Micro power micro-sized CMOS active pixel

• US 6,388,242 B1
• Filed: 10/14/1999
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Photobit Corporation (Micron Technology, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bock, Nikolai E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John R.
• Application Number:
  US09/418,961
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 250/208.1, 250/214.R, 250/214.A, 250/214.1, 377/60, 257/239, 257/292, 348/308, 348/301
• US Class Current: 250/208.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14603 Special geometry or disposition of pixel-elements, address-lines or gate-electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14609 Pixel-elements with integrated switching, control, storage or amplification elements scanning details of imagers (circuitry of solid-state image sensors H04N25/00); circuitry of imagers H04N25/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/573 the logarithmic type
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/766 comprising control or output lines used for a plurality of functions, e.g. for pixel output, driving, reset or power

Abstract

Reduced size CMOS active pixel circuit uses special transistors with their gates and sources connected together. This transistor is placed at the top of the pixel.

Claims

1. An active pixel unit, comprising:

a charge accumulating part, having a capability of accumulating charge therein;

a photoreceptor, connected to said charge accumulating part, and changing an amount of charge therein based on an applied received charge;

a reset transistor, having its drain and gate connected together, and connected to reset said charge accumulating part; and

a select transistor, also having its drain and gate connected together, and connected to select an output of said charge accumulating part.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein said select transistor is physically at the top of said pixel.

3. A device as in claim 1 wherein said photoreceptor includes a photodiode.

4. A unit as in claim 1, further comprising a source follower circuit, connected to said select transistor.