Image sensor with motion artifact supression and anti-blooming
First Claim
1. A method of operating a photosensitive pixel, the method comprising:
- biasing first and second transfer gates disposed in a vicinity of a photoactive region of a semiconductor substrate to accumulate photocharges in the photoactive region during a pixel integration period;
biasing the first and second transfer gates to transfer the accumulated photocharges to a sense node via a region of the semiconductor substrate disposed below the first transfer gate; and
subsequently biasing the first and second transfer gates to transfer additional photocharges in the photoactive region to a power supply node via a region of the semiconductor substrate disposed below the second transfer gate without passing the additional photocharges through the sense node.
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Abstract
An image sensor includes pixels formed on a semiconductor substrate. Each pixel includes a photoactive region in the semiconductor substrate, a sense node, and a power supply node. A first electrode is disposed near a surface of the semiconductor substrate. A bias signal on the first electrode sets a potential in a region of the semiconductor substrate between the photoactive region and the sense node. A second electrode is disposed near the surface of the semiconductor substrate. A bias signal on the second electrode sets a potential in a region of the semiconductor substrate between the photoactive region and the power supply node. The image sensor includes a controller that causes bias signals to be provided to the electrodes so that photocharges generated in the photoactive region are accumulated in the photoactive region during a pixel integration period, the accumulated photocharges are transferred to the sense node during a charge transfer period, and photocharges generated in the photoactive region are transferred to the power supply node during a third period without passing through the sense node. The imager can operate at high shutter speeds with simultaneous integration of pixels in the array. High quality images can be produced free from motion artifacts. High quantum efficiency, good blooming control, low dark current, low noise and low image lag can be obtained.
25 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of operating a photosensitive pixel, the method comprising:
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biasing first and second transfer gates disposed in a vicinity of a photoactive region of a semiconductor substrate to accumulate photocharges in the photoactive region during a pixel integration period;
biasing the first and second transfer gates to transfer the accumulated photocharges to a sense node via a region of the semiconductor substrate disposed below the first transfer gate; and
subsequently biasing the first and second transfer gates to transfer additional photocharges in the photoactive region to a power supply node via a region of the semiconductor substrate disposed below the second transfer gate without passing the additional photocharges through the sense node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of operating an image sensor having an array of photosensitive pixels, the method comprising:
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accumulating photocharges in a respective photoactive region of a semiconductor substrate in each pixel of the array during a common pixel integration period;
biasing respective first and second transfer gates disposed in a vicinity of each photoactive region to transfer the accumulated photocharges from each photoactive region to respective sense nodes; and
subsequently biasing the respective first and second transfer gates to transfer additional photocharges in the photoactive regions to respective power supply nodes via respective regions of the semiconductor substrate below the second transfer gates, without passing the additional photocharges through the respective sense nodes. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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13. An image sensor comprising:
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a plurality of pixels formed on a semiconductor substrate, wherein each pixel includes;
a photoactive region in the semiconductor substrate;
a sense node;
a first electrode disposed near a surface of the semiconductor substrate, wherein a bias signal on the first electrode sets a potential in a region of the semiconductor substrate between the photoactive region and the sense node;
a power supply node; and
a second electrode disposed near the surface of the semiconductor substrate, wherein a bias signal on the second electrode sets a potential in a region of the semiconductor substrate between the photoactive region and the power supply node; and
a controller that causes bias signals to be provided to the electrodes so that photocharges generated in the photoactive region are accumulated in the photoactive region during a pixel integration period, the accumulated photocharges are transferred to the sense node during a charge transfer period, and additional photocharges generated in the photoactive region are transferred to the power supply node during a third period without passing through the sense node.
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21. An image sensor comprising:
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an array of pixels formed in a semiconductor substrate, wherein each pixel includes;
a photoactive region in the semiconductor substrate;
a sense node;
a power supply node; and
first and second transfer gates disposed in proximity to the surface of the semiconductor substrate; and
a controller that causes bias signals to be provided to the electrodes to operate the pixels in one of at least three modes including a first mode in which photocharges generated in the photoactive region of a pixel are accumulated in the pixel'"'"'s photoactive region, a second mode in which the accumulated photocharges are transferred to the pixel'"'"'s sense node via the pixel'"'"'s first transfer gate, and a third mode in which additional photocharges generated in the pixel'"'"'s photoactive region are transferred to the pixel'"'"'s power supply node via the pixel'"'"'s second transfer gate without passing through the pixel'"'"'s sense node. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification