CMOS active pixel sensor type imaging system on a chip

• US 5,841,126 A
• Filed: 01/24/1997
• Issued: 11/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Fossum, Eric R., Nixon, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Westin, Edward P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, John R.
• Time in patent office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 250/208.1, 250/214.1, 250/214 R, 348/294, 348/297, 348/298, 348/300, 348/301, 348/302, 348/303, 348/308, 348/311, 348/312, 358/482, 358/483, 377/60, 377/61, 377/62, 377/63, 257/443, 257/444, 257/292, 257/291, 257/290
• US Class Current: 250/208.1
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 19/282 with charge storage in a depletion layer, i.e. charge coupled devices [CCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 19/285 Peripheral circuits, e.g. for writing into the first stage; for reading-out of the last stage
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14621 Colour filter arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14627 Microlenses
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14645 Colour imagers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/1485 Frame transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14887 Blooming suppression
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/02162 for filtering or shielding light, e.g. multicolour filters for photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0232 Optical elements or arrangements associated with the device H01L31/0236 takes precedence; for photovoltaic cells H01L31/054; for photovoltaic modules H02S40/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/3575 involving a correlated sampling function, e.g. correlated double or triple sampling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/361 applied to dark current
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/3658 for reducing the column or line fixed pattern noise
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/369 SSIS architecture; Circuitry associated therewith
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/3745 having additional components embedded within a pixel or connected to a group of pixels within a sensor matrix, e.g. memories, A/D converters, pixel amplifiers, shared circuits or shared components
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/3765 Timing or clock signal generating circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/378 Readout circuits, e.g. correlated double sampling [CDS] circuits, output amplifiers or A/D converters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/045 using solid-state devices scanning of colour motion picture films H04N9/11; Imager structures H01L27/146

Abstract

Single substrate device is formed to have an image acquistition device and a controller. The controller on the substrate controls the system operation.

Claims

1. A camera on a chip, comprising:

a substrate, including an array of pixel areas, and at least one control area integrated on the same substrate;

said pixel areas comprising a plurality of light collecting elements which each receive light and store an electronic information in an amount indicative of an amount of light received during an integration period;

said control area including;

a timing element;

a readout control element,

wherein circuitry in said control area are formed of CMOS, and said pixel area is formed of a logic family that is compatible with CMOS.

2. An imaging system on a single substrate, comprising:

a substrate, including an array of pixel areas, and at least one control area integrated on the same substrate;

said pixel areas comprising a plurality of light collecting elements which each receive light and store an electronic information in an amount indicative of an amount of light received during an integration period;

said control area including;

a timing element;

wherein circuitry in said control area are formed of CMOS, and said pixel area is formed of a logic family that is compatible with CMOS; and

a latch element, storing values to be used in said timing element.