Imaging device with zero ohmic drop in a data conductor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9558706-B2
Application number	US-201113876837-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 28, 2011
Priority date	Sep 29, 2010
Publication date	Jan 31, 2017
Grant date	Jan 31, 2017

Abstract

An imaging device comprising comprises a matrix of pixels, at least one data conductor connected to several pixels of the matrix, organized row-wise and successively transporting signals delivered by respectively the pixels of the row and an electronic current generator supplying several pixels, each of the pixels comprising: a transistor delivering at the node of the pixel, the signal delivered by the pixel considered and wherein can flow a bias current from the current generator, and a first electronic switch connecting the node of the pixel to the data conductor associated with this pixel as a function of a selection signal of the pixel. Each of the pixels comprises a second electronic switch, distinct from the first electronic switch, joined to the node of the pixel, the current arising from the generator to be made to flow in the transistor as a function of the selection signal for the pixel.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An imaging device comprising:
a matrix of pixels,
at least one data conductor connected to several pixels of the matrix, organized row-wise and to successively transport signals delivered by respectively each of the pixels of the row, and
an electronic current generator supplying several pixels, each of the pixels of the matrix comprising:
a transistor delivering at one of its terminals, termed a node of the pixel, the signal delivered by the pixel considered and in which there flows a bias current arising from the current generator, and
a first electronic switch making it possible to connect the node of the pixel to the data conductor associated with this pixel as a function of a selection signal of the pixel,
each of the pixels of the matrix further comprising a second electronic switch, distinct from the first electronic switch, joined to the node of the pixel so that the current arising from the generator flows in the transistor as a function of the selection signal for the pixel.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising at least one current-supply conductor joined to all the pixels using the same current generator, wherein the current-supply conductor is distinct from the data conductor, and wherein the current-supply conductor connects the current generator to the first and second electronic switches.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein each pixel comprises a second transistor whose drain source link is disposed between the node of the pixel and the second electronic switch, the second transistor operating in a saturated state to render the potential of the node of the pixel independent of the position of the pixel along the current-supply conductor.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the electronic current generator is common to all the pixels of a row.

5. The device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the matrix of pixels is produced on a substrate, wherein the data conductor is joined to a reading circuit of the row of pixels and wherein the reading circuit and the current generator are disposed on the substrate.

6. The device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the electronic current generator is common to all the pixels of a row.

7. The device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the matrix of pixels is produced on a substrate, wherein the data conductor is joined to a reading circuit of the row of pixels and wherein the reading circuit and the current generator are disposed on the substrate.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the electronic current generator is common to all the pixels of a row.

9. The device as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the matrix of pixels is produced on a substrate, wherein the data conductor is joined to a reading circuit of the row of pixels and wherein the reading circuit and the current generator are disposed on the substrate.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the matrix of pixels is produced on a substrate, wherein the data conductor is joined to a reading circuit of the row of pixels and in that the reading circuit and the current generator are disposed on the substrate.

11. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first electronic switch and the second electronic switch and are both tied to and controlled by the selection signal.

Assignees

• Arques Marc
• Martin Jean-Luc
• Peizerat Arnaud
• Commissariat Energie Atomique
• Trixell Sas

Inventors

• Arques Marc
• Martin Jean-Luc
• Peizerat Arnaud

Classifications

• H04N25/677 Primary

  for reducing the column or line fixed pattern noise · CPC title

• H04N25/77

  Pixel circuitry, e.g. memories, A/D converters, pixel amplifiers, shared circuits or shared components · CPC title

• G09G3/3696 Primary

  Generation of voltages supplied to electrode drivers · CPC title

• H04N5/3658

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04N5/3745

  Electricity · mapped topic