Source follower noise limitations in CMOS active pixel sensors

K. M. Findlater; J. M. Vaillant; D. J. Baxter; C. Augier; D. Herault; R. K. Henderson; J. E.D. Hurwitz; L. A. Grant; J. M. Volle

doi:10.1117/12.512969

Source follower noise limitations in CMOS active pixel sensors

K. M. Findlater^*, J. M. Vaillant, D. J. Baxter, C. Augier, D. Herault, R. K. Henderson, J. E.D. Hurwitz, L. A. Grant, J. M. Volle

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review

Abstract / Description of output

CMOS imagers are commonly employing pinned photodiode pixels and true correlated double sampling to eliminate kTC noise and achieve low noise performance. Low noise performance also depends on optimisation of the readout circuitry. This paper investigates the effect of the pixel source follower transistor on the overall noise performance through several characterization methods. The characterization methods are described, and experimental results are detailed. It is shown that the source follower noise can be the limiting factor of the image sensor and requires optimisation.

Original language	English
Pages	187-195
Number of pages	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/12.512969
Publication status	Published - 2004
Event	Detectors and Associated Signal Processing - St. Etienne, France Duration: 1 Oct 2003 → 2 Oct 2003

Conference

Conference	Detectors and Associated Signal Processing
Country/Territory	France
City	St. Etienne
Period	1/10/03 → 2/10/03

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

Active pixel sensors
Correlated double sampling
Source follower noise

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10.1117/12.512969

Cite this

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title = "Source follower noise limitations in CMOS active pixel sensors",

abstract = "CMOS imagers are commonly employing pinned photodiode pixels and true correlated double sampling to eliminate kTC noise and achieve low noise performance. Low noise performance also depends on optimisation of the readout circuitry. This paper investigates the effect of the pixel source follower transistor on the overall noise performance through several characterization methods. The characterization methods are described, and experimental results are detailed. It is shown that the source follower noise can be the limiting factor of the image sensor and requires optimisation.",

keywords = "Active pixel sensors, Correlated double sampling, Source follower noise",

author = "Findlater, {K. M.} and Vaillant, {J. M.} and Baxter, {D. J.} and C. Augier and D. Herault and Henderson, {R. K.} and Hurwitz, {J. E.D.} and Grant, {L. A.} and Volle, {J. M.}",

year = "2004",

doi = "10.1117/12.512969",

language = "English",

pages = "187--195",

note = "Detectors and Associated Signal Processing ; Conference date: 01-10-2003 Through 02-10-2003",

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TY - CONF

T1 - Source follower noise limitations in CMOS active pixel sensors

AU - Findlater, K. M.

AU - Vaillant, J. M.

AU - Baxter, D. J.

AU - Augier, C.

AU - Herault, D.

AU - Henderson, R. K.

AU - Hurwitz, J. E.D.

AU - Grant, L. A.

AU - Volle, J. M.

PY - 2004

Y1 - 2004

N2 - CMOS imagers are commonly employing pinned photodiode pixels and true correlated double sampling to eliminate kTC noise and achieve low noise performance. Low noise performance also depends on optimisation of the readout circuitry. This paper investigates the effect of the pixel source follower transistor on the overall noise performance through several characterization methods. The characterization methods are described, and experimental results are detailed. It is shown that the source follower noise can be the limiting factor of the image sensor and requires optimisation.

AB - CMOS imagers are commonly employing pinned photodiode pixels and true correlated double sampling to eliminate kTC noise and achieve low noise performance. Low noise performance also depends on optimisation of the readout circuitry. This paper investigates the effect of the pixel source follower transistor on the overall noise performance through several characterization methods. The characterization methods are described, and experimental results are detailed. It is shown that the source follower noise can be the limiting factor of the image sensor and requires optimisation.

KW - Active pixel sensors

KW - Correlated double sampling

KW - Source follower noise

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=1942542459&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1117/12.512969

DO - 10.1117/12.512969

M3 - Paper

AN - SCOPUS:1942542459

SP - 187

EP - 195

T2 - Detectors and Associated Signal Processing

Y2 - 1 October 2003 through 2 October 2003

ER -

Source follower noise limitations in CMOS active pixel sensors

Abstract / Description of output

Conference

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

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