Integrated circuit array having column conductors each associated with a respective basic read circuit, and in particular a large-sized image sensor

Abstract

The invention relates notably to large-sized image sensors or image sensors with a large number of rows. Each column of pixels is organized in P superposed blocks. A row decoder organized as P identical decoders selects one row out of M in each of the P blocks. Each block is linked to one respective column conductor out of P column conductors. P read circuits CLto CLare placed at the foot of each column of pixels and each is connected to a respective column conductor. The signals from the P rows selected by the decoder can be extracted simultaneously or else they can be selected by a specific decoder which selects one read circuit out of the P read circuits of each column. The matrix can be produced by photolithography, by abutting identical matrix portions, for example P different portions corresponding to P identical regions ZBto ZB.