Active pixel sensor with sensing circuits and output circuits disposed on the same substrate

• US 10,455,179 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2017
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silicon Optronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Silicon Optronics, Inc.
• Inventors: He, Xinping
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Ngoc Yen T
• Application Number:
  US15/683,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20190007640A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 348308-310
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14612 involving a transistor
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14636 Interconnect structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14643 Photodiode arrays; MOS imagers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/75 Circuitry for providing, modifying or processing image signals from the pixel array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/77 Pixel circuitry, e.g. memories, A/D converters, pixel amplifiers, shared circuits or shared components
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/778 comprising amplifiers shared between a plurality of pixels, i.e. at least one part of the amplifier must be on the sensor array itself
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/78 Readout circuits for addressed sensors, e.g. output amplifiers or A/D converters

Abstract

An active pixel sensor is provided. The active pixel sensor includes a substrate, a plurality of sensing circuits, and a plurality of output circuits. The substrate is divided into a plurality of pixel rows. A plurality of pixel areas are disposed on the plurality of pixel rows. The plurality of sensing circuits are disposed in the pixel areas on the pixel rows excluding a specific pixel row among the plurality of pixel rows. The plurality of sensing circuits are further disposed on a plurality of pixel columns to form an array. Each of the plurality of sensing circuits includes a sensing element, a transfer transistor, and a floating diffusion node. The plurality of output circuits are disposed in the pixel areas on the specific pixel row. The sensing circuits on the same pixel column are coupled to the same output circuit.

Claims

1. An active pixel sensor comprising:

a substrate divided into a plurality of pixel rows, wherein a plurality of pixel areas are disposed on the plurality of pixel rows;

a plurality of sensing circuits disposed in the pixel areas on the pixel rows excluding a specific pixel row among the plurality of pixel rows, wherein the plurality of sensing circuits are further disposed on a plurality of pixel columns to form an array, and each of the plurality of sensing circuits comprises a sensing element, a transfer transistor, and a floating diffusion node; and

a plurality of output circuits disposed in the pixel areas on the specific pixel row,

wherein the sensing circuits on the same pixel column are coupled to the same output circuit,

wherein the sensing circuits on the same pixel column are coupled to the same output circuit through a connection line, and

wherein in each sensing circuit, a first terminal of the sensing element is coupled to a ground, and a second terminal of the sensing element is coupled to a first node, a first terminal of the transfer transistor is coupled to the first node, a control terminal of the transfer transistor receives a scan signal, a second terminal of the transfer transistor is coupled to the floating diffusion node, and the floating diffusion node is coupled to the corresponding connection line.

2. The active pixel sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing circuits on the adjacent pixel columns of a predetermined number are coupled to the same output circuit.

3. The active pixel sensor as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sensing circuits on the adjacent pixel columns with the predetermined number are coupled to the same output circuit through a connection line.

4. The active pixel sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the specific pixel row is the first or last one among the plurality of pixel rows.

5. The active pixel sensor as claimed in claim 1, the specific pixel row is disposed between any two of the other pixel rows.

6. The active pixel sensor claimed in claim 1, wherein each output circuit is coupled to the corresponding connection line and a corresponding bit line, and each output circuit comprises:

a reset transistor having a control terminal receiving a reset signal, a first terminal receiving a supply voltage, and a second terminal coupled to the corresponding connection line;

a source follower having a control terminal coupled to the corresponding connection line, a first terminal receiving the supply voltage, and a second terminal coupled to a second node; and

a selection transistor controlled by a selection signal and coupled between the second node and the corresponding bit line.

7. The active pixel sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the sensing circuits on two adjacent pixel columns among the plurality of pixel columns are coupled to the same output circuit, the control terminals of the transfer transistors of the sensing circuits on the two adjacent pixel columns and on the same pixel row receive the corresponding scan signals through different word lines respectively.

8. The active pixel sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the sensing circuits on two adjacent pixel columns among the plurality of pixel columns are coupled to the same output circuit, the sensing circuits on the two adjacent pixel columns are coupled to the same connection line.

9. The active pixel sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the floating diffusion nodes of the sensing circuits on the same pixel column are coupled to the same output circuit through one connection line.

10. An active pixel sensor comprising:

a substrate comprising a plurality of pixel areas which are disposed on a plurality of pixel columns and a plurality of pixel rows to form an array;

a plurality of sensing circuits disposed in the pixel areas on the pixel rows excluding a specific pixel row among the plurality of pixel rows, wherein each of the plurality of sensing circuits comprises a sensing element, a transfer transistor, and a floating diffusion node; and

a plurality of output circuits disposed in the pixel areas on the specific pixel row,

wherein the sensing circuits on the same pixel column are coupled to the same output circuit,

wherein the sensing circuits on the same pixel column are coupled to the same output circuit through a connection line, and

wherein in each sensing circuit, a first terminal of the sensing element is coupled to a ground, and a second terminal of the sensing element is coupled to a first node, a first terminal of the transfer transistor is coupled to the first node, a control terminal of the transfer transistor receives a scan signal, a second terminal of the transfer transistor is coupled to the floating diffusion node, and the floating diffusion node is coupled to the corresponding connection line.

11. The active pixel sensor as claimed in claim 10, wherein the specific pixel row is the first or last one among the plurality of pixel rows.

12. The active pixel sensor as claimed in claim 10, wherein the specific pixel row is disposed between any two of the other pixel rows.

13. The active pixel sensor claimed in claim 10, wherein each output circuit is coupled to the corresponding connection line and a corresponding bit line, and each output circuit comprises:

a reset transistor having a control terminal receiving a reset signal, a first terminal receiving a supply voltage, and a second terminal coupled to the corresponding connection line;

a source follower having a control terminal coupled to the corresponding connection line, a first terminal receiving the supply voltage, and a second terminal coupled to a second node; and

a selection transistor controlled by a selection signal and coupled between the second node and the corresponding bit line.

14. The active pixel sensor as claimed in claim 10, wherein the floating diffusion nodes of the sensing circuits on the same pixel column are coupled to the same output circuit through one connection line.