Apparatus and a method for low noise sensing

The invention provides a method and apparatus. The apparatus includes a pixels (10) adapted to receive light and to output a current representative of the received light; a feedback circuitry (20), connected to the pixel (10), adapted to receive said current and to receive a reference current (Iref) and to provide a feedback signal to the pixel (10) at least during at least a reset stage of the pixel (10). The method includes: (i) receiving light, by a pixel 10), and providing a pixel output signal representative of the received light; (ii) receiving, by a feedback circuitry, the pixel output signal; and (iii) providing multiple feedback signals to the pixel at least during a reset stage of the pixel (10).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an apparatus and method for low noise sensing and especially to low noise CMOS pixels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Digital cameras include a two-dimensional pixel array. Each pixel includes a light sensitive elements that convert photons to an analog signal. The light sensitive elements can include photodiodes, phototransistors, photogates, hole accumulation diodes, pinned diodes, avalanche diodes, buried accumulation and transfer layer devices.

The performance of CMOS pixels is limited by their thermal noise. This noise is also known as reset noise of KTC noise. During a reset phase of the pixel a reset voltage is provided to the pixel and especially to a reset transistor of the pixel. When this reset phase ends the reset transistor enters a non-conductive stage and thermal noise is added to the voltage over the light sensitive element.

Various prior art pixels are known. The most commonly used pixels are either CCD pixels or CMOS pixels. Prior art CMOS pixels and two dimensional CMOS arrays are illustrated in the following U.S. patents which are incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. No. 6,777,660 of Lee, titled “CMOS active pixel reset noise reduction”; U.S. Pat. No. 6,762,401 of Lee, titled “CMOS image sensor capable of increasing fill factor and driving method thereof”; U.S. Pat. No. 6,707,495 of Harada titled “solid-state imaging device and a method of reading a signal charge in a solid-state imaging device which can reduce smear and can provide an excellent image characteristics”; U.S. Pat. No. 6,750,912 of Tennant et al., titled “Active-passive imager pixel array with small groups of pixels having short common bus lines”; U.S. Pat. No. 6,697,111 of Kozlowski et al., titled “compact low-noise active pixel sensor with progressive row reset”; U.S. Pat. No. 6,665,013 of Fossum et al., titled “active pixel sensor having intra-pixel charge transfer with analog-to-digital converter”; U.S. Pat. No. 6,587,142 of Kozlowski et al., titled “low-noise active-pixel sensor for imaging arrays with high speed row reset”; U.S. Pat. No. 6,538,245 of Kozlowski, titled “amplified CMOS transducer for single photon read-out of photodetectors”; U.S. Pat. No. 6,532,040 of Kozlowski et al., titled “low-noise active-pixel sensor for imaging arrays with high-speed row reset”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,892,540 of Kozlowski et al., titled “low noise amplifier for passive pixel CMOS imager”; U.S. Pat. No. 6,438,276 of Dhuse et al., titled “imaging system having a sensor array reset noise reduction mechanism” and U.S. Pat. No. 6,326,230 of Pain et al., titled “high speed CMOS imager with motion artifact suppression and anti-blooming”.

There is a need to provide efficient manners to improve pixel performances, and especially to reduce the thermal noise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a method that includes: receiving light, by a pixel, and providing a pixel output signal representative of the received light; receiving, by a feedback circuitry, the pixel output signal; and providing multiple feedback signals to the pixel at least during a reset stage of the pixel.

The invention provides a method that includes: receiving light, by a pixel, and providing a current representative of the received light; receiving, by a feedback circuitry, said current and receiving a reference current; and providing a feedback signal to the pixel, in response to the received currents, at least during at least a reset stage of the pixel.

The invention provides an apparatus that includes: multiple pixels arranged in rows and columns; multiple feedback circuits connected to multiple pixels; whereas at least one pixel is adapted to receive light and to output a pixel output current representative of the received light; whereas each feedback circuitry is connected to a corresponding pixel, and is adapted to receive a respective pixel output current and to provide a feedback signal to the respective pixel at least during a reset stage of the pixel.

The invention provides an apparatus that includes multiple pixels arranged in rows and columns; multiple feedback circuits connected to multiple pixels; whereas at least one pixel is adapted to receive light and to output a pixel output signal representative of the received light; whereas each feedback circuitry is connected to a corresponding pixel, and is adapted to receive a respective pixel output signal and to provide multiple feedback signals to the respective pixel at least during a reset stage of the pixel.

The invention provides an apparatus that includes a pixel adapted to receive light and to output a pixel output signal representative of the received light; a feedback circuitry, connected to the pixel, adapted to receive said pixel output signal and to provide multiple feedback signals to the pixel at least during a reset stage of the pixel.

The invention provides an apparatus that includes: a pixel adapted to receive light and to output a current representative of the received light; a feedback circuitry, connected to the pixel, adapted to receive said current and to receive a reference current and to provide a feedback signal to the pixel at least during at least a reset stage of the pixel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Typically, a low noise pixel is operated in three operational stages: (i) a reset stage in which the pixel is reset, (ii) an integration phase during which the pixel receives light and in response alters the state of the pixel, and (iii) a read phase during which the analog signal generated by the pixel during the integration phase is read out.

Various methods for reducing pixel noise can be implemented, including correlated double sampling and uncorrelated double sampling.

Noise introduced by the reset of the pixel can be reduced by providing a feedback signal that can be responsive to a current of the pixel and also responsive to a reference current.

FIG. 1illustrates a pixel10and feedback circuitry20according to an embodiment of the invention. Pixel10includes a light sensitive element such as photodiode D114, a reset transistor M111, an amplifying transistor M212and a read transistor M313. Conveniently, the reset transistor M111is conductive during a reset stage of the pixel10and is non-conductive during other phases of the pixel.

The gate of M111is adapted to receive a reset control signal during a reset phase of the pixel10this control signal forces transistor M111to conduct. The source of M111is connected to D114to form a first node21. The gate of M212is connected to the first node21while its source is grounded and its drain is connected to the source of M313. The gate of M313is adapted to receive a read control signal while the drain of M313provides a readout node24of the pixel. The drain of M313is also connected to an optional current source22and to a positive input node of amplifier19. The negative input node of the amplifier20is connected to a current reference source that provides a reference current Iref28. The output of the amplifier19is connected to the drain of M111.

According to an embodiment of the invention Iref is very low and even zero. In the latter case the amplifier can be viewed as having a single input. Usually, the amplifier itself includes internal circuitry that provides a reference current. The amplifier19and conveniently current source Iref28and the optional current source22can be defined as a feedback circuitry20.

The output signal provided by amplifier19to the drain of M111is selected such as to drive the pixel10to output a certain output current. If the pixel10reaches an equilibrium that output current has to be equal Iref plus the current provided by the optional current source22.

The feedback loop defined by the feedback circuitry connected to the pixel10reduces thermal noise by preventing the voltage of M111to dramatically change when entering a reset mode.

According to one aspect of the invention the pixel can receive write-back signals that represent light received by the same pixel or even by other pixels. A detailed description of said write-back mechanism is found in U.S. patent application titled “method and apparatus for camera shake compensation” assigned to the same assignee and filed concurrently with this patent application.

FIG. 2illustrates a pixel10and feedback circuitry20′ according to another embodiment of the invention.

Feedback circuitry20′ comprises a pair of current mirrors31and32connected in sequence between the readout output of the pixel10and buffer33. The readout output also receives a first current I0from a first current source that includes a PMOS transistor M441. The output of the second current mirror32receives a second current I2from a second current source that includes PMOS transistor M545.

Assuming that the gain of the first current mirror31is g1and that the gain of the second current mirror32is g2and also assuming that most of I2is received by the second current mirror32then the first current mirror drains a current of about I2/(g1*g2) from the readout output of pixel10. Mathematically, I1=I0+I2/(g1*g2), whereas I0is responsive to an output feedback voltage signal V0provided by buffer33to pixel10and especially to the drain of M111. I0=Kt*(V0-Vt)2, whereas Vt is a threshold voltage of M111, and Kt is a gain coefficient representative of the characteristics of M111.

FIG. 3illustrates a pixel10′ and feedback circuitry20″ according to another embodiment of the invention.

Pixel10′ ofFIG. 3resembles pixel10ofFIGS. 1 and 2but the source of M212is not grounded but rather connected to receive a first voltage feedback signal Vm.

Pixel10′ is connected to feedback circuitry20″ that includes amplifier43, current mirror32, buffer33, current sources (that include PMOS transistors M441and M542), and resistor Rm50.

Feedback circuitry20″ defines two feedback loops and provides multiple feedback signals to pixel10′. The first feedback loop includes amplifier43, a current mirror35and resistor Rm50. The second feedback loop includes amplifier43, current mirror35and buffer33.

The current I1drained by the pixel10′ is substantially constant while the voltage of its readout output V1alters in response to received light. V1is received by amplifier43that provides amplifier current12that is responsive to the voltage. Mathematically, I2=gm1*(V1−Vt)2whereas Vt is a threshold voltage of a transistor within amplifier43.

The current mirror35receives current I2and current I4from current source M542and outputs a first current I5to resistor Rm50that provides a first output feedback signal Vm=Rm*I5to the source of M212. Current mirror35also drains current I3that is a mirror of current I2. The difference between I3and I4is sent to buffer33that converts said differential current to an output voltage Vo. Vo is provided as a second feedback voltage signal to the drain of M111. Vo reduces the thermal noise added when the reset transistor M111enters a non-conductive mode.

Vm is provided to the source of M212and reduces the capacitance that the first node21sees, thus reducing the thermal noise that is proportional to said capacitance.

FIG. 4illustrates in greater details the feedback circuitry20′ ofFIG. 2, according to an embodiment of the invention. Feedback circuitry20′ includes multiple PMOS transistors M4-M741-44and M1959that operate as current sources. Feedback circuitry20′ also includes NMOS transistors M845and M946that operate as a first current mirror31, NMOS transistors M10and M11that operate as a second current mirror32, and additional NMOS transistors M12-M1752-57that operate as buffer33.

FIG. 5illustrates in greater details the feedback circuitry20″ ofFIG. 3, according to an aspect of the invention. Feedback circuitry20″ includes multiple PMOS transistors M4-M741-44and M1959that operate as current sources, NMOS transistors M946that operates as amplifier43, NMOS transistors M1252and M1148that operate as current mirror33, and additional NMOS transistors M13-M1753-57that operate as buffer33.

FIG. 9illustrates a circuit that differs from the circuit ofFIG. 5by the lack of a certain feedback loop. The sources of transistors M11and M12are grounded and not connected to resistor Rm50, as inFIG. 5.

FIG. 6illustrates two pixels such as pixel10that are arranged in a column, as well as a feedback circuitry20′ according to an embodiment of the invention.

The various pixels are connected in parallel to the feedback circuitry20′. It is noted that only the pixel that enters a reset stage (by applying a proper reset control signal) is influenced by the feedback circuitry20′, whereas the other pixel is not substantially influenced by said circuitry as its reset transistor is non-conducting.

It is noted that a large amount of pixels can be connected to a single feedback circuitry20′. It is also noted that other groups of pixels (other than columns) can be connected to the feedback circuitry.

FIG. 7illustrates a method200according to an embodiment of the invention. Method200includes stage210of receiving light, by a pixel, and providing a current representative of the received light. Stage210is followed by stage220of receiving, by a feedback circuitry, said current and receiving a reference current. Stage220is followed by stage230of providing a feedback signal to the pixel, in response to the received currents, at least during at least a reset stage of the pixel.

Conveniently, in a multiple pixel apparatus, such as a pixel array or a pixel line, instead of associating a feedback circuitry to each pixel, a certain feedback circuitry can be selectively connected to multiple pixels, whereas usually only one pixel is reset or read at a time. Thus, the feedback circuitry sees only a single pixel at a time. Accordingly, method200can include a stage of selectively connecting at least one pixel to at least one feedback circuitry.

According to another aspect of the invention the analog signal provided by a pixel can be stored in an analog memory and then written back (instead of a fixed reset signal) to the same pixel that previously generated the signal or even to another pixel.

The stage of providing the feedback signal includes generating such signal. As illustrated, for example, by the previous figures the feedback signal can be generated by using amplifiers, current mirrors, buffers, current sources and the like.

FIG. 8illustrates a method300according to an embodiment of the invention. Method300starts by stage310of receiving light, by a pixel, and providing a pixel output signal representative of the received light. Stage310is followed by stage320of receiving, by a feedback circuitry, the pixel output signal. Stage320is followed by stage330of providing multiple feedback signals to the pixel at least during a reset stage of the pixel.

Conveniently, the multiple feedback signals include a first feedback voltage signal and a second feedback voltage signal. The first feedback voltage signal can affect a reset voltage provided to the pixel. The second feedback voltage signal can contribute to a reduction of a capacitance that contributes to a thermal noise of the pixel.

According to another embodiment of the invention the pixel can also be connected to write-back circuitry.

The previous description related to CMOS pixels. According to various embodiments of the invention it can be applied mutates mutandis to other pixels and sensors such as DRAM process based sensors or CCD sensors.

The invention can be applied to sensors other than optical sensors. For example image sensors sensitive to electric field, biometric input sensors, or chemical sensors.

The invention can be applied in applications requiring a low-noise read-out from one-dimensional or multi-dimensional array of cells outputting signal in form of voltage, current or charge. The output signal can be either in continuous analog form or in quantized form representing discrete one-level or multi-level value.

The invention can be applied in applications requiring multiple iterative read-write cycles can greatly reduce the accumulated noise by using this invention, in applications requiring a very accurate low-noise sampling of analog continuous or quantized signal on a capacitor or even in all purpose switched capacitor circuits that sample analog continuous or quantized signal.

It is noted that although the pixel can operate in a reset phase, read out phase and integration phase mode this is not necessarily so. The pixel can operate in different other phases such as fast coarse and slow fine reset phases, gain calibration phase, offset calibration phase, various double and triple correlated sampling phases and more.