Vertical color filter detector group and array

• US 20020190254A1
• Filed: 03/20/2002
• Published: 12/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Foveon, Inc. (Avis Budget Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Foveon, Inc. (Avis Budget Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Merrill, Richard B., Turner, Richard M., Lyon, Richard F., Guttosch, Rudolph J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,864,557 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 257/59
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14621 Colour filter arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14647 Multicolour imagers having a stacked pixel-element structure, e.g. npn, npnpn or MQW elements

Abstract

A vertical color detector group according to the present invention is formed on a semiconductor substrate and includes layers for collecting photons of different wavelength bands. The color detector group can be programmed to perform dynamic switching between sub-sampled color data and full measured color readout. The color detector group can also be configured in a portion of an array to emulate color filter array patterns, and programmed to dynamically alter the degree to which color information is sub-sampled. The programmable color detector groups can allow for switching between different levels of quality and resolution, allowing for selection of an optimal pattern based on image content or lighting conditions. By combining the color detector group of the present invention with conventional color filters, color filter arrays of more than three colors can be constructed.

Claims

1. A color detector group formed on a silicon substrate and comprising:

at least three detector layers configured to collect photogenerated carriers, wherein the detector layers are disposed substantially in a vertical alignment with respect to each other, wherein each of said detector layers is sensitive to illumination of a range of colors;

circuitry for converting said photogenerated carriers into electrical signals; and

a plurality of column output lines for delivering said electrical signals to an output bus;

said plurality of column output lines connected to a plurality of selector switches controlled by a column decoder for selecting at least one of the column output lines, said column decoder configured to multiplex the column output lines such that an order of color detector readout is programmable.

2. The color detector group of claim 1, wherein the color detector group is included in a plurality of color detector groups configured in an array having at least two rows and at least two columns, wherein the order of color readout is programmed to emulate a color filter array pattern.

3. The color detector group of claim 2, wherein the color filter array pattern is a Bayer pattern.

4. The color detector group of claim 2, wherein the color readout can be dynamically altered to emulate different color filter array patterns.

5. The color detector group of claim 2, wherein the color readout can be programmed to switch between a color filter array pattern and full measured color data.

6. The color detector group of claim 1, wherein the electrical signals are current signals.

7. The color detector group of claim 1, wherein the electrical signals are voltage signals.

8. The color detector group of claim 1, wherein the color readout is programmed based on image content.

9. The color detector group of claim 1, wherein the color readout is programmed based on at least one lighting condition.

10. The color detector group of claim 1, wherein the color readout is programmed to read out full measured color data.

11. The color detector group of claim 1, further comprising a color filter disposed above the color detection group.

12. The color detector group of claim 11, wherein the color filter comprises an organic color filter.

13. The color detector group of claim 11, wherein the color filter comprises a dielectric color filter.

14. The color detector group of claim 11, wherein the color filter comprises a polysilicon layer.

16. The array of color detector groups of claim 15, wherein a plurality of said color detector groups further comprise color filters disposed above the color detector groups.

18. A plurality of color detector groups of claim 17, configured into an array having at least two rows and at least two columns, the circuitry and column output lines of adjacent detector groups connected to detector layers that correspond to different colors such that the plurality of detector groups substantially emulates a color filter array pattern.

19. The plurality of color detector groups of claim 18, wherein the emulated color filter array pattern is a Bayer pattern.

20. The color detector group of claim 17, wherein the electrical signals are current signals.

21. The color detector group of claim 17, wherein the electrical signals are voltage signals.

22. The color detector group of claim 17, further comprising a color filter disposed above the color detector group.

23. The color detector group of claim 22, wherein the color filter comprises an organic color filter.

24. The color detector group of claim 22, wherein the color filter comprises a dielectric color filter.

25. The color detector group of claim 22, wherein the color filter comprises a polysilicon layer.

27. The array of color detector groups of claim 26, wherein a plurality of said color detector groups further comprise color filters disposed above the color detector groups.

29. The color detector group of claim 28, wherein the electrical signals are current signals.

30. The color detector group of claim 28, wherein the electrical signals are voltage signals.

31. The color detector group of claim 28, further comprising a color filter disposed above the color detector group.

32. The color detector group of claim 31, wherein the color filter comprises an organic color filter.

33. The color detector group of claim 31, wherein the color filter comprises a dielectric color filter.

34. The color detector group of claim 31, wherein the color filter comprises a polysilicon layer.

36. The array of color detector groups of claim 35, wherein the detector layers include red-sensitive, green-sensitive, and blue-sensitive detector layers, and wherein the at least two converting circuits in the first element of one row of the array are connected to the blue-sensitive and the green-sensitive detector layers, the outputs of said converting circuits being selectable onto the column output line by the at least two selection circuits and with each selection circuit controlled by a different signal line, and with subsequent detector groups in the same row connected such that the at least two detector groups connected to the column output lines alternate between red-sensitive/green-sensitive pairs and blue-sensitive/green-sensitive pairs, and the selection lines configured so that one selection line controls the selection circuits that connect blue-sensitive and green-sensitive detector layers through said converting circuits to the column output lines in an alternating fashion, and the other selection line controls the selection circuits that connect green-sensitive and red-sensitive detector layers through said converting circuits to the column output lines in an alternating fashion.

37. The array of color detector groups of claim 35, wherein a plurality of said color detector groups further comprise color filters disposed above the color detector groups.

39. The color detector group of claim 38, wherein the electrical signals are current signals.

40. The color detector group of claim 38, wherein the electrical signals are voltage signals.

41. The color detector group of claim 38, further comprising a color filter disposed above said detector group.

42. The color detector group of claim 41, wherein the color filter comprises an organic color filter.

43. The color detector group of claim 41, wherein the color filter comprises a dielectric color filter.

44. The color detector group of claim 41, wherein the color filter comprises a polysilicon layer.

46. The array of color detector groups of claim 45, wherein the at least three detector layers in each group comprises a first detector layer that is sensitive to a range of blue illumination, a second detector layer that is sensitive to a range of green illumination, and a third detector layer that is sensitive to a range of red illumination, wherein the second detector layer is coupled by the first converting circuit to the first column output line in each group of the array, wherein the second column output line of each group in the array is alternately coupled by the second converting circuit to one of the first detector layer and the third detector layer.

47. The array of color detector groups of claim 46, wherein the first detector layer of a majority of said color detector groups is connected to the first detector layer of one neighboring color detector group of said array, and the third detector layer of a majority of said color detector groups is connected to the third detector layer of one neighboring color detector group of said array.

48. The array of color detector groups of claim 45, wherein a plurality of said color detector groups further comprise color filters disposed above the color detector groups.

50. The color detector group of claim 49, further comprising a color filter disposed above the color detector group.

51. The color detector group of claim 50, wherein the color filter comprises an organic color filter.

52. The color detector group of claim 50, wherein the color filter comprises a dielectric color filter.

53. The color detector group of claim 50, wherein the color filter comprises a polysilicon layer.

55. The array of color detector groups of claim 51, wherein a plurality of said color detector groups further comprise color filters disposed above the color detector groups.

15. An array of color detector groups connected to form at least two rows and two columns of color detector groups, each color detector group formed on a silicon substrate and comprising:

at least three detector layers configured to collect photogenerated carriers, wherein the detector layers are disposed substantially in a vertical alignment with respect to each other, wherein each of said detector layers is sensitive to illumination of a range of colors;

circuitry for converting said photogenerated carriers into electrical signals;

a plurality of column output lines for delivering said electrical signals to an output bus; and

a column decoder for selecting at least one of the column output lines, said column decoder configured to multiplex the column output lines such that an order of color detector readout is programmable.

17. A color detector group formed on a semiconductor substrate, comprising:

at least three detector layers configured to collect photogenerated carriers, wherein said detector layers are disposed substantially in a vertical alignment with respect to each other and wherein each of the detector layers is sensitive to illumination to a range of colors;

circuitry for converting the photogenerated carriers collected by one of the detectors into an electrical signal; and

a column output line for delivering the electrical signal to an output bus.

26. An array of color detector groups connected to form at least two rows and two columns of color detector groups, each color detector group formed on a silicon substrate and comprising:

at least three detector layers configured to collect photogenerated carriers, wherein said detector layers are disposed substantially in a vertical alignment with respect to each other and wherein each of the detector layers is sensitive to illumination to a range of colors;

circuitry for converting the photogenerated carriers collected by one of the detectors into an electrical signal; and

a column output line for delivering the electrical signal to an output bus.

28. A color detector group formed on a silicon substrate and comprising:

at least three detector layers configured to collect photogenerated carriers, wherein the detector layers are disposed substantially in a vertical alignment with respect to each other, wherein each of said detector layers is sensitive to illumination of a range of colors;

at least two converting circuits for converting photogenerated carriers collected by at least two of the detector layers into electrical signals;

a column output line for delivering the electrical signals to an output bus; and

at least two selection circuits that permit selection of one of the electrical signals onto the column output line.

35. An array of color detector groups connected to form at least two rows and two columns of color detector groups, each color detector group formed on a silicon substrate and comprising:

at least three detector layers configured to collect photogenerated carriers, wherein the detector layers are disposed substantially in a vertical alignment with respect to each other, wherein each of said detector layers is sensitive to illumination of a range of colors;

at least two converting circuits for converting photogenerated carriers collected by at least two of the detector layers into electrical signals;

a column output line for delivering the electrical signals to an output bus; and

at least two selection circuits that permit selection of one of the electrical signals onto the column output line.

38. A color detector group formed on a silicon substrate and comprising:

at least three detector layers configured to collect photogenerated carriers, wherein the detector layers are disposed substantially in a vertical alignment with respect to each other, wherein each of said detector layers is sensitive to illumination of a range of colors;

two converting circuits for converting photogenerated carriers collected by a corresponding two of the detector layers into electrical signals; and

first and second column output lines for delivering the electrical signals to an output bus.

45. An array of color detector groups connected to form at least two rows and two columns of color detector groups, each color detector group formed on a silicon substrate and comprising:

at least three detector layers configured to collect photogenerated carriers, wherein the detector layers are disposed substantially in a vertical alignment with respect to each other, wherein each of said detector layers is sensitive to illumination of a range of colors;

first and second converting circuits for converting photogenerated carriers collected by a corresponding two of the detector layers into electrical signals; and

first and second column output lines for delivering the electrical signals to an output bus;

wherein said corresponding two of the detector layers comprise a different pair of the detector layers in alternating detector groups of the array of color detector groups.

49. A color detector group formed on a silicon substrate and comprising:

at least three detector layers configured to collect photogenerated carriers, wherein the detector layers are disposed substantially in a vertical alignment with respect to each other, wherein each of said detector layers is sensitive to illumination of a range of colors;

selection circuits for connecting the photogenerated carriers of each detector layer to at least one converting circuit;

at least one connection line for controlling the activation of the selection circuits;

at least one converting circuit for converting photogenerated carriers collected by at least one of the detector layers into electrical signals; and

at least one column output line for delivering the electrical signals to at least one output bus.

54. An array of color detector groups connected to form at least two rows and two columns of color detector groups, each color detector group formed on a silicon substrate and comprising:

at least three detector layers configured to collect photogenerated carriers, wherein the detector layers are disposed substantially in a vertical alignment with respect to each other, wherein each of said detector layers is sensitive to illumination of a range of colors;

selection circuits for connecting the photogenerated carriers of each detector layer to at least one converting circuit;

at least one connection line for controlling the activation of the selection circuits;

at least one converting circuit for converting photogenerated carriers collected by at least one of the detector layers into electrical signals; and

at least one column output line for delivering the electrical signals to at least one output bus.