The optimization of noise and dynamic range with variable-gain column amplifier in CMOS image sensors

Ruo-han Deng; Jin-jin Yu; Yong-ping Chen

doi:10.1117/12.900975

18 August 2011 The optimization of noise and dynamic range with variable-gain column amplifier in CMOS image sensors

Ruo-han Deng, Jin-jin Yu, Yong-ping Chen

Proceedings Volume 8194, International Symposium on Photoelectronic Detection and Imaging 2011: Advances in Imaging Detectors and Applications; 81942Z (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.900975
Event: International Symposium on Photoelectronic Detection and Imaging 2011, 2011, Beijing, China

Abstract

A low noise and relatively high dynamic range CMOS active pixel sensor (APS) using a variable-gain column amplifier is presented and analyzed. On this signal path there are a pixel source follower, a switched-capacitor, noise-cancelling, variable-gain amplifier, and a correlated double sample (CDS) circuit in each column. The using of high gain for the column amplifier reduces input-referred random noise, but it may reduce the dynamic range of this device at meanwhile. In this paper, we present a detail analysis for the noise and the dynamic range with the variable gain of the column amplifier. It is revealed that the total random read noise can be analyzed in three parts: the first part is from the pixel circuit, including the pixel-related fixed-pattern noise, reset noise and pixel source follower amplifier noise; the second part is from the column circuit, including the column-related fixed-pattern noise and the column amplifier noise; and the third part is from the output amplifier in the chip-level circuit. The analysis suggests that the noise components from the pixel and column can be significantly cancelled by the double-stage column noise canceller, and the noise components from the output amplifier in the chip-level circuit, are the major noise source and can be greatly reduced if the signal is amplified before this noise is added. Both the analysis and measured result indicate that we can achieve a low input-referred noise and keep a relatively high dynamic gain by choosing a proper column amplifier gain.

Citation Download Citation

Ruo-han Deng, Jin-jin Yu, and Yong-ping Chen "The optimization of noise and dynamic range with variable-gain column amplifier in CMOS image sensors", Proc. SPIE 8194, International Symposium on Photoelectronic Detection and Imaging 2011: Advances in Imaging Detectors and Applications, 81942Z (18 August 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.900975

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
11 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Amplifiers

Interference (communication)

CMOS sensors

Cadmium sulfide

Transistors

High dynamic range imaging

Sensors

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years