A 128×128 CMOS image sensor with analog memory for synchronous image capture

Author

Chapinal, Genis ; Bota, Sebastian A. ; Moreno, Mauricio ; Palacín, Jordi ; Herms, Atílá

Author_Institution

Sistemes d´´Instrumentacio i Comunicacions, Univ. de Barcelona, Spain

Volume

2

Issue

2

fYear

2002

fDate

4/1/2002 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

120

Lastpage

127

Abstract

A 128×128 CMOS imager that permits synchronous capture is presented. The sensor combines the best of CMOS imagers (low-power, random readout, nondestructive readout, single supply voltage...) and synchronous capture [available in high-end charge coupled device (CCD) imagers]. The key point in obtaining such characteristics is the separation of the photosensor and the storage element. Although some sensors with these characteristics have been reported, in this sensor, the storage capability has been brought a step further, having storage times of the order of tens of seconds, and being able to use the array itself as a random access memory (RAM). This could avoid the use of external RAM, making the system simpler, more compact, and of low-power consumption

Keywords

CMOS image sensors; analogue storage; low-power electronics; nondestructive readout; random-access storage; 128 pixel; 16384 pixel; CMOS image sensor; RAM; analog memory; low-power design; nondestructive readout; photosensor; random readout; single supply voltage; storage element; storage times; synchronous image capture; Analog memory; CMOS image sensors; Charge coupled devices; Charge-coupled image sensors; Control systems; Random access memory; Read-write memory; Sensor arrays; Sensor phenomena and characterization; Voltage;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Sensors Journal, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1530-437X

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JSEN.2002.1000252

Filename

1000252