Method, apparatus and system providing a storage gate pixel with high dynamic range
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of operating a pixel, the method comprising:
- accumulating a first amount of charge in a photosensor for a first period of time;
transferring the first amount of charge to a storage node;
accumulating a second amount of charge in the photosensor for a second period of time;
transferring the second amount of charge to the storage node, said storage node accumulating said first and second amounts of charge; and
transferring the accumulated first and second amounts of charge from the storage node to a floating diffusion node simultaneously.
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Abstract
A method, apparatus and system are described providing a high dynamic range pixel. An integration period has multiple sub-integration periods during which charges are accumulated in a photosensor and repeatedly transferred to a storage node, where the charges are accumulated for later transfer to another storage node for output.
66 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method of operating a pixel, the method comprising:
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accumulating a first amount of charge in a photosensor for a first period of time; transferring the first amount of charge to a storage node; accumulating a second amount of charge in the photosensor for a second period of time; transferring the second amount of charge to the storage node, said storage node accumulating said first and second amounts of charge; and transferring the accumulated first and second amounts of charge from the storage node to a floating diffusion node simultaneously. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of operating an imager circuit having at least one pixel circuit, said method comprising:
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resetting the charge stored in a photosensor to a known state; accumulating a first amount of charge in a photosensor for a first period of time; transferring the first amount of charge to a storage node; accumulating a second amount of charge in the photosensor for a second period of time; transferring the second amount of charge to the storage node, said storage node accumulating said first and second amounts of charge; transferring the accumulated first and second amounts of charge from the storage node to a floating diffusion node simultaneously; and reading out the charge residing in the floating diffusion node as a pixel output signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An imager circuit comprising:
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at least one pixel circuit, said at least one pixel circuit comprising; a photosensor having a charge storage capacity, the photosensor configured to accumulate charge; a first transistor connected to the photosensor for transferring charge from the photosensor; a storage node selectively coupled to the photosensor for receiving charge from the photosensor via the first transistor; a second transistor connected to the storage node for transferring charge from the storage node to a floating diffusion node; and a control circuit for operating said first transistor to define a plurality of successive integration periods during an image capture in which charges produced by said photosensor in each of said plurality of successive integration periods are successively stored and accumulated in said storage node, said control circuit being configured to operate said second transistor to transfer said charges produced by said photosensor in each integration period and accumulated in said storage node to said floating diffusion region simultaneously. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An imaging device comprising:
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a pixel array comprising a plurality of pixels, wherein at least one of said pixels comprises; a photosensor having a charge storage capacity, the photosensor configured to accumulate charge; a first transistor connected to the photosensor for transferring charge from the photosensor; a storage node coupled to the photosensor for receiving charge from the photosensor via the first transistor; a second transistor connected to the storage node for transferring charge from the storage node to a floating diffusion node; and a control circuit for operating said first transistor to define a plurality of successive integration periods during an image capture in which charges produced by said photosensor in each of said plurality of successive integration periods are successively stored and accumulated in said storage node, said control circuit being configured to operate said second transistor to transfer said charges produced by said photosensor in each integration period and accumulated in said storage node to said floating diffusion region simultaneously. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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32. A processing system comprising:
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a processor; and an imaging device coupled to said processor, said imaging device comprising an array of pixels, each of said pixels comprising; a photo-conversion device for generating charges; a first transistor connected to the photosensor for transferring charge from the photosensor; a storage node selectively coupled to the photosensor for receiving charge from the photosensor via the first transistor; a second transistor connected to the storage node for transferring charge from the storage node to a floating diffusion node; and a control circuit for operating said first transistor to define a plurality of successive integration periods during an image capture in which charges produced by said photosensor in each of said plurality of successive integration periods are successively stored and accumulated in said storage node, said control circuit being configured to operate said second transistor to transfer said charges produced by said photosensor in each integration period and accumulated in said storage node to said floating diffusion region simultaneously. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification