Wide dynamic range pinned photodiode active pixel sensor (aps)
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An imaging apparatus, comprising:
- a first pixel circuit, comprising a first transfer pulse line, coupled to a gate of a first transfer transistor, wherein first transfer transistor transfers charge from a first photodiode to a first floating diffusion node, and wherein said first floating diffusion node is further coupled to a gate of a first source-follower transistor;
a second pixel circuit, comprising a second transfer pulse line, coupled to a gate of a second transfer transistor, wherein second transfer transistor transfers integrated charge from a second photodiode and to a second floating diffusion node, and wherein said second floating diffusion node is further coupled to a gate of a second source-follower transistor;
a reset pulse line, connected to the gate of a first and second reset transistor, wherein the first reset transistor is coupled to reset the first floating diffusion node to a predetermined voltage state, and the second reset transistor is coupled to reset the second floating diffusion node to a predetermined voltage state; and
a first and second row-select transistor, respectively coupled to the first and second source-follower transistors for respectively coupling said first and second source follower transistors to a first column signal line and a second column signal line, said first transfer pulse line receiving a signal which operates said first photodiode to integrate charge for a first time period and said second transfer pulse line receiving a signal which operates said second photodiode to integrate charge for a second time period different from said first time period.
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Abstract
An image apparatus and method is disclosed for extending the dynamic range of an image sensor. A first linear pixel circuit produces a first pixel output signal based on charge integration by a first photo-conversion device over a first integration period. A second linear pixel circuit produces a second pixel output signal based on charge integration by a second photo-conversion device over a second integration period, where the second integration period is shorter than the first integration period. A sample-and-hold circuit captures signals representing the first and second pixel output signals.
104 Citations
51 Claims
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1. An imaging apparatus, comprising:
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a first pixel circuit, comprising a first transfer pulse line, coupled to a gate of a first transfer transistor, wherein first transfer transistor transfers charge from a first photodiode to a first floating diffusion node, and wherein said first floating diffusion node is further coupled to a gate of a first source-follower transistor;
a second pixel circuit, comprising a second transfer pulse line, coupled to a gate of a second transfer transistor, wherein second transfer transistor transfers integrated charge from a second photodiode and to a second floating diffusion node, and wherein said second floating diffusion node is further coupled to a gate of a second source-follower transistor;
a reset pulse line, connected to the gate of a first and second reset transistor, wherein the first reset transistor is coupled to reset the first floating diffusion node to a predetermined voltage state, and the second reset transistor is coupled to reset the second floating diffusion node to a predetermined voltage state; and
a first and second row-select transistor, respectively coupled to the first and second source-follower transistors for respectively coupling said first and second source follower transistors to a first column signal line and a second column signal line, said first transfer pulse line receiving a signal which operates said first photodiode to integrate charge for a first time period and said second transfer pulse line receiving a signal which operates said second photodiode to integrate charge for a second time period different from said first time period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An image apparatus, comprising:
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a first linear pixel circuit for producing a first pixel output signal based on charge integration by a first photo-conversion device over a first integration period;
a second linear pixel circuit for producing a second pixel output signal based on charge integration by a second photo-conversion device over a second integration period, wherein second integration period is shorter than the first integration period; and
a sample-and-hold circuit for capturing signals representing said first and second pixel output signals. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for operating an image apparatus, comprising:
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producing a first pixel output signal based on charge integration by a first photo-conversion device over a first integration period;
producing a second pixel output signal based on charge integration by a second photo-conversion device over a second integration period, wherein second integration period is shorter than the first integration period; and
capturing signals representing said first and second pixel output signals. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An imaging apparatus, comprising:
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a first pixel circuit, comprising a first transfer pulse line, coupled to a gate of a first transfer transistor, wherein first transfer transistor transfers charge from a first photodiode to a floating diffusion node, and wherein said floating diffusion node is further coupled to a reset transistor and a gate of a source-follower transistor;
a second pixel circuit, comprising a second transfer pulse line, coupled to a gate of a second transfer transistor, wherein second transfer transistor transfers integrated charge from a second photodiode and to the floating diffusion node;
a reset pulse line, connected to the gate of the reset transistor, wherein the reset transistor is coupled to reset the floating diffusion node to a predetermined voltage state; and
a row-select transistor, respectively coupled to the source-follower transistors for respectively coupling said first and second pixel circuits to a column signal line, said first transfer pulse line receiving a signal which operates said first photodiode to integrate charge for a first time period and said second transfer pulse line receiving a signal which operates said second photodiode to integrate charge for a second time period different from said first time period. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An imaging apparatus, comprising:
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a first pixel circuit, comprising a first transfer pulse line, coupled to a gate of a first transfer transistor, wherein first transfer transistor transfers charge from a first photodiode to a first floating diffusion node, and wherein said first floating diffusion node is further coupled to a first reset transistor, a first capacitor, and a second capacitor, said second capacitor being coupled to a common floating gate line;
a second pixel circuit, comprising a second transfer pulse line, coupled to a gate of a first transfer transistor, wherein first transfer transistor transfers charge from a second photodiode to a second floating diffusion node, and wherein said second floating diffusion node is further coupled to a second reset transistor, a third capacitor, and a fourth capacitor, said fourth capacitor being coupled to the common floating gate line;
a reset pulse line, connected to the gates of the first and second reset transistor, wherein the first and second reset transistors are coupled to respectively reset the first and second floating diffusion node to a predetermined voltage state;
a floating gate pulse line, connected to a floating gate transistor, wherein the floating gate transistor is further coupled to the common floating gate line; and
a source-follower transistor, coupled to the common floating gate line for respectively coupling said first and second pixel circuits to a column signal line, said first transfer pulse line receiving a signal which operates said first photodiode to integrate charge for a first time period and said second transfer pulse line receiving a signal which operates said second photodiode to integrate charge for a second time period different from said first time period. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A processing system, comprising:
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a processor; and
a CMOS imaging device, coupled to said processor, said imaging device comprising;
a first pixel circuit, comprising a first transfer pulse line, coupled to a gate of a first transfer transistor, wherein first transfer transistor transfers charge from a first photodiode to a first floating diffusion node, and wherein said first floating diffusion node is further coupled to a gate of a first source-follower transistor;
a second pixel circuit, comprising a second transfer pulse line, coupled to a gate of a second transfer transistor, wherein second transfer transistor transfers integrated charge from a second photodiode and to a second floating diffusion node, and wherein said second floating diffusion node is further coupled to a gate of a second source-follower transistor;
a reset pulse line, connected to the gate of a first and second reset transistor, wherein the first reset transistor is coupled to reset the first floating diffusion node to a predetermined voltage state, and the second reset transistor is coupled to reset the second floating diffusion node to a predetermined voltage state; and
a first and second row-select transistor, respectively coupled to the first and second source-follower transistors for respectively coupling said first and second source follower transistors to a first column signal line and a second column signal line, said first transfer pulse line receiving a signal which operates said first photodiode to integrate charge for a first time period and said second transfer pulse line receiving a signal which operates said second photodiode to integrate charge for a second time period different from said first time period. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A processing system, comprising:
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a processor; and
a CMOS imaging device, coupled to said processor, said imaging device comprising;
a first linear pixel circuit for producing a first pixel output signal based on charge integration by a first photo-conversion device over a first integration period;
a second linear pixel circuit for producing a second pixel output signal based on charge integration by a second photo-conversion device over a second integration period, wherein second integration period is shorter than the first integration period; and
a sample-and-hold circuit for capturing signals representing said first and second pixel output signals. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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Specification