Image sensor with a gated storage node linked to transfer gate
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of operating a pixel of an image sensor comprising:
- accumulating charge in a photosensor;
transferring said charge from said photosensor to a storage node within said pixel;
transferring said charge from said storage node to a floating diffusion node; and
reading out the charge residing in said floating diffusion node as a pixel output signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A CMOS imaging system with increased charge storage of pixels yet decreased physical size, kTC noise and active area. A storage node is connected to the transfer gate and provides a storage node for a pixel, allowing for kTC noise reduction prior to readout. The pixel may be operated with the shutter gate on during the integration period to increase the amount of time for charge storage by a pixel.
87 Citations
51 Claims
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1. A method of operating a pixel of an image sensor comprising:
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accumulating charge in a photosensor;
transferring said charge from said photosensor to a storage node within said pixel;
transferring said charge from said storage node to a floating diffusion node; and
reading out the charge residing in said floating diffusion node as a pixel output signal. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method of operating a plurality of pixels of an image sensor comprising:
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accumulating a first charge in a first photosensor;
transferring said first charge from said first photosensor to a first storage node within a first pixel;
transferring said first charge from said first storage node to a floating diffusion node;
reading out the first charge from said floating diffusion node as an output signal of said first pixel;
accumulating a second charge in a second photosensor;
transferring said second charge from said second photosensor to a second storage node within a second pixel;
transferring said second charge from said second storage node to said floating diffusion node; and
reading out the second charge from said floating diffusion node as an output signal of said second pixel. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of reading charge from pixels of an image sensor comprising:
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turning on a first transfer gate transistor associated with a first pixel to transfer a first charge from a storage node within said first pixel to a floating diffusion node;
providing an output signal of said first pixel with an output transistor coupled to said floating diffusion node;
turning on a row select transistor connected to the output transistor to output the first charge from said floating diffusion node;
while the row select transistor remains on, turning on a second transfer gate transistor associated with a second pixel to transfer a second charge from a storage node within said second pixel to said floating diffusion node; and
providing an output signal of said second output transistor which is output by said row select transistor. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A method of reading charge from pixels of an image sensor comprising:
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turning on a first transfer gate transistor associated with a first pixel to transfer a first charge from a storage node within a substrate of said first pixel to a floating diffusion node;
providing an output signal of said first pixel from said first charge stored in said floating diffusion node;
turning on a row select transistor to output said first pixel output signal;
turning on a second transfer gate transistor associated with a second pixel to transfer a second charge from a storage node within said second pixel to said floating diffusion node;
providing an output signal of said second pixel from said second charge stored in said floating diffusion node; and
turning on a row select transistor connected to the floating diffusion node to output said second pixel output signal.
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11. A pixel circuit for use in an imaging device, said pixel circuit comprising:
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a photosensor for generating charge during an integration period;
a shutter transistor connected to said photosensor to transfer charge from said photosensor;
a storage node connected to said shutter transistor to receive said charge transferred by said shutter transistor;
a transfer gate connected to said storage node to transfer charge from said storage node;
a floating diffusion node connected to said transfer gate to receive said charge from said transfer gate; and
a readout circuit connected to said floating diffusion node to output a signal based on the charge accumulated at the floating diffusion node.
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12. A pixel circuit comprising:
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a photosensor for accumulating charge;
a first transistor for transferring charge from said photosensor to a first storage node;
a second transistor for transferring charge from said first storage to a second storage node; and
a readout circuit for providing a pixel output signal based on charges transferred to said second storage node. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A pixel circuit comprising:
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a plurality of photosensors for accumulating charge;
a plurality of first transistors for transferring charge from a respective one of said photosensors to a respective first storage node;
a plurality of second transistors for transferring charge from said respective first storage node to a respective second storage node; and
a readout circuit for providing a pixel output signal based on charges transferred to said respective second storage node. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A pixel circuit for use in an imaging device, said pixel circuit comprising:
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a plurality of photosensors for generating charge during an integration period;
a plurality of shutter transistors, each shutter transistor connected to and transferring charge from a respective photosensor;
a plurality of storage nodes, each node connected to a respective shutter transistor and storing charge transferred by a respective one of said plurality of photosensors;
a plurality of transfer gates, each transfer gate connected to and transferring charge from a respective storage node;
a floating diffusion node connected to said plurality of transfer gates for receiving charge from said storage nodes; and
a readout circuit connected to said floating diffusion node to output charge accumulated at the floating diffusion node. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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33. A pixel sensor array comprising:
a plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising;
a photosensor for generating charge during an integration period;
a shutter transistor connected to said photosensor to transfer charge from said photosensor;
a storage node connected to said shutter transistor to receive said charge transferred by said shutter transistor;
a barrier region separating said photosensor from said storage node;
a transfer gate connected to said storage node to transfer charge from said storage node;
a floating diffusion node connected to said transfer gate to receive said charge from said storage node; and
a readout circuit connected to said floating diffusion node to output the charge accumulated at the floating diffusion node.
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34. A pixel sensor array comprising:
a plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising;
a photosensor for accumulating charge;
a first transistor for transferring charge from said photosensor to a first storage node;
a second transistor for transferring charge from said first storage to a second storage node; and
a readout circuit for providing a pixel output signal based on charges transferred to said second storage node. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. An imaging system pixel comprising:
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a processor; and
an imaging device comprising an array of pixels, coupled to said imaging system each pixel comprising;
a photosensor for generating charge during an integration period;
a shutter transistor connected to said photosensor to transfer charge from said photosensor;
a storage node connected to said shutter transistor to receive said charge transferred by said shutter transistor;
a barrier region separating said photosensor from said storage node;
a transfer gate connected to said storage node to transfer charge from said storage node;
a floating diffusion node connected to said transfer gate to receive said charge from said storage node when said transfer gate is activated; and
a readout circuit connected to said floating diffusion node to output the charge accumulated at the floating diffusion node.
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43. An imaging system pixel comprising:
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a processor; and
an imaging device comprising an array of pixels, coupled to said imaging system each pixel comprising;
a photosensor for accumulating charge;
a first transistor for transferring charge from said photosensor to a first storage node;
a second transistor for transferring charge from said first storage to a second storage node; and
a readout circuit for providing a pixel output signal based on charges transferred to said second storage node.
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44. An imaging system comprising:
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a processor; and
an imaging device comprising an array of pixels, coupled to said imaging system said array comprising;
a plurality of photosensors for generating charge during an integration period;
a plurality of shutter transistors, each shutter transistor connected to and transferring charge from a respective photosensor;
a plurality of storage nodes, each storage node connected to a respective shutter transistor and storing charge transferred by a respective one of said plurality of photosensors;
a plurality of barrier regions, each barrier region separating a respective photosensor from its respective storage node;
a plurality of transfer gates, each transfer gate connected to and transferring charge from a respective storage node;
a floating diffusion node connected to said plurality of transfer gates for receiving charge from said transfer gates; and
a readout circuit connected to said floating diffusion node to output charge accumulated at the floating diffusion node.
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45. An imaging system comprising:
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a processor; and
an imaging device comprising an array of pixels, coupled to said imaging system said array comprising;
a plurality of photosensors for accumulating charge;
a plurality of first transistors for transferring charge from a respective one of said photosensors to a respective first storage node;
a plurality of second transistors for transferring charge from said respective first storage node to a respective second storage node; and
a readout circuit for providing a pixel output signal based on charges transferred to said respective second storage node. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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Specification