Noise in CCD Cameras: Reset and Readout Mechanisms

This lecture discusses various noise sources in CCD cameras, focusing on reset noise, readout noise, and 1/f noise. It begins with an overview of different noise types, including photon shot noise and dark current shot noise, establishing photon shot noise as a critical limit. The instructor explains reset noise, which arises from the charging of capacitors through resistors, highlighting the influence of Johnson noise. The concept of KTC noise is introduced, detailing how it affects charge variation in capacitors. The lecture emphasizes the importance of correlated double sampling (CDS) as a method to mitigate reset noise by measuring the reset level before transferring charges. The instructor also covers readout noise, which is linked to the resistive behavior of the readout electronics, and discusses strategies for its reduction. Finally, the lecture touches on flicker noise, a low-frequency noise type, and reiterates the effectiveness of CDS in noise suppression across CCD and CMOS cameras.