Photodiode CMOS Imager With Column Feedback Soft Reset

A proposed complementary metal oxide/semiconductor (CMOS) photodiode integrated-circuit imaging device of the active-pixel-sensor (APS) type would include column feedback sub-circuits that would make it possible to reduce readout noise (thereby making it possible to image at lower light levels) without reducing (and possibly even increasing) full-well capacity (thereby making it possible to obtain wide dynamic range). Heretofore, as described below, low-noise design requirements have generally conflicted with wide-dynamic-range design requirements.