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:
May. 08, 2018
Filed:
Apr. 06, 2017
Omnivision Technologies, Inc., Santa Clara, CA (US);
Sohei Manabe, San Jose, CA (US);
Keiji Mabuchi, Los Altos, CA (US);
Takayuki Goto, Foster City, CA (US);
Gang Chen, San Jose, CA (US);
OmniVision Technologies, Inc., Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
A pixel circuit for use in an image sensor includes an unpinned photodiode disposed in a semiconductor material. The unpinned photodiode adapted to photogenerate charge carriers in response to incident light. A floating diffusion is disposed in the semiconductor and coupled to receive the charge carriers photogenerated in the unpinned photodiode. A transfer transistor is disposed in the semiconductor material and coupled between the unpinned photodiode and the floating diffusion. The transfer transistor is adapted to be switched on to transfer the charge carriers photogenerated in the unpinned photodiode to the floating diffusion. A boost capacitor is disposed over a surface of the semiconductor material proximate to the unpinned photodiode. The boost capacitor is coupled to receive a photodiode boost signal while the transfer transistor is switched on to further drive the charge carriers photogenerated in the unpinned photodiode to the floating diffusion.