A correlated double sampler (CDS) circuit having a ping/pong architecture which employs only a single amplifier, and a CCD image sensor output processing circuit including such a CDS circuit and preferably also an analog-to-digital converter for processing the output of the CDS circuit and a black level correction feedback loop. In one cycle of operation (during processing of the raw output of a CCD sensor), the CDS circuit receives a first set of control signals followed by a second set of control signals, its output signal in response to the first set is indicative of the value of one pixel of a sensed image, and its output signal in response to the second set is indicative of the value of the next pixel of the image. Preferably, each set of control signals consists of a clamp signal, a sample signal, and a hold signal. Since the output signal of the CDS circuit has the same offset voltage for all pixels of an image, black level correction can be implemented using only one black level correction feedback loop. Use of a single amplifier (rather than two) and one black level correction loop (rather than two) reduces power consumption. Preferably, the amplifier of the CDS circuit produces a differential output so that the CDS circuit has a better power supply rejection ratio than do conventional CDS circuits. Also preferably, the invention is implemented with CMOS technology as an integrated circuit or portion of an integrated circuit.

 
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