Patent ID: 8299513

Claim:
Image sensor circuitry, comprising: pixel cell circuitry for acquiring an image charge in response to incident light and generating an image signal indicative of the image charge; sample and hold circuitry to sample and hold the image signal; a bit line coupled between the pixel cell circuitry and the sample and hold circuitry; and a current source coupled between a high voltage power rail and the bit line, wherein the pixel cell circuitry includes: a photosensitive element coupled to a first circuit node, the photosensitive element for generating the image charge in response to the incident light and transferring the image charge to the first circuit node; and an amplifier transistor having a gate terminal coupled to the first circuit node and a second terminal coupled to the current source and the bit line, wherein the bit line couples the sample and hold circuitry to a second circuit node between the current source and the second terminal of the amplifier transistor, wherein the image sensor circuitry further includes boost circuitry coupled to selectively boost a voltage potential of a third terminal of the amplifier transistor and wherein the boost circuitry is coupled to the third terminal which is opposite the second terminal to which the current source and the bit line are coupled.