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.

Date of Patent:
Mar. 09, 2004

Filed:

Apr. 23, 1999
Applicant:
Inventors:

William D. Washkurak, Acton, MA (US);

Robert Daniel McGrath, Andover, MA (US);

Joao Pedro Carreira, St. Maximin, FR;

Assignee:

Other;

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 5/335 ; H04N 5/217 ; H04N 5/228 ; H01L 2/700 ; H01L 3/1062 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 5/335 ; H04N 5/217 ; H04N 5/228 ; H01L 2/700 ; H01L 3/1062 ;
Abstract

An image sensing device comprising active pixels is disclosed, each pixel having a charge accumulation region for collecting charges generated by a photosensitive element such as a photodiode. A linear voltage to current converter, current mirrors, and a differential amplifier generate an output signal and minimize fixed pattern noise and improve the signal to noise ratio. Image quality is improved by reducing pixel blooming and image smearing through an improved method for resetting the pixels with a bias voltage reference which is less than Vdd. Active circuitry and physical device layout reduce the effects of IR voltage drops along the bus lines in a massive pixel array.


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