Standard CMOS active pixel image sensors for multimedia applications

Abstract

The task of image acquisition is completely dominated by CCD-based sensors fabricated on specialized process lines. These devices provide an essentially passive means of detecting photons and moving image data across chip. We argue that line widths in standard CMOS have been reduced to the point where it is practical to locate transistors-and hence provide gain-within each detector of an imager fabricated in CMOS. In this paper we describe the image sensors we have been building in this technology. They use far less power, permit random access and can be integrated with arbitrary digital CMOS logic to create low cost single chip video cameras with advanced functionality. Ongoing work includes the development of a color filter array process and the fabrication of a 1024/spl times/1024 pixel sensor for multimedia video and document capture applications.