Noise performance of an implantable self-reset CMOS image sensor

Abstract

We developed and evaluated a miniaturized CMOS image sensor with self-reset function in order to improve signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of an implantable imaging device. The sensor is capable to image under high intensity illumination where the peak SNR determined by the shot-noise is increased. The pixel size is 15-μm square, which is as small as neural cells and acceptable for implantable image sensor. With illumination of 1.7 × 10-3 W/cm2, and a frame rate of approximately 230 fps, SNR over 60 dB was achieved.