Apparatus for controlling operation of a multiple photosensor pixel image sensor

• US 20080136933A1
• Filed: 12/11/2007
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Digital Imaging Systems GmbH
• Original Assignee: Digital Imaging Systems GmbH
• Inventors: Yang, Guang, Dosluoglu, Taner
• Application Number:
  US12/001,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20080136933A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/223.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/134 based on three different wavelength filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/46 by combining or binning pixels
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/70 SSIS architectures; Circuits associated therewith
• 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 3/1562 for selective scanning, e.g. windowing, zooming

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling operation of a color multiple sensor pixel image sensor includes a row control circuit in communication with rows of the array of plurality of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors. The control apparatus generates reset control signals, transfer gating signals, and row selecting signals for control the integration of photoelectrons generated from the light impinging upon the array of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors and charge transfer of the photoelectrons by the plurality of transfer switches between the photosensing devices and from the photosensing devices to the combined photosensing and charge storage device. The control apparatus provides the row selecting signals for sequentially selecting rows of the plurality of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors such that output signals from each of the color multiple sensor pixel image sensors on a selected row are transferred for detection.

Claims

1. An image sensor fabricated on a surface of a substrate for sensing differentiated color components of light impinging upon said pixel image sensor, said image sensor comprising:

an array of a plurality of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors arranged in rows and columns upon said substrate for sensing said differentiated color components of light impinging upon said image sensor, each of said multiple photosensor pixel image sensor comprising;

a plurality of first level photosensing devices formed within said surface of said substrate, each first level photosensing device is structured for conversion of photons of one of said differentiated color components to photoelectrons,

a plurality of second level photosensing devices formed within said surface of said substrate, each second level photosensing device is structured for conversion of photons of one of said differentiated color components to photoelectrons,

a combined photosensing and charge storage device formed within said surface of said surface and structured for conversion of photons of a principal color of said differentiated color components to photoelectrons and connected to sequentially receive photoelectrons from each of said plurality of first level photosensing devices and said second level photosensing, and

a plurality of first level transfer switches, each first level transfer switch connected such that photoelectrons are selectively and sequentially transferred from each of the plurality of first level photosensing devices to said combined photosensing and charge storage device; and

a plurality of second level transfer switches, each second level transfer switch connected such that photoelectrons are selectively and sequentially transferred from each of the plurality of second level photosensing devices through at least one of said plurality of first level transfer switches;

2. The image sensor of claim 1 further comprising:

a row control circuit in communication with rows of said array of plurality of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors for generating reset control signals, transfer gating signals, and row selecting signals for controlling resetting, integration of photoelectrons generated from said light impinging upon said array of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors, charge transfer of said photoelectrons by said plurality of first level transfer switches and said plurality of second level transfer switches between said first level and second level photosensing devices and from said first level and second level photosensing devices to said combined photosensing and charge storage device, and selecting of rows of said plurality of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors such that output signals from each of said color multiple sensor pixel image sensors on a selected row are transferred for detection.

3. The image sensor of claim 1 wherein each of said color multiple sensor pixel image sensors further comprises:

at least one reset triggering switch in communication with said combined photosensing and charge storage device and those of said triggering switches connected to said combined photosensing and charge storage device to place said plurality of first level and second level photosensing devices and said combined photosensing and charge storage device to a reset voltage level, wherein said reset triggering switch is further in communication with said row control circuit to receive one of said reset control signals for activation of said one reset triggering switch for resetting said plurality of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors on a selected row of plurality of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors.

4. The image sensor of claim 1 wherein said differentiated color components are selected from the group of color components consisting of green and blue.

5. The image sensor of claim 1 wherein said combined photosensing and charge storage device said principal color is red.

6. The image sensor of claim 1 wherein said combined photosensing and charge storage device is sensed with a double sampling readout.

7. The image sensor of claim 1 wherein said plurality of first level photosensing devices and said second level photosensing devices are sensed with a correlated double sampling readout.

8. The image sensor of claim 1 wherein at least one of plurality of second level triggering switches are connected between one of said plurality of second level photosensing devices and one of said first level photosensing devices such that said first level photosensing devices is an intermediary repository of said charge prior to transfer to said combined photosensing and charge storage device.

9. The image sensor of claim 7 wherein said two of said plurality of first level photosensing devices are connected together through at least one of said first level triggering switches to provide binning of said charge from said two first level photosensing devices.

10. The image sensor of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of photosensing devices are pinned photodiodes.

11. The image sensor of claim 10 wherein said pinned photodiodes comprise a diffusion of the first conductivity type and a shallow pinning diffusion of the second conductivity type within said diffusion of the first conductivity type and connected to a ground reference level.

12. The image sensor of claim 11 wherein each of said plurality of photosensing devices further comprises a deep diffusion of said second conductivity type connected to a substrate reference voltage source to deflect stray photoelectrons generated in said substrate beneath a photon sensing area of said multiple photosensor pixel image sensor.

13. The image sensor of claim 1 wherein said combined photosensing and charge storage device comprises a diffusion of said first conductivity type with a sufficient depth to collect photoelectrons converted from photons of said primary color.

14. The image sensor of claim 13 wherein each of said plurality of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors further comprises a deep diffusion of said first conductivity type into which said combined photosensing and charge storage device is formed and connected to a power supply voltage source to collect stray photoelectrons generated in said substrate beneath a photon sensing area of said multiple photosensor pixel image sensor.

15. The image sensor of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors further comprises at least one readout circuit connected to receive and convert photoelectrons retained by said combined photosensing and charge storage device for conversion to an electronic signal indicative of a magnitude of said color component of said light received by one selected photosensing device of said plurality of photosensing devices.

16. The image sensor of claim 15 wherein said readout circuit further comprises:

a source follower connected to said combined photosensing and charge storage device to receive and buffer a conversion electrical signal indicative of a number of photoelectrons retained by said combined photosensing and charge storage device; and

a pixel select switch selectively connected to said source follower to transfer said buffered conversion electrical signals indicative of the number of photoelectrons by said combined photosensing and charge storage device to external circuitry for further processing.

17. The image sensor of claim 2 further comprising a column sample and hold circuit in communication with each column of the plurality of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors to sample and hold said conversion electrical signals from selected rows of the plurality of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors and from said sampled and held conversion electrical signals generating an output signal representative of a number of photon impinging upon each color multiple sensor pixel image sensor of said row of selected color multiple sensor pixel image sensors.

18. The image sensor of claim 17 wherein:

a) during a row reset period, said row control circuit transmits reset control signals to activate each reset triggering switch, each of said first level triggering switches, and each of said second level triggering switches of each color multiple sensor pixel image sensor of a selected row of said array of said plurality of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors to reset each of the color multiple photosensor pixel image sensor of selected row of said array of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors to a reset level;

b) during a light integration period, each of said color multiple sensor pixel image sensors of selected row of said array of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors are exposed to light impinging upon said array of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors;

c) at completion of said light integration period, said row control circuit transmits row selecting signals to activate each pixel select switch of each of said color multiple sensor pixel image sensors of said selected row of said array of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors;

d) during a combined photosensing and charge storage device readout period,

said column sample and hold circuit samples and holds said conversion electrical signal representing a number of photoelectrons converted during said exposure from each combined photosensing and charge storage device of each color multiple sensor pixel image sensor of said selected row,

said column sample and hold circuit samples and holds said conversion electrical signal representing a reference voltage level of each of said color multiple sensor pixel image sensors of said selected row,

said column sample and hold circuit generates a color intensity signal representative of the intensity of light converted by each of said combined photosensing and charge storage device of the color multiple photosensor pixel image sensors of said selected row;

e) at a beginning of a first level photosensing device readout period, said row control circuit selects at least one of said first level photosensing devices for readout;

f) simultaneously, at said beginning of said first level photosensing device readout period, said row control circuit transmits said reset control signals to activate each reset triggering switch to reset each combined photosensing and charge storage device of the color multiple photosensor pixel image sensors of said selected row of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors to said reset level;

g) during said first level photosensing device readout period,

said column sample and hold circuit samples and hold said conversion electrical signal representing a reset level of each of said color multiple sensor pixel image sensors of said selected row,

said row control circuit transmits at least one of said first level triggering signals to activate each first level triggering switch to transfer charge from the selected first level photosensing device to said combined photosensing and charge storage device of the color multiple photosensor pixel image sensors of said selected row, and

said column sample and hold circuit samples and holds said conversion electrical signal representing a number of photoelectrons converted during said exposure from each selected first level photosensing device connected to said combined photosensing and charge storage device of each color multiple sensor pixel image sensor of said selected row;

h) during said first level photosensing device readout period said row control circuit sequentially selects one of said first level photosensing devices for readout and performs procedures f) and g) until all first level photosensing devices are readout;

i) at a beginning of a second level photosensing device readout period, said row control circuit selects at least one of said second level photosensing devices for readout;

j) simultaneously, at said beginning of said second level photosensing device readout period, said row control circuit transmits said reset control signals to activate each reset triggering switch to reset each combined photosensing and charge storage device of the color multiple photosensor pixel image sensors of said selected row of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors to said reset level;

k) during said second level photosensing device readout period,

said column sample and hold circuit samples and hold said conversion electrical signal representing a reset level of each of said color multiple sensor pixel image sensors of said selected row,

said row control circuit transmits at least one of said first level transfer gating signals to activate each first level triggering switch to transfer charge from said second level photosensing devices to said combined photosensing and charge storage device of the color multiple photosensor pixel image sensors of said selected row, and

said column sample and hold circuit samples and holds said conversion electrical signal representing a number of photoelectrons converted during said exposure from each selected second level photosensing device connected to said combined photosensing and charge storage device of each color multiple sensor pixel image sensor of said selected row;

l) during said second level photosensing device readout period said row control circuit sequentially selects one of said second level photosensing devices for readout and performs procedures f) and g) until all second level photosensing devices are readout; and

m) said row control circuit repeatedly transmits row selecting signals to activate each pixel select switch of each of said color multiple sensor pixel image sensors of another selected row of said array of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors and said row control circuit and said column sample and hold circuit clamps perform operations of procedures d) through l) until all rows of said array of said color multiple sensor pixel image sensors are transferred.

19. The image sensor of claim 18 wherein during said first level photosensing device readout period, said row control circuit transmits one of said second level triggering signals to activate each second level triggering switch to transfer charge from the selected second level photosensing device to an associated first level photosensing device that has previously sampled, held and readout.

20. The image sensor of claim 18 wherein during said second level photosensing device readout period, said row control circuit transmits one of said second transfer gating signals to activate each second level triggering switch to transfer charge from said second level photosensing device through said selected first level photosensing device to said combined photosensing and charge storage device.

21. The image sensor of claim 18 wherein:

at the completion of said combined photosensing and charge storage device readout period, said row control circuit sequentially activates a column select signal to serially transfer each color intensity signal developed from each combined photosensing and charge storage device of each column of said selected row;

at the completion of said first level photosensing device readout period, said row control circuit sequentially activates a column select signal to serially transfer each color intensity signal developed from each readout circuit of first level photosensing device of said selected row; and

at the completion of second level photosensing device period, said row control circuit sequentially activates a column select signal to serially transfer each color intensity signal developed from each readout circuit of said second level photosensing devices of said selected row.

22. The image sensor of claim 17 wherein:

at the completion of second level photosensing device period, said row control circuit sequentially activates a column select signal to serially transfer each color intensity signal developed from each readout circuit of said combined photosensing and charge storage device, said first level photosensing device, and said second level photosensing devices of said selected row in parallel for each column.

23. The image sensor of claim 17 wherein one of said first level triggering signals are connected to more than one first level triggering switches and/or second level triggering switches and said row control circuit transmits said one first level triggering signal to activate each said first level triggering switches and/or second level triggering switches to bin charge present on those first level photosensing devices and/or second level photosensing devices connected to said first level triggering switches and/or second level triggering switches and then transfer said charge to said combined photosensing and charge storage device of the color multiple photosensor pixel image sensors for readout.

24. A control apparatus that controls operation of an array of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors that sense differentiated color components of light impinging upon said pixel image sensor, each of said color multiple sensor pixel image sensors comprising a plurality of first level photosensing devices, plurality of second level photosensing devices connected through a plurality of second level transfer switches to said first level photosensing devices, and a combined photosensing and charge storage device connected through a plurality of first level transfer switches such that photoelectrons are selectively and sequentially transferred from each of the plurality of said first level photosensing devices to said combined photosensing and charge storage device, and at least one reset triggering switch in communication with said combined photosensing and charge storage device and said plurality of first level and second level photosensing devices said combined photosensing and charge storage device to establish a reset voltage level, said control apparatus comprising:

a row control circuit in communication with rows of said array of plurality of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors for generating reset control signals, transfer gating signals, and row selecting signals for controlling resetting, integration of photoelectrons generated from said light impinging upon said array of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors, charge transfer of said photoelectrons by said plurality of first level transfer switches and said plurality of second level transfer switches between said first level and second level photosensing devices and from said first level and second level photosensing devices to said combined photosensing and charge storage device, and selecting of rows of said plurality of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors such that output signals from each of said color multiple sensor pixel image sensors on a selected row are transferred for detection.

25. The control apparatus of claim 24 wherein each of said plurality of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors further comprises at least one readout circuit connected to receive and convert photoelectrons retained by said combined photosensing and charge storage device for conversion to an electronic signal indicative of a magnitude of said color component of said light received by one selected photosensing device of said plurality of photosensing devices and in communication with said row control circuit to receive said row selecting signals.

26. The control apparatus of claim 25 wherein said readout circuit further comprises:

a source follower connected to said combined photosensing and charge storage device to receive and buffer a conversion electrical signal indicative of a number of photoelectrons retained by said combined photosensing and charge storage device; and

a pixel select switch selectively connected to said source follower to transfer said buffered conversion electrical signals indicative of the number of photoelectrons by said combined photosensing and charge storage device to external circuitry for further processing and in communication with said row control circuit to receive said row selecting signals.

27. The control apparatus of claim 24 further comprising a column sample and hold circuit in communication with each column of the plurality of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors to sample and hold said conversion electrical signals from selected rows of the plurality of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors and from said sampled and held conversion electrical signals generating an output signal representative of a number of photon impinging upon each color multiple sensor pixel image sensor of said row of selected color multiple sensor pixel image sensors.

28. The control apparatus of claim 25 wherein:

a) during a row reset period, said row control circuit transmits reset control signals to activate each reset triggering switch, each of said first level triggering switches, and each of said second level triggering switches of each color multiple sensor pixel image sensor of a selected row of said array of said plurality of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors to reset each of the color multiple photosensor pixel image sensor of selected row of said array of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors to a reset level;

b) during a light integration period, each of said color multiple sensor pixel image sensors of selected row of said array of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors are exposed to light impinging upon said array of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors;

c) at completion of said light integration period, said row control circuit transmits row selecting signals to activate each pixel select switch of each of said color multiple sensor pixel image sensors of said selected row of said array of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors;

d) during a combined photosensing and charge storage device readout period,

said column sample and hold circuit samples and holds said conversion electrical signal representing a number of photoelectrons converted during said exposure from each combined photosensing and charge storage device of each color multiple sensor pixel image sensor of said selected row,

said column sample and hold circuit samples and holds said conversion electrical signal representing a reference voltage level of each of said color multiple sensor pixel image sensors of said selected row,

said column sample and hold circuit generates a color intensity signal representative of the intensity of light converted by each of said combined photosensing and charge storage device of the color multiple photosensor pixel image sensors of said selected row;

e) at a beginning of a first level photosensing device readout period, said row control circuit selects at least one of said first level photosensing devices for readout;

f) simultaneously, at said beginning of said first level photosensing device readout period, said row control circuit transmits said reset control signals to activate each reset triggering switch to reset each combined photosensing and charge storage device of the color multiple photosensor pixel image sensors of said selected row of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors to said reset level;

g) during said first level photosensing device readout period,

said column sample and hold circuit samples and hold said conversion electrical signal representing a reset level of each of said color multiple sensor pixel image sensors of said selected row,

said row control circuit transmits at least one of said first level triggering signals to activate each first level triggering switch to transfer charge from the selected first level photosensing device to said combined photosensing and charge storage device of the color multiple photosensor pixel image sensors of said selected row, and

said column sample and hold circuit samples and holds said conversion electrical signal representing a number of photoelectrons converted during said exposure from each selected first level photosensing device connected to said combined photosensing and charge storage device of each color multiple sensor pixel image sensor of said selected row;

h) during said first level photosensing device readout period said row control circuit sequentially selects one of said first level photosensing devices for readout and performs procedures f) and g) until all first level photosensing devices are readout;

i) at a beginning of a second level photosensing device readout period, said row control circuit selects at least one of said second level photosensing devices for readout;

j) simultaneously, at said beginning of said second level photosensing device readout period, said row control circuit transmits said reset control signals to activate each reset triggering switch to reset each combined photosensing and charge storage device of the color multiple photosensor pixel image sensors of said selected row of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors to said reset level;

k) during said second level photosensing device readout period,

said column sample and hold circuit samples and hold said conversion electrical signal representing a reset level of each of said color multiple sensor pixel image sensors of said selected row,

said row control circuit transmits at least one of said first level transfer gating signals to activate each first level triggering switch to transfer charge from said second level photosensing device to said combined photosensing and charge storage device of the color multiple photosensor pixel image sensors of said selected row, and said column sample and hold circuit samples and holds said conversion electrical signal representing a number of photoelectrons converted during said exposure from each selected second level photosensing device connected to said combined photosensing and charge storage device of each color multiple sensor pixel image sensor of said selected row;

l) during said second level photosensing device readout period said row control circuit sequentially selects one of said first level photosensing devices for readout and performs procedures f) and g) until all first level photosensing devices are readout; and

m) said row control circuit repeatedly transmits row selecting signals to activate each pixel select switch of each of said color multiple sensor pixel image sensors of another selected row of said array of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors and said row control circuit and said column sample and hold circuit clamps perform operations of procedures d) through l) until all rows of said array of said color multiple sensor pixel image sensors are transferred.

29. The control apparatus of claim 28 wherein during said first level photosensing device readout period, said row control circuit transmits one of said second level triggering signals to activate each second level triggering switch to transfer charge from the selected second level photosensing device to an associated first level photosensing device that has previously sampled, held and readout.

30. The control apparatus of claim 28 wherein during said second level photosensing device readout period, said row control circuit transmits one of said second transfer gating signals to activate each second level triggering switch to transfer charge from said second level photosensing device through said selected first level photosensing device to said combined photosensing and charge storage device.

31. The control apparatus of claim 28 wherein:

at the completion of said combined photosensing and charge storage device readout period, said row control circuit sequentially activates a column select signal to serially transfer each color intensity signal developed from each combined photosensing and charge storage device of each column of said selected row;

at the completion of said first level photosensing device readout period, said row control circuit sequentially activates a column select signal to serially transfer each color intensity signal developed from each readout circuit of first level photosensing device of said selected row; and

at the completion of second level photosensing device period, said row control circuit sequentially activates a column select signal to serially transfer each color intensity signal developed from each readout circuit of said second level photosensing devices of said selected row.

32. The control apparatus of claim 28 wherein:

at the completion of second level photosensing device period, said row control circuit sequentially activates a column select signal to serially transfer each color intensity signal developed from each readout circuit of said combined photosensing and charge storage device, said first level photosensing device, and said second level photosensing devices of said selected row in parallel for each column.

33. The control apparatus of claim 28 wherein one of said first level triggering signals are connected to more than one first level triggering switches and/or second level triggering switches and said row control circuit transmits said one first level triggering signal to activate each said first level triggering switches and/or second level triggering switches to bin charge present on those first level photosensing devices and/or second level photosensing devices connected to said first level triggering switches and/or second level triggering switches and then transfer said charge to said combined photosensing and charge storage device of the color multiple photosensor pixel image sensors for readout.

34. A method for control of operation of an array of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors that sense differentiated color components of light impinging upon said pixel image sensor, each of said color multiple sensor pixel image sensors comprising a plurality of first level photosensing devices, plurality of second level photosensing devices connected through a plurality of second level transfer switches to said first level photosensing devices, and a combined photosensing and charge storage device connected through a plurality of first level transfer switches such that photoelectrons are selectively and sequentially transferred from each of the plurality of said first level photosensing devices to said combined photosensing and charge storage device, and at least one reset triggering switch in communication with said combined photosensing and charge storage device and said plurality of first level and second level photosensing devices said combined photosensing and charge storage device to establish a reset voltage level, said method for control comprising the steps of:

generating reset control signals, transfer gating signals, and row selecting signals for controlling resetting, integration of photoelectrons generated from said light impinging upon said array of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors, charge transfer of said photoelectrons by said plurality of first level and second level transfer switches between said first level and second level photosensing devices and from said first level photosensing devices to said combined photosensing and charge storage device, and selecting of rows of said plurality of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors such that output signals from each of said color multiple sensor pixel image sensors on a selected row are transferred for detection; and

activating said reset triggering switch to reset said plurality of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors on a selected row of plurality of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors.

35. The method for control of claim 34 wherein each of said plurality of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors further comprises at least one readout circuit connected to receive and convert photoelectrons retained by said combined photosensing and charge storage device for conversion to an electronic signal indicative of a magnitude of said color component of said light received by one selected first level and second level photosensing device of said plurality of first level and second level photosensing devices.

36. The method for control of claim 35 wherein said readout circuit further comprises:

a source follower connected to said combined photosensing and charge storage device to receive and buffer a conversion electrical signal indicative of a number of photoelectrons retained by said combined photosensing and charge storage device; and

a pixel select switch selectively connected to said source follower to transfer said buffered conversion electrical signals indicative of the number of photoelectrons by said combined photosensing and charge storage device to external circuitry for further processing when selected by said row selecting signals.

37. The method for control of claim 34 further comprising the steps of:

sampling and holding said conversion electrical signals from selected rows of the plurality of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors; and

from said sampled and held conversion electrical signals, generating an output signal representative of a number of photon impinging upon each color multiple sensor pixel image sensor of said row of selected color multiple sensor pixel image sensors.

38. The method for control of claim 37 further comprising the steps of

a) during a row reset period, transmitting reset control signals to activate each reset triggering switch, each of said first level triggering switches, and each of said second level triggering switches of each color multiple sensor pixel image sensor of a selected row of said array of said plurality of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors to reset each of the color multiple photosensor pixel image sensor of selected row of said array of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors to a reset level;

b) during a light integration period, exposing each of said color multiple sensor pixel image sensors of selected row of said array of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors to light impinging upon said array of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors;

c) at completion of said light integration period, transmitting row selecting signals to activate each pixel select switch of each of said color multiple sensor pixel image sensors of said selected row of said array of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors;

d) during a combined photosensing and charge storage device readout period,

sampling and holding said conversion electrical signal representing a number of photoelectrons converted during said exposure from each combined photosensing and charge storage device of each color multiple sensor pixel image sensor of said selected row,

sampling and holding said conversion electrical signal representing a reference voltage level of each of said color multiple sensor pixel image sensors of said selected row,

generating a color intensity signal representative of the intensity of light converted by each of said combined photosensing and charge storage device of the color multiple photosensor pixel image sensors of said selected row;

e) at a beginning of a first level photosensing device readout period, selecting at least one of said first level photosensing devices for readout;

f) simultaneously, at said beginning of said first level photosensing device readout period, transmitting said reset control signals to activate each reset triggering switch to reset each combined photosensing and charge storage device of the color multiple photosensor pixel image sensors of said selected row of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors to said reset level;

g) during said first level photosensing device readout period,

sampling and holding said conversion electrical signal representing a reset level of each of said color multiple sensor pixel image sensors of said selected row,

transmitting at least one of said first level triggering signals to activate each first level triggering switch to transfer charge from the selected first level photosensing device to said combined photosensing and charge storage device of the color multiple photosensor pixel image sensors of said selected row, and

sampling and holding said conversion electrical signal representing a number of photoelectrons converted during said exposure from each selected first level photosensing device connected to said combined photosensing and charge storage device of each color multiple sensor pixel image sensor of said selected row;

h) during said first level photosensing device readout period, sequentially selecting one of said first level photosensing devices for readout and performs procedures f) and g) until all first level photosensing devices are readout;

i) at a beginning of a second level photosensing device readout period, selecting at least one of said second level photosensing devices for readout;

j) simultaneously, at said beginning of said second level photosensing device readout period, transmitting said reset control signals to activate each reset triggering switch to reset each combined photosensing and charge storage device of the color multiple photosensor pixel image sensors of said selected row of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors to said reset level;

k) during said second level photosensing device readout period,

sampling and holding said conversion electrical signal representing a reset level of each of said color multiple sensor pixel image sensors of said selected row,

transmitting at least one of said first level transfer gating signals to activate each first level triggering switch to transfer charge from said second level photosensing devices to said combined photosensing and charge storage device of the color multiple photosensor pixel image sensors of said selected row, and

sampling and holding said conversion electrical signal representing a number of photoelectrons converted during said exposure from each selected second level photosensing device connected to said combined photosensing and charge storage device of each color multiple sensor pixel image sensor of said selected row;

) during said second level photosensing device readout period, sequentially selecting one of said first level photosensing devices for readout and performing steps f) and g) until all first level photosensing devices are readout; and

m) repeatedly transmitting row selecting signals to activate each pixel select switch of each of said color multiple sensor pixel image sensors of another selected row of said array of color multiple sensor pixel image sensors and performing procedures d) through l) until all rows of said array of said color multiple sensor pixel image sensors are transferred.

39. The method of control of claim 38 further comprising the steps of:

during said first level photosensing device readout period, transmiting one of said second level triggering signals to activate each second level triggering switch to transfer charge from the selected second level photosensing device to an associated first level photosensing device that has previously sampled, held and readout.

40. The method of control of claim 38 further comprising the steps of:

during said second level photosensing device readout period, transmiting one of said second transfer gating signals to activate each second level triggering switch to transfer charge from said second level photosensing device through said selected first level photosensing device to said combined photosensing and charge storage device.

41. The method of control of claim 38 further comprising the steps of:

at the completion of said combined photosensing and charge storage device readout period, sequentially activating a column select signal to serially transfer each color intensity signal developed from each combined photosensing and charge storage device of each column of said selected row;

at the completion of said first level photosensing device readout period, sequentially activating a column select signal to serially transfer each color intensity signal developed from each readout circuit of first level photosensing device of said selected row; and

at the completion of second level photosensing device period, sequentially activating a column select signal to serially transfer each color intensity signal developed from each readout circuit of said second level photosensing devices of said selected row.

42. The method of control of claim 38 further comprising the steps of:

at the completion of second level photosensing device period, sequentially activating a column select signal to serially transfer each color intensity signal developed from each readout circuit of said combined photosensing and charge storage device, said first level photosensing device, and said second level photosensing devices of said selected row in parallel for each column.

43. The method of control of claim 38 further comprising the steps of:

connecting one of said first level triggering signals to more than one first level triggering switches and/or second level triggering switches;

transmitting said one first level triggering signal to activate each said first level triggering switches and/or second level triggering switches to bin charge present on those first level photosensing devices and/or second level photosensing devices connected to said first level triggering switches and/or second level triggering switches; and

transferring said charge to said combined photosensing and charge storage device of the color multiple photosensor pixel method of controls for readout.