Readout and Control Circuit for a Four Pixel Digital Camera as Semester Project

Bjørn B. Larsen, Linga Reddy Cenkeramaddi, and Jukka Typpö

Department of Electronics and Telecommunications,
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
bjorn.b.larsen@iet.ntnu.no

Abstract
In this paper, we present the design of the readout and
control circuitry for a four pixel digital camera to give the
graduate students experience in analogue and digital inte-
grated circuit design. The main objective of this design pro-
ject is to give the students an insight into design methods
used in the industry. This design project is also targeted to
give an opportunity for the students to learn about paper
writing and/or documentation skills. Submicron technology,
0.6 micron CMOS process is used for the designing of the
proposed four pixel digital camera readout circuit.
1. Introduction
A project to design the readout and control circuit of a
digital camera is used in the subject Design of integrated
circuits [1] as it will expose the students to both analogue
and digital integrated circuit design. Experience in this kind
of analogue and digital IC design projects will make the
students ready to take up the jobs in the industry without
much job training. Thus it makes beneficial to the students
as well as to the industry.
Digital applications are becoming more and more com-
mon in our daily lives, in many cases replacing analogue
applications. However, since the world we live in is ana-
logue, digitalization can not completely remove the need for
analogue applications. What we see today is that we are con-
verging towards a mixture of analogue and digital systems.
If you take a closer look at digital cameras (Figure 1), even
though it is called a digital camera it contains both analogue
and digital parts.
Figure 1. Simplified view of a digital camera.
As shown in Figure 1, an analogue signal that varies
with time is generated by imaging sensors. For this assign-
ment, photo diodes are used. This input signal is converted
to a digital signal through the use of an Analogue to Digital
Converter (ADC or A/D) after signal conditioning. After
digitizing the signal, the picture can be stored and displayed
in digital form. In the following sections, we present the
design of the readout and control circuit for a four pixel
digital camera.
2. Pixel circuit design
Figure 2 shows the analogue part of a single pixel circuit
where the input photo detector is represented by a current
generator and a pn-diode. The photodiode generates a cur-
rent that is dependent on the light conditions. Bright light
will result in a stronger current than if dim light falls on the
photodiode. The current results in a charge in the capaci-
tance CS. The amount of charge depends on the current and
the exposure time. Long exposure time combined with a
small current can result in the same charge as a strong cur-
rent combined with short exposure time. If the pixel is ex-
posed for too long or in too bright light, the charge will be-
come too large. This will result in an excessive voltage over
the capacitor, which in turn will result in an overexposed
picture.
The pixel circuit can be represented by the symbol
shown in Figure 3.
Figure 2. Schematic of the single pixel circuit.
The transistor controlled by the signal NHOLD controls
the charging of the capacitor CS. The longer the transistor is
on, the more current can flow into the capacitor. This con-
trols the exposure time. In poor light conditions, this transis-
tor should be on for a longer time than in good light condi-
tions.
The transistor controlled by the signal ERASE discharges
the capacitor before every exposure, to prepare for the expo-
sure.
The NRE-signal is used to connect the output from the

2007 IEEE International Conference on Microelectronic Systems Education (MSE'07)

0-7695-2849-X/07 $20.00 © 2007
 pixel circuit to the ADC as shown in Figure 5. In this case
two pixels share one ADC. The NRE-signal must be timed
correctly for each pixel to avoid that both pixel circuits con-
nect to the ADC at the same time.
Figure 3. Symbol of the single pixel circuit.
The first part of the student assignment is to determine
suitable geometries for the transistors used in the pixel cir-
cuit to meet the given specifications.
Figure 4 shows the simulation results obtained for a sin-
gle pixel circuit for 2 ms exposure time. These simulations
are performed using aimspice.net [2].
dents. Most of them have their own camera and a cellular
phone with a camera on and a web-cam. By reducing the
complexity to 4 pixels, the control circuit is manageable and
simulation may be performed at a reasonable time.
A summer student has designed and constructed an ex-
tended discrete version of the readout control circuit. With 8
pixels and VGA-out, it is possible to demonstrate the func-
tionality of the circuit.
The students may see a very relevant circuit and that this
assignment is not just for academic purposes. It is evident
from feedback from the students that this helps in the com-
prehension of the subject.

Figure 4. Simulation results for the single pixel cir-

cuit.

3. The digital control block Figure 5. A 2×2 pixel array where each column has
its own ADC and active load for the buffer.
The students design the digital control for the analogue
circuit. This design is done in Verilog® and simulated using
Silos® from Simucad. Typical control signals for the pixel
circuit are shown in Figure 6.
The exposure time is preloaded to a register and the ex-
posure is initiated by a control-signal. ERASE is active when
the circuit is waiting for the next exposure. Following the
exposure signal, ERASE is turned off and NHOLD is turned
on for the preset exposure time. Then readout of the cap- Figure 6. The required control signals for the pixel
tured charge is initiated and the signals NRE_R1 and circuit.
NRE_R2 are activated in sequence. For each pixel line, ADC
is turned on to activate the shared ADCs. Finally RESET is
turned on until the next exposure is initiated. 5. References
The typical control circuit is a state-machine with pre-
settable counters. [1] TFE4151, Design of integrated circuits, NTNU Trondheim.
http://www.iet.ntnu.no/courses/tfe4151/ (in Norwegian)
4. Experience [2] http://ngl.iet.ntnu.no/ Next generation lab at NTNU Trondheim.

The concept of a digital camera is well known to the stu-

2007 IEEE International Conference on Microelectronic Systems Education (MSE'07)

0-7695-2849-X/07 $20.00 © 2007