Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100128158 | IMAGE SENSORS HAVING NON-UNIFORM LIGHT SHIELDS - An image sensor includes a pixel array divided into two or more corresponding sub-arrays. The pixel array includes an imaging area having a plurality of pixels and one or more reference areas each having a plurality of reference pixels. A continuous non-uniform light shield overlies, or individual non-uniform light shields overlie, each reference pixel in a row or column of reference pixels. An image sensor can include one or more rows or columns of reference pixels. An output channel is electrically connected to each sub-array for receiving the signals generated by the plurality of pixels and reference pixels in each sub-array. The pixel signals generated by the reference pixel pairs in one or more rows or columns in corresponding sub-arrays are used to determine one or more correction factors that compensate for the differences or mismatches between the output channels. | 05-27-2010 |
20100148231 | ELIMINATION OF GLOWING ARTIFACT IN DIGITAL IMAGES CAPTURED BY AN IMAGE SENSOR - A source/drain region of a transistor or amplifier is formed in a substrate layer and is connected to a voltage source. A glow blocking structure is formed at least partially around the source/drain region and is disposed between the source/drain region and an imaging array of an image sensor. A trench is formed in the substrate layer adjacent to and at least partially around the source/drain region. The glow blocking structure includes an opaque material formed in the trench and one or more layers of light absorbing material overlying the source/drain region and the opaque material. | 06-17-2010 |
20100302427 | CCD IMAGE SENSORS HAVING MULTIPLE LATERAL OVERFLOW DRAIN REGIONS FOR A HORIZONTAL SHIFT REGISTER - A charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor includes a layer of a semiconductor material having a first conductivity type. A horizontal CCD channel region of a second conductivity type is disposed in the layer of the semiconductor material. The horizontal CCD channel region includes multiple phases that are used to shift photo-generated charge through the horizontal CCD channel region. Distinct overflow drain regions are disposed in the layer of semiconducting material, with an overflow drain region electrically connected to only one particular phase of the horizontal CCD channel region. A buffer region of the second conductivity type can be used to electrically connect each overflow drain to the one particular phase of the horizontal CCD channel. Multiple barrier regions are disposed in the layer of semiconductor material, with each barrier region disposed between each overflow drain and the one particular phase electrically connected to the drain. | 12-02-2010 |
20110074996 | CCD IMAGE SENSORS WITH VARIABLE OUTPUT GAINS IN AN OUTPUT CIRCUIT - An output circuit in a charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor includes a charge-to-voltage conversion region, a gain control transistor connected to the charge-to-voltage conversion region and a reset transistor connected in series with the gain control transistor. One or more additional gain control transistors can be connected between the reset transistor and the gain control transistor. The one or more gain control transistors are used to set a capacitance of the charge-to-voltage conversion region to two or more difference capacitance levels. For each capacitance level, a reset voltage and a signal voltage are measured from the charge-to-voltage conversion region. A signal processing device computes multiple signal values for a single charge packet using the measured reset and signal voltages. The signal processing device selects one of the multiple signal values to be the signal value for the pixel. | 03-31-2011 |
20110102658 | CCD IMAGE SENSORS HAVING MULTIPLE LATERAL OVERFLOW DRAIN REGIONS FOR A HORIZONTAL SHIFT REGISTER - A charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor includes a layer of a semiconductor material having a first conductivity type. A horizontal CCD channel region of a second conductivity type is disposed in the layer of the semiconductor material. The horizontal CCD channel region includes multiple phases that are used to shift photo-generated charge through the horizontal CCD channel region. Distinct overflow drain regions are disposed in the layer of semiconducting material, with an overflow drain region electrically connected to only one particular phase of the horizontal CCD channel region. | 05-05-2011 |
20120025275 | CCD SENSORS WITH MULTIPLE CONTACT PATTERNS - A pixel array in an image sensor includes multiple pixels. The pixel array includes vertical shift registers for shifting charge out of the pixel array. The vertical shift registers can be interspersed between the pixels, such as in an interline image sensor, or the photosensitive areas in the pixels can operate as vertical shift registers. The pixels are divided into blocks of pixels. One or more electrodes are disposed over each pixel. Conductive strips are disposed over the electrodes. Contacts are used to connect selected electrodes to respective conductive strips. The contacts in at least one block of pixels are positioned according to one contact pattern while the contacts in one or more other blocks are positioned according to a different contact pattern. The different contact patterns reduce or eliminate visible patterns in the contact locations. | 02-02-2012 |
20120028400 | CCD SENSORS WITH MULTIPLE CONTACT PATTERNS - A pixel array in an image sensor includes multiple pixels. The pixel array includes vertical shift registers for shifting charge out of the pixel array. The vertical shift registers can be interspersed between the pixels, such as in an interline image sensor, or the photosensitive areas in the pixels can operate as vertical shift registers. The pixels are divided into blocks of pixels. One or more electrodes are disposed over each pixel. Conductive strips are disposed over the electrodes. Contacts are used to connect selected electrodes to respective conductive strips. The contacts in at least one block of pixels are positioned according to one contact pattern while the contacts in one or more other blocks are positioned according to a different contact pattern. The different contact patterns reduce or eliminate visible patterns in the contact locations. | 02-02-2012 |
20120028402 | CCD SENSORS WITH MULTIPLE CONTACT PATTERNS - A pixel array in an image sensor includes multiple pixels. The pixel array includes vertical shift registers for shifting charge out of the pixel array. The vertical shift registers can be interspersed between the pixels, such as in an interline image sensor, or the photosensitive areas in the pixels can operate as vertical shift registers. The pixels are divided into blocks of pixels. One or more electrodes are disposed over each pixel. Conductive strips are disposed over the electrodes. Contacts are used to connect selected electrodes to respective conductive strips. The contacts in at least one block of pixels are positioned according to one contact pattern while the contacts in one or more other blocks are positioned according to a different contact pattern. The different contact patterns reduce or eliminate visible patterns in the contact locations. | 02-02-2012 |
20120028403 | CCD SENSORS WITH MULTIPLE CONTACT PATTERNS - A pixel array in an image sensor includes multiple pixels. The pixel array includes vertical shift registers for shifting charge out of the pixel array. The vertical shift registers can be interspersed between the pixels, such as in an interline image sensor, or the photosensitive areas in the pixels can operate as vertical shift registers. The pixels are divided into blocks of pixels. One or more electrodes are disposed over each pixel. Conductive strips are disposed over the electrodes. Contacts are used to connect selected electrodes to respective conductive strips. The contacts in at least one block of pixels are positioned according to one contact pattern while the contacts in one or more other blocks are positioned according to a different contact pattern. The different contact patterns reduce or eliminate visible patterns in the contact locations. | 02-02-2012 |
20120081590 | LINEAR IMAGE SENSOR WITH MULTIPLE OUTPUTS - A Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) image sensor includes a linear array of photodetectors. The photodetectors in the linear array are arranged into distinct sub-arrays with each sub-array including two or more photodetectors. An output channel is connected to each sub-array of photodetectors. Each output channel includes a horizontal CCD shift register and an output structure connected to an end of the horizontal CCD shift register in a linear arrangement with respect to each other. Each successive output channel is disposed on an alternate side of the linear array. Every other output channel is disposed on an alternate side of the linear array. One or more dark reference pixels can be connected to one or more additional shift register elements in the horizontal CCD shift registers. | 04-05-2012 |
20120081591 | LINEAR IMAGE SENSOR WITH MULTIPLE OUTPUTS - A Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) image sensor includes a linear array of photodetectors. The photodetectors in the linear array are arranged into distinct sub-arrays with each sub-array including two or more photodetectors. An output channel is connected to each sub-array of photodetectors. Each output channel includes a horizontal CCD shift register and an output structure connected to an end of the horizontal CCD shift register in a linear arrangement with respect to each other. Each successive output channel is disposed on an alternate side of the linear array. Every other output channel is disposed on an alternate side of the linear array. One or more dark reference pixels can be connected to one or more additional shift register elements in the horizontal CCD shift registers. | 04-05-2012 |
20120319307 | IDENTIFICATION OF DIES ON A SEMICONDUCTOR WAFER - A semiconductor wafer includes multiple dies and a die identification region adjacent to or on each die. The die identification region can include a wafer indicator and a pattern of die locations representing die locations on the wafer. A die identification marker is provided in each pattern of die locations in the die identification region specifying a location of a respective die on the wafer. | 12-20-2012 |
20120322271 | IDENTIFICATION OF DIES ON A SEMICONDUCTOR WAFER - A semiconductor wafer includes multiple dies and a die identification region adjacent to or on each die. The die identification region can include a wafer indicator and a pattern of die locations representing die locations on the wafer. A die identification marker is provided in each pattern of die locations in the die identification region specifying a location of a respective die on the wafer. | 12-20-2012 |
20130049777 | DEVICE IDENTIFICATION AND TEMPERATURE SENSOR CIRCUIT - An integrated circuit includes a device identification circuit and a temperature sensor diode connected in parallel from a common node. The device identification circuit includes a resistor connected to a diode-connected transistor. The device identification circuit and the temperature sensor diode are adapted to not be simultaneously operating in an ON state. A first voltage is applied to the common node to place the device identification circuit in an ON state and place the temperature sensor diode in an OFF state to identify the integrated circuit. A second voltage is applied to the common node to place the device identification circuit in an OFF state and place the temperature sensor diode in an ON state to determine a temperature of the integrated circuit. | 02-28-2013 |
20130120771 | Image Processing For Images With Aroma Information - A method and apparatus for receiving a digital image file, reading the digital image file to obtain information identifying a scent and printing the digital image on a receiver medium including automatically applying the scent on the receiver medium. | 05-16-2013 |
20130120787 | Image Processing For Images With Aroma Information - A method and apparatus for capturing a digital image, automatically detecting an object in the captured digital image, automatically determining that an identifiable scent corresponds to the detected object, and automatically storing information in association with the digital image for identifying the scent in a memory of the device. | 05-16-2013 |
20130120788 | Image Processing For Images With Aroma Information - A method and apparatus for processing a digital image by automatically detecting an object in the digital image, automatically determining that an identifiable scent corresponds to the detected object, and automatically storing information in association with the digital image for identifying the scent. | 05-16-2013 |