The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Apr. 11, 2023

Filed:

Apr. 16, 2021
Applicant:

Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc, Redmond, WA (US);

Inventor:

Minseok Oh, San Jose, CA (US);

Assignee:
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 5/378 (2011.01); H01L 27/146 (2006.01); H04N 5/355 (2011.01); H04N 5/361 (2011.01); H04N 5/374 (2011.01); H04N 5/3745 (2011.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 5/378 (2013.01); H01L 27/14612 (2013.01); H01L 27/14643 (2013.01); H04N 5/3559 (2013.01); H04N 5/361 (2013.01); H04N 5/37452 (2013.01);
Abstract

An image sensor includes sensing pixels, each comprising a photodetector in electrical communication with a floating diffusion capacitor via a transfer gate, and a lateral overflow storage capacitor coupled to the floating diffusion capacitor via a lateral overflow control gate. A first readout circuit circuitry located between the transfer gate and the lateral overflow control gate comprises a first amplifier. A second readout circuitry, located opposite the lateral overflow control gate from the first readout circuitry, comprises a second amplifier. Following image integration, charge stored on the floating diffusion capacitor is readout using the first readout circuitry and charge stored on the lateral overflow storage capacitor is readout using the second readout circuitry. In a second readout, charge stored on the photodetector is readout using the first readout circuitry with a first amplification applied and charge stored on the photodetector is readout with a second, different amplification applied.


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