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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 01, 2005
Filed:
Apr. 16, 2003
Richard B. Merrill, Woodside, CA (US);
Robert S. Hannebauer, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Glenn J. Keller, West Chester, PA (US);
James Tornes, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Richard B. Merrill, Woodside, CA (US);
Robert S. Hannebauer, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Glenn J. Keller, West Chester, PA (US);
James Tornes, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Foveon, Inc., Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
Vertical-color-filter pixel sensors having simplified wiring and reduced transistor counts are disclosed. In an embodiment, a single line is used for reference voltage, pixel reset voltage, and column-output signals in a VCF pixel sensor. In another embodiment, row-reset signals and row-enable signals are sent across a line that is shared between adjacent rows in an array of VCF pixel sensors. The present invention also provides an optimized layout for a VCF pixel sensor with shared row-reset, row-enable, reference voltage and column-output lines as well as a VCF pixel sensor in which source-follower voltage, source-follower amplifier voltage and row-enable signals all share a common line. These combined line embodiments can be used with a single column-output line as well as two row-enable lines. The embodiments can also be implemented in a VCF pixel sensor without a row-enable transistor.