Patent classifications
H03F3/082
Structure of an active CMOS pixel
The invention relates to a structure of an active pixel of the CMOS type (1) that comprises: at least one photodiode (10), characterized in that it comprises means for reading any bias voltage in the evolution phase of the photodiode (10) upon exposure.
Method and system for accurate gain adjustment of a transimpedance amplifier using a dual replica and servo loop
Methods and systems for accurate gain adjustment of a transimpedance amplifier using a dual replica and servo loop is disclosed and may include, in a transimpedance amplifier (TIA) circuit comprising a first TIA, a second TIA, and a third TIA, each comprising a configurable feedback impedance, and a control loop, where the control loop comprises a gain stage with inputs coupled to outputs of the first and second TIAs and an output coupled to the configurable feedback impedance of the second and third TIAs: configuring a gain level of the first TIA by configuring its feedback impedance, configuring a gain level of the third TIA by configuring a reference current applied to an input of the first TIA, and amplifying a received electrical signal to generate an output voltage utilizing the third TIA. The reference current may generate a reference voltage at one of the inputs of the gain stage.
Regulated cascode (RGC)-type burst mode optic pre-amplifier having extended linear input range
A Regulated Cascode (RGC)-type burst mode optic pre-amplifier having an extended linear input range. The burst mode optic pre-amplifier comprises an RGC-type Trans Impedance Amplifier (TIA), wherein a current path is added in the circuit of the RGC-type TIA to control a linearity state of the RGC-type TIA, and a main voltage gain is controlled in other circuit blocks after the RGC-type TIA.
DATA OUTPUT DEVICE
A data output device is provided. The data output device includes a converter circuit configured to generate a conversion signal based on an output signal; a boosting circuit configured to generate a boosting signal based on the output signal; and an output circuit configured to generate the output signal based on an input signal and a feedback signal, the feedback signal being based on the conversion signal and the boosting signal.
AMPLIFIER AND IMAGE SENSOR DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME
An amplifier includes a first capacitor connected between an input node and a floating node, a second capacitor connected between the floating node and an output node, an amplifying element connected between a power supply voltage and the output node and operating in response to a voltage level of the floating node, a current bias source connected between the output node and a ground voltage, a first reset switch connected between the floating node and an intermediate node and operating in response to a reset bias, a second reset switch connected between the intermediate node and the output node and operating in response to the reset bias, and a reset bias generator circuit that outputs the reset bias in response to a reset signal. The reset bias is one of a reset voltage of the intermediate node, the power supply voltage, and the ground voltage.
ENHANCED AMPLIFIER TOPOLOGY IN AN ANALOG FRONT END (AFE)
In described examples, a circuit includes an integrator. The integrator generates a first signal responsive to an input signal. A trigger circuit is coupled to the integrator and receives the first signal. A charge dump circuit is coupled to the integrator and the trigger circuit. The trigger circuit modifies configuration of the charge dump circuit and the integrator when the first signal is greater than a first threshold.
Transimpedance amplifier circuit
A transimpedance amplifier (TIA) circuit disclosed includes an input terminal, a first TIA circuit, a second TIA circuit, a field effect transistor (FET), and a gain control circuit. The first TIA circuit outputs a voltage signal from a first output in accordance with an input current received at a first input electrically connected to the input terminal. The second TIA circuit outputs a reference signal from a second output. The FET varies a resistance between a first current terminal and a second current terminal in accordance with a control signal applied to a control terminal. The first current terminal is electrically connected to the input terminal. The second current terminal is electrically connected to the second output of the second TIA circuit. The gain control circuit detects an amplitude of the voltage signal and generates the control signal according to a detection result of the amplitude.
Differential transimpedance amplifier
A transimpedance amplifier is provided for converting a current between its two input terminals to a voltage over its two output terminals comprising a high-speed level shifter configured for creating a difference in input DC voltage and for being transparent for alternating voltages, an input biasing network configured for reverse biasing a photodiode connected to at least one of the input terminals and transparent for a feedback signal from the feedback network which is differentially and DC-coupled with the output terminals of the voltage amplifier and outputs of the feedback network are differentially and DC-coupled with the input biasing network of which outputs are coupled with inputs of the level shifter which is differentially and DC-coupled with input terminals of the voltage amplifier.
Analog front-end
Examples described herein relate to an analog front-end (AFE). The AFE includes a trans-impedance amplifier to receive an input current and generate a pair of the differential voltage signals based on the input current and a reference current. Further, the AFE includes a dynamic voltage slicer to receive the differential voltage signals at input terminals and supply digital voltages at output terminals. The dynamic voltage slicer includes a preamplifier to generate a pair of intermediate voltages based on the differential voltage signals sampled at a predetermined frequency. The dynamic voltage slicer also includes a voltage latch circuit coupled to the preamplifier, wherein the voltage latch circuit is to regenerate a pair of digital voltages based on the pair of the intermediate voltages. Moreover, the AFE includes a logic latch coupled to the dynamic voltage slicer to provide digital output states based on the pair of the digital voltages.
SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, IMAGING METHOD, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS
A solid-state imaging device according to an embodiment includes: pixel circuits, each of the pixel circuits including: a generation unit (31) generating a voltage corresponding to a logarithmic value of a photocurrent; a capacitor (C.sub.1) having a first electrode to which the voltage generated by the generation unit is applied; a first amplifier (40a) having a first input terminal, which is connected to a second electrode of the capacitor, and a second input terminal, to which a first reference voltage (Vb.sub.A0) is applied to, to output a comparison result obtained by comparing the voltage applied to the first input terminal with the voltage applied to the second input terminal; a switch unit (43) controlling a connection between the output of the first amplifier and the first input terminal; and a second amplifier (40b) having a third input terminal, to which the output of the first amplifier is connected, and a fourth input terminal, to which a second reference voltage (Vb.sub.A1) is applied, to output a comparison result obtained by comparing the voltage applied to the third input terminal with the voltage applied to the fourth input terminal, in which a first gain of the first amplifier is lower than a second gain of the second amplifier.