• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.362-367
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• 2018

A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) binary image sensor is proposed for low-power and low-noise operation. The proposed binary image sensor has the advantages of reduced power consumption and fixed pattern noise (FPN). A gate/body-tied (GBT) p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (PMOSFET)-type photodetector is used as the proposed CMOS binary image sensor. The GBT PMOSFET-type photodetector has a floating gate that amplifies the photocurrent generated by incident light. Therefore, the sensitivity of the GBT PMOSFET-type photodetector is higher than that of other photodetectors. The proposed CMOS binary image sensor consists of a pixel array with $394(H){\times}250(V)$ pixels, scanners, bias circuits, and column parallel readout circuits for binary image processing. The proposed CMOS binary image sensor was analyzed by simulation. Using the dynamic comparator, a power consumption reduction of approximately 99.7% was achieved, and this performance was verified by the simulation by comparing the results with those of a two-stage comparator. Also, it was confirmed using simulation that the FPN of the proposed CMOS binary image sensor was successfully reduced by use of the double sampling process.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.82-87
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• 2021

In this paper, we propose a high-speed, low-power complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) binary image sensor featuring a gate/body-tied (GBT) p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (PMOSFET)-type photodetector based on a double-tail comparator. The GBT photodetector forms a structure in which the floating gate (n+ polysilicon) and body of the PMOSFET are tied, and amplifies the photocurrent generated by incident light. The double-tail comparator compares the output signal of a pixel against a reference voltage and returns a binary signal, and it exhibits improved power consumption and processing speed compared with those of a conventional two-stage comparator. The proposed sensor has the advantages of a high signal processing speed and low power consumption. The proposed CMOS binary image sensor was designed and fabricated using a standard 0.18 ㎛ CMOS process.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.413-419
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• 2012

A dynamic range extension technique is proposed based on a 3-transistor active pixel sensor (APS) with gate/body-tied p-channel metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (PMOSFET)-type photodetector using a feedback structure. The new APS consists of a pseudo 3-transistor APS and an additional gate/body-tied PMOSFET-type photodetector, and to extend the dynamic range, an NMOSFET switch is proposed. An additional detector and an NMOSFET switch are integrated into the APS to provide negative feedback. The proposed APS and pseudo 3-transistor APS were designed and fabricated using a $0.35-{\mu}m$ 2-poly 4-metal standard complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process. Afterwards, their optical responses were measured and characterized. Although the proposed pixel size increased in comparison with the pseudo 3-transistor APS, the proposed pixel had a significantly extended dynamic range of 98 dB compared to a pseudo 3-transistor APS, which had a dynamic range of 28 dB. We present a proposed pixel that can be switched between two operating modes depending on the transfer gate voltage. The proposed pixel can be switched between two operating modes depending on the transfer gate voltage: normal mode and WDR mode. We also present an imaging system using the proposed APS.