Active Pixel Sensor With Reduced Fixed Pattern Noise
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Abstract
An image sensor includes pixels each of which is designed to transfer charge, accumulated in a photoactive region of the pixel during a first period, through a second active region of the pixel to a power supply node, and to transfer charge, accumulated in the photoactive region during a second period, through the second active region to a sense node in the pixel. Passing charge through the second active region prior to transferring it either to the power supply node or the sense node can help reduce fixed pattern noise. The image sensor can be operated in snap-shot mode.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1-24. -24. (canceled)
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25. A pixel, comprising:
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a first photoactive region in a substrate; a second photoactive region in the substrate selectively connectable to the first photoactive region and operable to receive charge transferred from the first photoactive region; a storage node selectively connectable to the second photoactive region; and a power supply node selectively connectable to the storage node, wherein the pixel is operable to set an amount of charge in the second photoactive region at a predetermined level prior to a charge transfer from the first photoactive region. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A pixel, comprising:
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first and second photosensitive elements separated by a first transfer gate; and anti-blooming and storage regions selectively connectable to the second photosensitive element, the pixel being operable in any one of four modes; a first mode in which charge is accumulated in the first photosensitive element; a second mode in which charge is transferred from the first photosensitive element to the second photosensitive element; a third mode in which charge is transferred from the second photosensitive element to the anti-blooming region; and a fourth mode in which charge is transferred from the second photosensitive element to the storage region. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A pixel array, comprising:
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a plurality of pixels, each pixel including; first and second photoactive regions separated by a first transfer gate, anti-blooming and storage regions selectively connectable to the second photoactive region and separated from the second photoactive region by second and third transfer gates, respectively, and a reset gate selectively connectable to the storage region; and a controller operable to control the transfer and reset gates of the plurality of pixels. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification