Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus including a pixel array including a plurality of individual pixels grouped into pixel kernels having two or more individual pixels, wherein each pixel kernel includes a floating diffusion electrically coupled to all individual pixels in the kernel. A color filter array (CFA) is positioned over and optically coupled to the pixel array, the CFA comprising a plurality of tiled minimal repeating units, each including a plurality of scaled filters having a photoresponse selected from among two or more different photoresponses. Individual pixels within each pixel kernel are optically coupled to a scaled filter.

Abstract: A method of testing analog and digital paths of a pixel in a row of an imager, includes the following steps: (a) injecting first and second charges into the analog path of the pixel, wherein the first charge is in response to a light exposure, and the second charge is in response to a built-in test; (b) sampling the first and second charges to form an image signal level and a test signal level, respectively; and (c) converting, by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), the image signal level and the test signal level to form image data end test data, respectively. The method then validates the image data based on the test data.

Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus including a pixel array including a plurality of individual pixels grouped into pixel kernels having two or more individual pixels, wherein each pixel kernel includes a floating diffusion electrically coupled to all individual pixels in the kernel. A color filter array (CFA) is positioned over and optically coupled to the pixel array, the CFA comprising a plurality of tiled minimal repeating units, each including a plurality of scaled filters having a photoresponse selected from among two or more different photoresponses. Individual pixels within each pixel kernel are optically coupled to a scaled filter.

Abstract: An example bandgap reference circuit includes an amplifier, a first, a second, and a third switch, and a capacitor. The first switch is coupled between an inverting input and an output of the amplifier to provide a negative feedback loop around the amplifier when the first switch is closed. The capacitor has a first end coupled to the inverting input, and a second end coupled to the second switch, where the capacitor is charged to a voltage substantially equal to an offset voltage of the amplifier when the second switch is closed. The third switch is coupled to a second end of the capacitor, where the voltage across the capacitor is subtracted from an input loop of the reference circuit to cancel the offset voltage of the amplifier when the third switch is closed.

Abstract: A method of testing analog and digital paths of a pixel in a row of an imager, includes the following steps: (a) injecting first and second charges into the analog path of the pixel, wherein the first charge is in response to a light exposure, and the second charge is in response to a built-in test; (b) sampling the first and second charges to form an image signal level and a test signal level, respectively; and (c) converting, by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), the image signal level and the lest signal level to form image data end test data, respectively. The method then validates the image data based on the test data.

Abstract: A method of testing analog and digital paths of a pixel in a row of an imager, includes the following steps: (a) injecting first and second charges into the analog path of the pixel, wherein the first charge is in response to a light exposure, and the second charge is in response to a built-in test; (b) sampling the first and second charges to form an image signal level and a test signal level, respectively; and (c) converting, by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), the image signal level and the test signal level to form image data and test data, respectively. The method then validates the image data based on the test data.

Abstract: An example bandgap reference circuit includes an amplifier, a first, a second, and a third switch, and a capacitor. The first switch is coupled between an inverting input and an output of the amplifier to provide a negative feedback loop around the amplifier when the first switch is closed. The capacitor has a first end coupled to the inverting input, and a second end coupled to the second switch, where the capacitor is charged to a voltage substantially equal to an offset voltage of the amplifier when the second switch is closed. The third switch is coupled to a second end of the capacitor, where the voltage across the capacitor is subtracted from an input loop of the reference circuit to cancel the offset voltage of the amplifier when the third switch is closed.

Abstract: A method of testing analog and digital paths of a pixel in a row of an imager, includes the following steps: (a) injecting first and second charges into the analog path of the pixel, wherein the first charge is in response to a light exposure, and the second charge is in response to a built-in test; (b) sampling the first and second charges to form an image signal level and a test signal level, respectively; and (c) converting, by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), the image signal level and the test signal level to form image data and test data, respectively. The method then validates the image data based on the test data.

Abstract: An imaging device driver for transmitting a signal onto a signal line for controlling transistors of a pixel row. The device includes a controller and associated circuitry for reducing shoot-through current within and between row driver circuits for driving the signal line. The controller reduces shoot-through current by preventing concurrent transmission of high and low signal outputs to the signal line by respective high and low voltage sources of the same or different row driver circuits.

Abstract: A system which operates to determine temperature of an image sensor using the same signal chain that is used to detect the image sensor actual outputs. A correlated double sampling circuit is used to obtain the image outputs. That's same correlated double sampling circuit is used to receive two different inputs from the temperature circuit, and to subtract one from the other. The temperature output can be perceived, for example, once each frame.

Abstract: An imaging device driver for transmitting a signal onto a signal line for controlling transistors of a pixel row. The device includes a controller and associated circuitry for reducing shoot-through current within and between row driver circuits for driving the signal line. The controller reduces shoot-through current by preventing concurrent transmission of high and low signal outputs to the signal line by respective high and low voltage sources of the same or different row driver circuits.

Abstract: A reference current is generated by a current mirror circuit. An operational amplifier of a feedback circuit generates a control voltage for control of the feedback circuit transistor. The size of the feedback circuit transistor is trimmed, and the current through the feedback circuit transistor remains relatively constant via operation of the feedback circuit. The feedback circuit transistor is scaled in size relative to the size of current reference transistor(s) (e.g., current sources or sinks), which are tied to the same control voltage. The reference current of the current reference transistors thus varies with the size of the feedback circuit transistor. Further advantageously, transistors providing reference currents for resistor ladders can also be tied to the same control voltage, but scaled proportionally with changes in size to the feedback circuit transistor, thereby maintaining relatively constant voltage from taps of the resistor ladder, even when the feedback circuit transistor is trimmed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of boosting voltages. A boosting circuit includes a first and a second boosting circuit that each provide a boosted voltage in response to a set of control signals. The first and second boosting circuits receive different sets of control signals so that the boosted voltages may be alternately transferred to and combined at a load terminal.

Abstract: A reference current is generated by a current mirror circuit. An operational amplifier of a feedback circuit generates a control voltage for control of the feedback circuit transistor. The size of the feedback circuit transistor is trimmed, and the current through the feedback circuit transistor remains relatively constant via operation of the feedback circuit. The feedback circuit transistor is scaled in size relative to the size of current reference transistor(s) (e.g., current sources or sinks), which are tied to the same control voltage. The reference current of the current reference transistors thus varies with the size of the feedback circuit transistor. Further advantageously, transistors providing reference currents for resistor ladders can also be tied to the same control voltage, but scaled proportionally with changes in size to the feedback circuit transistor, thereby maintaining relatively constant voltage from taps of the resistor ladder, even when the feedback circuit transistor is trimmed.

Abstract: A system which operates to determine temperature of an image sensor using the same signal chain that is used to detect the image sensor actual outputs. A correlated double sampling circuit is used to obtain the image outputs. That's same correlated double sampling circuit is used to receive two different inputs from the temperature circuit, and to subtract one from the other. The temperature output can be perceived, for example, once each frame.

Abstract: A reference voltage circuit for a differential analog-to-digital converter wherein a first reference voltage source is connected to a midpoint of a resistive ladder for the analog-to-digital converter. A master module may regulate the voltage over an auxiliary resistor connected to the first reference voltage source and to a second reference voltage source. The regulated current in the auxiliary resistor may be scaled and copied into a current which is sourced into the top of the resistive ladder and also scaled and copied into a second equal current which is sinked from the bottom of the resistive ladder. Decoupling capacitors may be placed so as to improve the power supply ripple rejection to the resistive ladder.

Abstract: A system which operates to determine temperature of an image sensor using the same signal chain that is used to detect the image sensor actual outputs. A correlated double sampling circuit is used to obtain the image outputs. That's same correlated double sampling circuit is used to receive two different inputs from the temperature circuit, and to subtract one from the other. The temperature output can be perceived, for example, once each frame.

Abstract: A system and a method are provided for making magnetic recording servo tracks with inherent dropout robustness and with encoded track set information, longitudinal position information and other information recorded during tape or disk manufacture. A tape is provided having at least two servo tracks of opposite polarity recordings separated by a transition region. Servo data signals are produced for recording on the at least two tracks of the tape during a single pass during manufacture of the tape. The servo data signals are derived from MR elements that determine the polarity of the servo data signals.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for qualifying peaks in a signal as representing data bits, the signal containing data bits superimposed with background signals, a peak is qualified as representing a data bit when a first derivative of the peak exceeds a threshold value simultaneously with the original signal exceeding a positive or negative threshold of a hysteresis comparator. The respective positive and negative thresholds of the hysteresis comparator are alternatingly and continually adjusted by setting the negative hysteresis threshold dependent on the amplitude of a most recent positive peak in the incoming signal, and setting the positive hysteresis threshold dependent on the amplitude of a most recent negative peak in the incoming signal.

Abstract: A magnetic head assembly, for use in a tape drive wherein a tape is moved past the head assembly in a longitudinal direction and the tape exhibits transverse tape movement cross-correlated by obtaining repeated measurements at the same longitudinal position of the tape, and wherein a minimum longitudinal distance exists for which the cross-correlation is maintained, has a carrier with first and second gap and coil arrangements disposed on the carrier. The respective gaps in the first and second gap and coil arrangements are disposed on the carrier separated by a spacing which is less than the aforementioned minimum longitudinal distance.