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:
Jul. 24, 2012
Filed:
Dec. 15, 2011
Tiejun Dai, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Hsin-chih Tai, San Jose, CA (US);
Sohei Manabe, San Jose, CA (US);
Hidetoshi Nozaki, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Howard E. Rhodes, San Martin, CA (US);
Tiejun Dai, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Hsin-Chih Tai, San Jose, CA (US);
Sohei Manabe, San Jose, CA (US);
Hidetoshi Nozaki, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Howard E. Rhodes, San Martin, CA (US);
OmniVision Technologies, Inc., Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
A method of operation of a backside illuminated (BSI) pixel array includes acquiring an image signal with a first photosensitive region of a first pixel within the BSI pixel array. The image signal is generated in response to light incident upon a backside of the first pixel. The image signal acquired by the first photosensitive region is transferred to pixel circuitry of the first pixel disposed on a frontside of the first pixel opposite the backside. The pixel circuitry at least partially overlaps the first photosensitive region of the first pixel and extends over die real estate above a second photosensitive region of a second pixel adjacent to the first pixel such that the second pixel donates die real estate unused by the second pixel to the first pixel to accommodate larger pixel circuitry than would fit within the first pixel.