Micron Technology Incorporated

Aptina Imaging Corporation

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Round Rock Research, LLC

Peter Parker Altice

Jeffrey A McKee

Jeffrey D Bruce

Joey Shah

Richard A Mauritzson

Jeff A Mckee

Jeffery A McKee

Kevin G Duesman

Xiangli Li

Moshe Reuven

Donald E Robinson

Ed Jenkins

Chen Hui Xu

Gennadiy A Agranov

John W Ladd

Rick Mauritzson

Grzegorz M Waligorski

A CMOS imaging system with increased charge storage of pixels yet decreased physical size, kTC noise and active area. A storage node is connected to the transfer gate and provides a storage node for a pixel, allowing for kTC noise reduction prior to readout. The pixel may be operated with the shutter gate on during the integration period to increase the amount of time for charge storage by a pixel.

Image sensor with a gated storage node linked to transfer gate

An imaging system includes a pixel that does not require a row select transistor. Instead, an operating voltage is selectively provided to the pixel's readout circuitry, and the readout circuitry provides output signals based on charge or voltage of a storage node. The operating voltage can be selectively provided to each row of a pixel array by a row driver. Each pixel includes a source follower transistor that provides an output signal on a column output line for readout. An anti-blooming transistor may be linked to each pixel's photosensor to provide an overflow path for electrons during charge integration, prior to transfer of charge to the pixel's storage node by a transfer transistor. Electrons not produced by an image are introduced to the photosensor prior to image acquisition, filling traps in the photosensor to reduce image degradation.

Resetting a row driven imager pixel

Row driven imager pixel

Embodiments of the present invention provide pixel cells with increased storage capacity, which are capable of anti-blooming operations. In an exemplary embodiment a pixel cell has an electronic shutter that transfers charge generated by a photo-conversion device to a storage node before further transferring the charge to the pixel cell's floating diffusion node. Each pixel cell also includes an anti-blooming transistor for directing excess charge out of each respective pixel cell, thus preventing blooming. Additionally, two or more pixel cells of an array may share a floating diffusion node and reset and readout circuitry.

Storage pixel

A CMOS imaging system with increased charge storage capacitance of pixels yet decreased physical size, kTC noise and active area. A capacitor is linked to the transfer gate and provides a storage node for a pixel, allowing for kTC noise reduction prior to readout. The pixel may be operated with the shutter gate on during the integration period to increase the amount of time for charge storage by a pixel.

Image sensor with a capacitive storage node linked to transfer gate

A method for automatically measuring the modulation transfer function of an imager is disclosed. A opaque mask is placed over selected columns and rows of the imager during fabrication. In the course of an automated process, photons are uniformly shone over the image sensor. The amount of the input signal that flows from the unmasked pixel cells to the masked pixel cells can then be measured and the modulation transfer function can be determined.

Method for automated testing of the modulation transfer function in image sensors

A method and apparatus are provided for operation of an image sensor during signal readout. During a reset operation the gate of a reset transistor coupled to the storage node receives a voltage greater than a threshold voltage to produce a reset of the storage node. During a period where photogenerated charges stored at the storage node are read out the gate of the reset transistor receives a voltage Vgreater than ground, but less than a maximum voltage which can be stored at the storage node.

Method, apparatus and system for charge injection suppression in active pixel sensors

Row driver for selectively supplying operating power to imager pixel

Anti-blooming storage pixel

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Meridian, ID, United States of America

Peter Parker Altice