Digital pixel sensor (DPS) has evolved as a pivotal component in modern imaging systems and has the potential to revolutionize various fields such as medical imaging, astronomy, surveillance, IoT devices, etc. Compared to analog pixel sensors, the DPS offers high speed and good image quality. However, the introduced intrinsic complexity within each pixel, primarily attributed to the accommodation of the ADC circuit, engenders a substantial increase in the pixel pitch. Unfortunately, such a pronounced escalation in pixel pitch drastically undermines the feasibility of achieving high-density integration, which is an obstacle that significantly narrows down the field of potential applications. Nonetheless, designing compact conversion circuits along with strategic integration of 3D architectural paradigms can be a potential remedy to the prevailing situation. This review article presents a comprehensive overview of the vast area of DPS technology. The operating principles, advantages, and challenges of different types of DPS circuits have been analyzed. We categorize the schemes into several categories based on ADC operation. A comparative study based on different performance metrics has also been showcased for a well-rounded understanding.

数字像素传感器(DPS)已成为现代成像系统中的关键组件，具有在医学成像、天文学、监控、物联网设备等各个领域革命性潜力。然而，由于ADC电路引入的内在复杂性，使得像素间距显著增加，极大地限制了高密度集成的可行性，而设计紧凑的转换电路以及战略性地集成三维架构范式可能成为解决当前问题的潜在方法。本综述全面概述了DPS技术的广泛领域，分析了不同类型DPS电路的工作原理、优势和挑战。我们根据ADC操作将这些方案分为几个类别，并展示了基于不同性能指标的对比研究，以便全面了解。

数字像素传感器综述