CMOS Camera Power Consumption Analysis

This lecture discusses the power and current consumption of a CMOS camera, specifically focusing on a 3T APS system with three output levels. The instructor begins by outlining the structure of the camera, which includes a source follower in each pixel, a second stage voltage amplifier, and a third stage output buffer. The working frequencies for each amplification level are calculated, revealing that the first stage operates at 25 kHz while the second and third stages operate at 25 MHz. The lecture also covers the estimation of the full well capacity in terms of electrons and the necessary gain for the second amplification stage to achieve a specific output voltage. Additionally, the required illumination for collecting photoelectrons and the impact of dark current on performance are analyzed. The instructor concludes by summarizing the total current and power consumption of the CMOS camera, comparing it with a CCD camera, highlighting the differences in current and power requirements due to their operational voltages.