METHOD AND APPARATUS PROVIDING PIXEL STORAGE GATE CHARGE SENSING FOR ELECTRONIC STABILIZATION IN IMAGERS

• US 20130313409A1
• Filed: 06/14/2013
• Published: 11/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Panicacci, Roger
• Granted Patent: US 9,554,071 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/208.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/40 Extracting pixel data from image sensors by controlling scanning circuits, e.g. by modifying the number of pixels sampled or to be sampled
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/75 Circuitry for providing, modifying or processing image signals from the pixel array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/76 Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/771 comprising storage means other than floating diffusion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 3/155 Control of the image-sensor operation, e.g. image processing within the image-sensor

Abstract

An imaging device that stores charge from a photosensor under at least one storage gate. A driver used to operate the at least one storage gate, senses how much charge was transferred to the storage gate. The sensed charge is used to obtain at least one signature of the image scene. The at least one signature may then be used for processing such as e.g., motion detection, auto-exposure, and auto-white balancing.

Claims

1-48. -48. (canceled)

49. An imager comprising:

at least one pixel, the pixel comprising;

a photo sensor;

a first gate for storing charge originating from the photosensor; and

a first driver and sense circuit associated with the first gate, the first driver and sense circuit being operative to control operation of the gate to store charge originating from the photosensor and provide a signal having a component representing the charge stored by the first storage gate.

50. An imager as in claim 49, wherein the first gate is a transfer gate.

51. An imager as in claim 49, wherein the first gate is a storage gate.

52. An imager as in claim 51, further comprising a plurality of pixels arranged in a first pixel set;

each pixel of the first set comprising;

a photosensor and a respective first storage gate,

wherein the first driver and sense circuit is associated with the first storage gates of the pixels in the set and is operative to control operation of the first storage gates to store charge from a respective photosensor and provide a signal having a component representing the charge stored by all of the first storage gates of the set of pixels.

53. An imager as in claim 52, wherein the driver and sense circuit is part of a row driver circuit for a set of pixels in a row of a pixel array.

54. An imager as in claim 52, where the driver circuit is part of a column driver circuit for a set of pixels in a column of a pixel array.

55. An imager as in claim 52, further comprising a plurality of pixels arranged in a second pixel set, each pixel of the second set comprising a second storage gate, for storing charge originating at a respective photosensor, the imager further comprising a second driver and sense circuit associated with the second storage gates, the second driver and sense circuit being operative to control operation of the second storage gates and provide a signal having a component representing the charge stored by all of the second storage gates.

56. An imager as in claim 53, wherein the first driver and sense circuit operates the first storage gates of the first set of pixels which are in a row of a pixel array and the second driver and sense circuit operates the second storage gates of the second set of pixels which are in a column of the pixel array.

57. An imager as in claim 56, further comprising digitizing and storing the signals from the first and second driver and sense circuits.

58. An imager as in claim 57, wherein the digitized signals are stored in a line buffer memory.

59. An imager as in claim 55, further comprising pixels arranged in a third pixel set, each pixel of the third set comprising a third storage gate for storing charge originating at a respective photosensor, the imager further comprising additional driver and sense circuits associated with the third storage gates, the additional driver and sense circuits being operative to control operation of the third storage gates and provide a signal having a component representing charge stored by the third storage gates.

60. An imager as in claim 59, wherein the third storage gates are in pixels in the third set which are arranged in a diagonal pattern within a pixel array.

61. An imager as in claim 59, wherein the third storage gates are in pixels of the third pixel set which are arranged in a non-linear pattern in a pixel array.

62. An imager as in claim 61, wherein the pattern is a serpentine pattern.

63. An imager as in claim 52, wherein the signal from the first driver and sense circuit is used to provide a signature for a frame image.

64. An imager pixel as in claim 63, wherein the signal from the first driver circuit is respectively provided in a plurality of framed images and the signals from the plurality of frame images are used to provide a respective signature for the plurality of frame images.

65. An imager as in claim 64, wherein the signals from the first driver circuit are used in a motion detection operation.

66. An imager as in claim 64, wherein the signals from the first driver circuit are used in an auto exposure operation.

67. An imager as in claim 64, wherein the signals from the first driver and sense circuit is used in an auto-white balancing operation.

68. An imager pixel as in claim 64, wherein the respective signatures are used to determine object movement from one frame image to another frame image.

69. An imager as in claim 52, wherein the signal from the first driver and sense circuit includes a component representing parasitic capacitance.

70. An imager comprising:

a pixel array containing a plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising;

a photosensor;

a floating diffusion region;

a transfer gate for transferring charge to the floating diffusion region;

first and second charge storage gates arranged between the photosensor and transfer gate, each of the first and second charge storage gates being operative by a respective control signal to store charge; and

first and second driver and sense circuits, the first driver and sense circuit providing a control signal to the first storage gates and a signal having a component representing a charge stored by the first storage gates, the second driver and sense circuit providing a control signal to the second storage gates and a signal having a component representing a charge stored by the second storage gates.

71. An imager as in claim 70, wherein one of the first and second storage gates are in pixels arranged in a pattern in the array.

72. An imager as in claim 71, wherein the pattern is a diagonal pattern.

73. An imager as in claim 72, wherein the pattern is a non-linear pattern.

74. An imager as in claim 70, wherein the first storage gates are in respective pixels arranged in a row of the array.

75. An imager as in claim 70, wherein the second storage gates are in respective pixels arranged in a column of the array.