; a source of reset potential; and a plurality of active pixel sensors, each pixel sensor associated with one row and one column of the array and including a photodiode having a first terminal coupled to a first reference potential and a second terminal, a Reset transistor having a gate coupled to said reset line, a drain coupled to said reset potential that reverse biases said photodiode, and a source coupled to said second terminal of said photodiode, a Source-Follower transistor having a gate coupled to said second terminal of said photodiode, a drain connected to the one of said plurality of source-follower drain row lines with which its active pixel sensor is associated, and a source, a Row-select transistor having a gate coupled to the one of said plurality of row-select lines with which its active pixel sensor is associated, a drain coupled to said source of said Source-follower transistor, and a source coupled to the one of said plurality of column output lines with which its active pixel sensor is associated.