IMAGER PIXEL WITH CAPACITANCE CIRCUIT FOR BOOSTING RESET VOLTAGE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A pixel circuit comprising:
- a photo-conversion device;
a floating diffusion region for receiving and storing charge from said photo-conversion device;
a reset transistor for resetting said floating diffusion region to a predetermined reset voltage state;
a first capacitance circuit coupled to said floating diffusion region for storing charge received from said photo-conversion device;
a readout circuit for reading out a signal based on charges stored at said floating diffusion region and said first capacitance circuit; and
a voltage boost circuit operating in response to a switching state of a switching device of said pixel circuit for boosting a reset voltage on said floating diffusion region above said predetermined reset voltage state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pixel cell in which a capacitance is coupled between a storage node and a row select transistor and another capacitance is coupled between a storage node and a voltage supply or ground source potential to boost a reset voltage.
57 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A pixel circuit comprising:
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a photo-conversion device;
a floating diffusion region for receiving and storing charge from said photo-conversion device;
a reset transistor for resetting said floating diffusion region to a predetermined reset voltage state;
a first capacitance circuit coupled to said floating diffusion region for storing charge received from said photo-conversion device;
a readout circuit for reading out a signal based on charges stored at said floating diffusion region and said first capacitance circuit; and
a voltage boost circuit operating in response to a switching state of a switching device of said pixel circuit for boosting a reset voltage on said floating diffusion region above said predetermined reset voltage state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A pixel of an imaging device comprising:
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a photo-conversion device;
a floating diffusion region for receiving and storing charge from said photo-conversion device;
a reset transistor for resetting said floating diffusion region to a predetermined reset voltage state;
a first capacitor coupled to said floating diffusion region for storing charge received from said-photo-conversion device;
a readout circuit for reading out a signal based on charges stored at said floating diffusion region and said first capacitance circuit; and
a second capacitor operating in response to a switching state of a switching device of said pixel circuit for boosting a reset voltage on said floating diffusion region above said predetermined reset voltage state, said first and second capacitors having a common first electrode and respective second electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A method of fabricating an integrated circuit comprising:
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forming a photo-conversion device;
forming a floating diffusion region for receiving and storing charge from said photo-conversion device;
forming a reset transistor for resetting said floating diffusion region to a predetermined reset voltage state;
forming a first capacitance circuit coupled to said floating diffusion region for storing charge received from said photo-conversion device;
forming a readout circuit for reading out a signal based on charges stored at said floating diffusion region and said first capacitance circuit; and
forming a voltage boost circuit operating in response to a switching state of a switching device of said pixel circuit for boosting a reset voltage on said floating diffusion region above said predetermined reset voltage state. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of operating a pixel comprising the steps of:
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receiving light in a photo-conversion device, said photo-conversion device converting said light into electrical charge;
resetting a floating diffusion region to a predetermined reset voltage state;
boosting a voltage on said floating diffusion region above said predetermined reset voltage state with a capacitance circuit operating in response to a switching state of a switching device of said pixel circuit;
reading out said boosted reset voltage;
storing charge from said photo-conversion device in said floating diffusion region and in another capacitance circuit coupled to said floating diffusion region; and
reading out a signal based on stored charge at said floating diffusion region from said photo-conversion device. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A pixel circuit comprising:
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a photo-conversion device;
a floating diffusion region for receiving and storing charge from said photo-conversion device;
a transfer transistor for delivering said charge from said photo-conversion device to said floating diffusion region;
a reset transistor for resetting said floating diffusion region to a predetermined reset voltage state;
a first capacitor coupled to said floating diffusion region for storing charge received from said photo-conversion device;
a source follower transistor coupled to said floating diffusion region for providing pixel output signals;
a row select transistor for selectively operating said source follower transistor; and
a voltage boost circuit operating in response to a switching state of said row select transistor for boosting a reset voltage on said floating diffusion region above said predetermined reset voltage state. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. A pixel circuit comprising:
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a photo-conversion device;
a floating diffusion region for receiving and storing charge from said photo-conversion device;
a transfer transistor coupled between the photo-conversion device and the floating diffusion region for delivering said charge from said photo-conversion device to said floating diffusion region;
a reset transistor for resetting said floating diffusion region to a predetermined reset voltage state;
a first capacitor coupled to said floating diffusion region for storing charge received from said photo-conversion device;
a row select transistor coupled to said second capacitor;
a source follower transistor coupled to said second capacitor-for reading out a signal based on charges stored at said floating diffusion region and said first capacitance circuit; and
a second capacitor operating in response to a switching state of a switching device of said pixel circuit for boosting a reset voltage on said floating diffusion region above said predetermined reset voltage state.
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29. An imager comprising:
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an array of pixel circuits, at least one pixel circuit of said array comprising;
a photo-conversion device;
a floating diffusion region for receiving and storing charge from said photo-conversion device;
a reset transistor for resetting said floating diffusion region to a predetermined reset voltage state;
a first capacitance circuit coupled to said floating diffusion region for storing charge received from said photo-conversion device;
a readout circuit for reading out a signal based on charges stored at said floating diffusion region and said first capacitance circuit; and
a voltage boost circuit operating in response to a switching state of a switching device of said pixel circuit for boosting a reset voltage on said floating diffusion region above said predetermined reset voltage state. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A processing system comprising:
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a processor; and
an imager electronically coupled to said processor, said imager comprising an array of pixel circuits, at least one pixel circuit of said array comprising;
a photo-conversion device;
a floating diffusion region for receiving and storing charge from said photo-conversion device;
a reset transistor for resetting said floating diffusion region to a predetermined reset voltage state;
a first capacitance circuit coupled to said floating diffusion region for storing charge received from said photo-conversion device;
a readout circuit for reading out a signal based on charges stored at said floating diffusion region and said first capacitance circuit; and
a voltage boost circuit operating in response to a switching state of a switching device of said pixel circuit for boosting a reset voltage on said floating diffusion region above said predetermined reset voltage state. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification