Layout of active pixels having shared signal lines
First Claim
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1. A pixel array comprising:
- a first pixel having a first pixel area including a first pixel orientation;
a second pixel adjacent said first pixel, said second pixel having a second pixel area and a second pixel orientation, said second pixel orientation configured in said array to substantially mirror said first pixel orientation about an axis between said first pixel and said second pixel;
first addressing circuitry coupled to said first pixel and different second addressing circuitry coupled to said second pixel;
a pixel operating circuit coupled to each of a sampling element for the first pixel and a sampling element for the second pixel, said pixel operating circuit adapted to be shared between said first pixel and said second pixel; and
reset circuitry coupled to each of said first pixel and said second pixel, said reset circuitry adapted to be shared between said first pixel and said second pixel.
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Abstract
A pixel array including a first pixel having side portions and a pixel, wherein the pixel array includes a second pixel adjacent to the first pixel, the second pixel having a second pixel layout configured to substantially mirror the first pixel layout about one of the side portions of the first pixel.
16 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A pixel array comprising:
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a first pixel having a first pixel area including a first pixel orientation;
a second pixel adjacent said first pixel, said second pixel having a second pixel area and a second pixel orientation, said second pixel orientation configured in said array to substantially mirror said first pixel orientation about an axis between said first pixel and said second pixel;
first addressing circuitry coupled to said first pixel and different second addressing circuitry coupled to said second pixel;
a pixel operating circuit coupled to each of a sampling element for the first pixel and a sampling element for the second pixel, said pixel operating circuit adapted to be shared between said first pixel and said second pixel; and
reset circuitry coupled to each of said first pixel and said second pixel, said reset circuitry adapted to be shared between said first pixel and said second pixel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An apparatus comprising:
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a grid of four pixels each comprising addressing circuitry and each having a pixel orientation, a second pixel orientation configured in said grid to substantially mirror a first pixel orientation about a first axis between said first pixel and said second pixel, a third pixel orientation configured in said grid to substantially mirror said first pixel orientation about a second axis between said first pixel and said third pixel, a fourth pixel orientation configured in said grid to substantially mirror said second pixel orientation about a third axis between said second pixel and said fourth pixel;
a pixel operating circuit, said pixel operating circuit including signal lines adapted to be shared between said first pixel and said second pixel; and
reset circuitry coupled to each of said first pixel and said second pixel, said reset circuitry adapted to be shared between said first pixel and said second pixel. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A method of forming a pixel array, comprising:
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providing a semiconductor substrate having a first pixel area and a second pixel area adjacent said first pixel area;
forming a first photosensing structure in said first pixel area of said substrate;
forming a second photosensing structure in said second pixel area of said substrate;
forming a pixel operating circuit in a portion of said first pixel area and in a portion of said second pixel area, said pixel operating circuit comprising a charging device coupled to said photosensing structures to charge said photosensing structures to a predetermined value, a discharge device coupled to at least one of said photosensing structures to discharge said photosensing structures in response to a light signal, and a sample device coupled to said discharge device to regulate the discharge of said charge signal of said photosensing structures; and
forming reset circuitry in a portion of said first pixel area and in a portion of said second pixel area, said reset circuitry coupled to said photosensing structures and adapted to be shared between said first pixel said second pixel. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
forming a first insulated conductive layer and a second insulated conductive layer over at least one of said first pixel area and said second pixel area; and
patterning contacts to each of said plurality of transistor devices, said contacts coupled to one of said first conductive layer and said second conductive layer.
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Specification