Claims
- 1. An imaging system comprising:
a group pixel comprising two or more photodetectors for providing two or more corresponding pixel image signals; and a summer coupled to each of the two or more photodetectors for outputting an aggregate image signal based on the two or more corresponding pixel image signals.
- 2. The imaging system of claim 1 wherein the summer comprises an analog-to-digital converter.
- 3. The imaging system of claim 1, further comprising an address line and a signal line, with each photodetector coupled to the address line and the signal line.
- 4. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein each photodetector is adapted to detect one of red, green, and blue light.
- 5. The imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a variable-gain amplifier responsive to the aggregate image signal for outputting an amplified aggregate image signal based on a gain, with the gain based on a number of faulty photodetector circuits in the group pixel.
- 6. The imaging system of claim 5, wherein the gain is based on a ratio of a total number of photodetector circuits in the group pixel to a total number of faulty photodetector circuits in the group pixels.
- 7. An imaging system comprising:
a group pixel comprising two or more photodetector circuits for providing two or more corresponding pixel image signals, with each photodetector circuit having a photodiode and occupying a surface area less than 50 square microns; and a summer coupled to each of the two or more photodetector circuits for outputting an aggregate image signal based on the two or more corresponding pixel image signals.
- 8. The imaging system of claim 7 wherein the summer comprises an analog-to-digital converter.
- 9. The imaging system of claim 7, further comprising an address line and a signal line, with each photodetector of the group pixel coupled to the address line and the signal line.
- 10. The imaging system of claim 7, wherein each photodetector is adapted to detect one of red, green, and blue light.
- 11. The imaging system of claim 7, further comprising a variable-gain amplifier responsive to the aggregate image signal for outputting an amplified aggregate image signal based on a gain, with the gain based on a ratio of a total number of photodetector circuits in the group pixel to a total number of faulty photodetector circuits in the group pixels.
- 12. An imaging system comprising:
a group pixel comprising two or more photodetector circuits for providing two or more corresponding pixel image signals, with each photodetector circuit occupying a surface area less than 30 square microns and comprising:
a source-follower transistor have a gate, source, and drain; a ground node; and a photodiode coupled between the gate of the source-follower transistor and the ground node; and a summer coupled to each of the two or more photodetectors for outputting an aggregate image signal based on the two or more corresponding pixel image signals.
- 13. The imaging system of claim 12 wherein the summer comprises an analog-to-digital converter.
- 14. The imaging system of claim 12, further comprising an address line and a signal line, with each photodetector circuit of the group pixel coupled to the address line and the signal line.
- 15. The imaging system of claim 14, further comprising a variable-gain amplifier responsive to the aggregate image signal for outputting an amplified aggregate image signal based on a gain, with the gain based on a number of faulty photodetector circuits in the group pixel and each photodetector adapted to detect one of red, green, and blue light.
- 16. The imaging system of claim 15, wherein the gain is based on a ratio of a total number of photodetector circuits in the group pixel to a total number of faulty photodetector circuits in the group pixels.
- 17. An imaging system comprising:
a group pixel comprising two or more photodetector circuits for providing two or more corresponding pixel image signals, wherein each photodetector circuit has a surface area less than 50 square microns, is adapted to detect the same color of light, and comprises:
a source-follower transistor have a gate, source, and drain; a ground node; and a photodiode coupled between the gate of the source-follower transistor and the ground node; a summer coupled to each of the two or more photodetector circuits for outputting an aggregate image signal based on the two or more corresponding pixel image signals; and a variable-gain amplifier responsive to the aggregate image signal for outputting an amplified aggregate image signal based on a gain, with the gain based on a number of faulty photodetector circuits in the group pixel.
- 18. The imaging system of claim 17, wherein the gain is based on a ratio of a total number of photodetector circuits in the group pixel to a total number of faulty photodetector circuits in the group pixels.
- 19. The imaging system of claim 17 wherein the summer comprises an analog-to-digital converter.
- 20. The imaging system of claim 17, further comprising an address line and a signal line, with each photodetector circuit of the group pixel coupled to the address line and the signal line.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application is a Divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/650,551, which was filed Aug. 30, 2000 and which is incorporated herein by reference.
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09650551 |
Aug 2000 |
US |
Child |
10868131 |
Jun 2004 |
US |