Patent US6037577A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6037577A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Amplifying solid-state image pickup device and operating method of the same
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1998-03-11
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Granted: 2000-03-14
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Expires: 2018-03-11
Abstract
Abstract An amplifying solid-state image pickup device comprises an image pickup region formed by two-dimensionally arranging photosensitive cells, each of the photosensitive cells including photoelectric conversion means, signal charge storage means, signal charge ejection means, row select means, and amplification means on a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of vertical select lines arranged in the image pickup region in a row direction, vertical select means for driving the plurality of vertical select lines, a plurality of vertical signal lines arranged in the column direction to read the outputs of the amplification means, noise suppression means provided at the ends of the plurality of vertical signal lines to capture and deduct noises and signals appearing on the plurality of vertical signal lines at time differences, horizontal select lines arranged in a column direction, horizontal read means for relaying the outputs of the horizontal select lines and the noise suppression means, horizontal select means for driving the horizontal read means, and charge adding means for adding the signal charges read to the vertical signal lines.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoriko Tanaka
- 👤 Nobuo Nakamura
- 👤 Natsue Sakaguchi
- 👤 Yukio Endo
- 👤 Yoshiyuki Matsunaga
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:24
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N25/00; H04N25/50; H04N25/57; H04N25/58; H04N25/60; H04N25/67; H04N25/671; H04N25/673; H04N25/677; H04N25/70; H04N25/71; H04N25/75; H04N25/76
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A solid-state image pickup device comprising: a plurality of photoelectric conversion sections arranged in rows and columns and respectively serving as a photoelectric conversion device and an amplification device for amplifying the signals of said photoelectric conversion device; a plurality of vertical signal lines for reading signals from said photoelectric conversion sections; a vertical select circuit for selecting said row-arranged photoelectric conversion sections; a horizontal select circuit for selecting said vertical signal lines; horizontal signal lines for reading signals from said vertical signal lines in accordance with the selection of said vertical signal lines; an amplifier for amplifying the signals of said horizontal signal lines, which has a negative feedback path; and means for selecting said vertical signal lines and resetting said amplifier.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
A solid-state image pickup device comprising: a plurality of photoelectric conversion sections arranged in rows and columns and respectively serving as a photoelectric conversion device and an amplification device for amplifying the signals of said photoelectric conversion device; a plurality of vertical signal lines for reading signals from said photoelectric conversion sections; a vertical select circuit for selecting said row-arranged photoelectric conversion sections; a horizontal select circuit for selecting said vertical signal lines; horizontal signal lines for reading signals from said vertical signal lines in accordance with the selection of said vertical signal lines; an amplifier for amplifying the signals of said horizontal signal lines, which has a negative feedback path; and means for selecting said vertical signal lines and resetting said amplifier.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
An amplifying solid-state image pickup device according to claim 1, wherein said horizontal signal lines have a plurality of horizontal signal lines for respectively reading the signals of a plurality of vertical select lines selected by said horizontal select circuit and said amplifier has a plurality of amplifiers for respectively amplifying signals of a plurality of said horizontal signal lines.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
An amplifying solid-state image pickup device according to claim 1, wherein a dummy circuit for reading a reference signal to said horizontal signal lines and said amplifier comprises a differential amplifier for amplifying the difference between the signals of said horizontal signal lines and the reference signal of said dummy circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
An amplifying solid-state image pickup device according to claim 1, wherein said amplifier comprises a capacitor and amplification unit connected to said signal lines in series, and a switching circuit for equalizing the potential of the input of said amplification unit with that of the output of the unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
An amplifying solid-state image pickup device according to claim 4, further comprising means for turning on said switching circuit and setting the input voltage of said amplification unit to a predetermined voltage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
An amplifying solid-state image pickup device according to claim 4, wherein said amplifier reads a plurality of bits including one bit for one-time operation of said switching circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
An amplifying solid-state image pickup device according to claim 1, wherein said amplifier comprises a MOS differential amplification unit including a MOS inverter circuit provided with a load MOS transistor and a driving MOS transistor, a pair of load MOS transistors, a pair of differential input transistors, and a constant-current source and the gate potentials of said load MOS transistors are directly controlled and gm (mutual conductance) is changed to obtain an optional gain.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
132 words
An amplifying solid-state image pickup device comprising: a plurality of photoelectric conversion sections arranged in rows and columns and respectively including a photoelectric conversion device and an amplification device for amplifying the signal of said photoelectric conversion device; a plurality of vertical signal lines for reading signals from said photoelectric conversion sections; a vertical select circuit for selecting said photoelectric conversion sections in a row direction; a horizontal select circuit for selecting said plurality of vertical signal lines; a plurality of amplifiers for amplifying the signals of said vertical signal lines, each of which has a negative feedback path; horizontal signal lines for reading signals from said vertical signal lines in accordance with the selection of said vertical signal lines; and means for selecting said vertical signal lines and resetting said amplifier.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
132 words
An amplifying solid-state image pickup device comprising: a plurality of photoelectric conversion sections arranged in rows and columns and respectively including a photoelectric conversion device and an amplification device for amplifying the signal of said photoelectric conversion device; a plurality of vertical signal lines for reading signals from said photoelectric conversion sections; a vertical select circuit for selecting said photoelectric conversion sections in a row direction; a horizontal select circuit for selecting said plurality of vertical signal lines; a plurality of amplifiers for amplifying the signals of said vertical signal lines, each of which has a negative feedback path; horizontal signal lines for reading signals from said vertical signal lines in accordance with the selection of said vertical signal lines; and means for selecting said vertical signal lines and resetting said amplifier.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
An amplifying solid-state image pickup device according to claim 8, wherein a dummy circuit for reading a reference signal to said horizontal signal lines and said amplifier comprises a differential amplifier for amplifying the difference between the signals of said horizontal signal lines and the reference signal of said dummy circuit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
An amplifying solid-state image pickup device according to claim 8, wherein said amplifier comprises a capacitor and amplification unit connected to said signal lines in series, and a switching circuit for equalizing the potential of the input of said amplification unit with that of the output of the unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
An amplifying solid-state image pickup device according to claim 10, further comprising means for turning on said switching circuit and setting the input voltage of said amplification unit to a predetermined voltage.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
An amplifying solid-state image pickup device according to claim 10, wherein said amplifier reads a plurality of bits including one bit for one-time operation of said switching circuit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
74 words
An amplifying solid-state image pickup device according to claim 8, wherein said amplifier comprises a MOS differential amplification unit including a MOS inverter circuit provided with a load MOS transistor and a driving MOS transistor, a pair of load MOS transistors, a pair of differential input transistors, and a constant-current source and the gate potentials of said load MOS transistors are directly controlled and gm (mutual conductance) is changed to obtain an optional gain.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5812191A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-03-14 | 2003-09-13 | 2004-03-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-03-14 | 2007-09-13 | 2008-03-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-03-14 | 2011-09-13 | 2012-03-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |