Patent ID: 6794627
Filing Date: 2004-09-21
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
An image sensor, comprising:a plurality of active pixel sensors arranged in a plurality of rows and at least one column, each active pixel sensor including a photosensor configured to generate a sensor signal nominally indicative of an intensity of light incident on the photosensor; a follower-type amplifier configured to provide a buffered voltage sensor signal based on the sensor signal; and sensor output selection circuitry configured to selectively couple the buffered voltage sensor signal to an output of the active pixel sensor when the row to which the active pixel sensor belongs is selected based on one of a set of row select signals corresponding to that row; for each column, a column line coupling together the outputs of the active pixel sensors that belong to that column; and row select signal generating circuitry configured to generate the set of row select signals to substantially simultaneously select a corresponding set of plural particular rows such that each of the active pixel sensors in the selected corresponding set of plural particular rows substantially simultaneously provides the buffered voltage sensor signal for that active pixel sensor to the column line for the column to which that active pixel sensor belongs such that an output node of each column line indicates a collective output signal for the active pixel sensors in that selected corresponding set of plural particular rows, belonging to that column.