Patent ID: 8149311

Claim:
A complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor, comprising: a unit pixel configured to be controlled by a high voltage, wherein the unit pixel includes: a transfer transistor configured to transfer a data signal from a photodiode to a sensing node; and a reset transistor connected between a power voltage supply terminal and the sensing node, wherein the power voltage supply terminal is configured to generate a power voltage; a reference high voltage generator configured to generate a reference high voltage; and a high voltage output unit configured to generate the high voltage by using the reference high voltage as an operating voltage to output the high voltage to the unit pixel, wherein the high voltage output unit includes a regulator having an operational amplifier configured to receive both the reference high voltage and a ground voltage, and wherein the regulator is configured to decrease the reference high voltage to the high voltage to output the high voltage in response to a reference voltage.