In-pixel temperature sensors for dark current compensation of a CMOS image sensor

In-pixel temperature sensors for dark current compensation of a CMOS image sensor

Abarca Prouza, A.N. (TU Delft Electronic Instrumentation)

Theuwissen, A.J.P.A.M. (promotor)

Delft University of Technology

2021-09-13

This thesis describes the integration of temperature sensors into a CMOS image sensor (CIS). The temperature sensors provide the in-situ temperature of the pixels as well as the thermal distribution of the pixel array. The temperature and the thermal distribution are intended to be used to compensate for dark current affecting the CIS. Two different types of in-pixel temperature sensors have been explored. The first type of temperature sensor is based on a substrate parasitic bipolar junction transistor (BJT). The second type of temperature sensor that has been explored is based on the nMOS source follower (SF) transistor of the same pixel. The readout system that is used for the temperature sensors and for the image pixels is based on low noise column amplifiers. Both types of in-pixel temperature sensors (IPTS) have been designed implementing different techniques to improve their accuracy. The use of the IPTSs has been proved by measuring three prototypes chips. Also, a novel technique to compensate for the dark current of a CIS by using the IPTS has been proposed.

CMOS image sensor
temperature sensor
Tixel
In-Pixel
dark current

https://doi.org/10.4233/uuid:e39ef7a3-7756-4ab4-a55b-92bce28a76fa

978-94-6419-302-2

Institutional Repository

doctoral thesis

© 2021 A.N. Abarca Prouza