Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Dongseok Cho

Jaekyu Lee

JungChak Ahn

Minwoong Seo

Dongmo Im

Jongeun Park

SeungSik Kim

Jeongsoon Kang

Gwideok Ryan Lee

Gyunha Park

Kyoung Cho Na

Disclosed is an image sensor. Each of a plurality of pixels includes a photo diode, a transfer transistor connected between the photo diode and a floating diffusion node, a reset transistor connected between the floating diffusion node and a first power node to which a first power supply voltage is applied, a first source follower transistor including a gate connected to the floating diffusion node, a first terminal connected to a second power node to which a second power supply voltage is applied, and a second terminal connected to a first node, a precharge transistor connected between the first node and a floating node, a first precharge select transistor connected between the floating node and a ground node, a second precharge select transistor connected between the first node and a second node, and a first capacitor connected between a gate of the precharge transistor and the floating node.

Image sensor preventing image degradation

The stacked image sensor includes a first semiconductor substrate and including a photoelectric conversion region and a floating diffusion area, a first insulating layer under the first semiconductor substrate and including a gate of a transfer transistor, a second semiconductor substrate under the first insulating layer and including first impurities of a first conductivity type, and a second insulating layer under the second semiconductor substrate and including a metal pad of a floating diffusion node and a gate of a source follower transistor, wherein the floating diffusion area and the metal pad of the floating diffusion node are electrically connected through a deep contact that is in the first insulating layer and the second semiconductor substrate. The second semiconductor substrate further includes a well region. At least a portion of deep contact may be in the well region. The well region may surround the deep contact.

Stacked image sensors

A method of driving an image sensor includes integrating an overflowed charge from a photodiode in the floating diffusion area and a dynamic range capacitor. The dynamic range capacitor is formed between the floating diffusion area and a power supply voltage. The method further includes sampling a first voltage formed in the floating diffusion area by the integrated overflowed charge, resetting the photodiode, the floating diffusion area, and the dynamic range capacitor, sampling a reset level of the reset floating diffusion area, transferring a charge accumulated in the photodiode to the floating diffusion area, and sampling a second voltage formed in the floating diffusion area.

Image sensor and driving method thereof

Growing community of inventors

Seongnam-si, South Korea

Dongseok Cho