Single Photon CMOS Imaging Through Noise Minimization

This chapter presents the theory and circuitry necessary to build CMOS image sensors with single photon detection capability. The chapter begins with the basic theory of CMOS image sensor photon detection. Then a discussion about additive noise systems and the sources of noise in CMOS image sensors is presented. Signal amplification and bandwidth control in low-noise CMOS image sensors are also discussed in detail. Then two complete architectures for photon counting are presented. Finally, various methods for optimizing the performance of low-noise CMOS image sensors are reviewed. This chapter presents the theory and circuitry necessary to build CMOS image sensors with single photon detection capability. The chapter begins with the basic theory of CMOS image sensor photon detection. Then a discussion about additive noise systems and the sources of noise in CMOS image sensors is presented. Signal amplification and bandwidth control in low-noise CMOS image sensors are also discussed in detail. Then two complete architectures for photon counting are presented. Finally, various methods for optimizing the performance of low-noise CMOS image sensors are reviewed.