The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 24, 2003
Filed:
Dec. 12, 2000
Gerard F. Harkin, Eindhoven, NL;
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V., Eindhoven, NL;
Abstract
An image sensor ( ) comprises a plurality of pixels ( ), each pixel comprising a light sensor element ( ), wherein a sensor voltage across the element varying depending on the light incident on the element. First and second transistors ( ) are connected in series between voltage supply lines ( ). A gate voltage (Vg ) on the first transistor is dependent upon the sensor voltage so that the current flowing through the first transistor ( ) is a function of the sensor voltage. The gate voltage (Vg ) of the second transistor is supplied by a feedback circuit ( ) which provides that the current through the first and second transistors ( ) is substantially equal. The output of the pixel ( ) is the gate voltage (Vg ) of the second transistor ( ). The image sensor design of the invention avoids the need for storage capacitors to provide pixel gain.