256/spl times/256 CMOS active pixel sensor camera-on-a-chip

A CMOS imaging sensor is described that uses active pixel sensor (APS) technology and permits the integration of the detector array with on-chip timing, control, and signal chain electronics. This sensor technology has been used to implement a CMOS APS camera-on-a-chip. The camera-on-a-chip features a 256/spl times/256 APS sensor integrated on a CMOS chip with the timing and control circuits, and signal-conditioning to enable random-access, low power (/spl sim/5 mW) operation, and low read noise (13 e/sup -/ rms). The chip features simple power supplies, fast readout rates, and a digital interface for commanding the sensor, as well as for programming the window-of-interest readout and exposure times. Excellent imaging has been demonstrated with the APS camera-on-a-chip, and the measured performance indicates that this technology will be competitive with charge-coupled devices (CCD's) in many applications.