Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080204586 | IMAGE SENSOR FOR STILL OR VIDEO PHOTOGRAPHY - A method for reading out charge from an interlined CCD having a plurality of photo-sensing regions and a plurality of vertical shift registers, and each photosensitive region is mated respectively to a CCD of a vertical shift register and a color filter having a repeating pattern of two rows in which each row includes at least two colors spanning the photo-sensing regions, the method includes reading out one row from each of the two row pattern; summing the same color from each row in the vertical shift register to reduce the resolution by one half; without transferring charge out of the vertical shift register, repeating the reading and summing steps for the remaining row; and reading out the charge in the vertical shift registers in a manner in which different colors are not summed together. | 08-28-2008 |
20080225148 | REDUCED PIXEL AREA IMAGE SENSOR - An image sensor that includes a plurality of pixels disposed on a substrate, each pixel includes at least one photosensitive region that collects charges in response to incident light; a charge-to-voltage conversion node for sensing the charge from the at least one photosensitive region and converting the charge to a voltage; an amplifier transistor having a source connected to an output node, having a gate connected to the charge-to-voltage conversion node and having a drain connected to at least a portion of a power supply node; and a reset transistor connecting the output node and the charge-to-voltage conversion node. | 09-18-2008 |
20080273104 | IMAGE SENSOR PIXEL WITH GAIN CONTROL - A method for reading out an image signal, the method comprising: providing at least two photosensitive regions; providing at least two transfer gates respectively associated with each photosensitive region; providing a common charge-to-voltage conversion region electrically connected to the transfer gates; providing a reset mechanism that resets the common charge-to-voltage conversion region; after transferring charge from at least one of the photo-sensitive regions, disabling all transfer gates at a first time; enabling at least one transfer gate at a subsequent second time; and transferring charge from at least one of the photosensitive regions at a subsequent third time while the at least one transfer gate from the second time remains enabled. | 11-06-2008 |
20080315272 | IMAGE SENSOR WITH GAIN CONTROL - An image sensor having a plurality of pixels; each pixel includes one or more photosensitive elements that collect charge in response to incident light; one or more transfer mechanisms that respectively transfer the charge from the one or more photosensitive elements; a charge-to-voltage conversion region having a capacitance, and the charge-to-voltage region receives the charge from the one or more photosensitive elements; a first reset transistor connected to the charge-to-voltage conversion region; a second reset transistor connected to the first reset transistor, which in combination with the first reset transistor, selectively sets the capacitance of the charge-to-voltage conversion regions from a plurality of capacitances. | 12-25-2008 |
20090051984 | IMAGE SENSOR HAVING CHECKERBOARD PATTERN - An image sensor for capturing a color image, comprising a two-dimensional array of pixels having a plurality of minimal repeating units wherein each repeating unit is composed of eight pixels having four panchromatic pixels, two pixels having the same color response, and two pixels having different color responses that are different than the pixels having the same color response, with the minimal repeating units tiled to cause each row or each column of the image sensor to have color pixels of a single color or to cause each row and each column to have color pixels of only two colors. | 02-26-2009 |
20090180018 | IMAGE SENSOR WITH CHARGE MULTIPLICATION - An image sensor includes an array of pixels arranged into two or more subarrays and each subarray captures charge; and an output charge-coupled device that receives charge from the array of pixels; wherein the output charge-coupled device is divided into substantially two equal first and second portions in which either one portion receives charge from only one subarray or both portions receive charge respectively from a subarray, and the first portion of the charge-coupled device is a charge-multiplying charge-coupled device in which charge is amplified, and the second portion of the charge-coupled device does not amplify charge. | 07-16-2009 |
20090294631 | IMAGE SENSOR HAVING REDUCED WELL BOUNCE - A CMOS image sensor or other type of image sensor comprises a pixel array and sampling and readout circuitry associated with the pixel array. In conjunction with readout of one or more pixels in a selected group of pixels of the pixel array, a pixel power line signal of the array transitions from an inactive state to an active state, and a reset signal of a non-selected group of pixels of the pixel array transitions from an active state to an inactive state within a predetermined time prior to the transition of the pixel power line signal from its inactive state to its active state. This arrangement advantageously reduces well bounce in the image sensor. The image sensor may be implemented in a digital camera or other type of digital imaging device. | 12-03-2009 |
20090298221 | IMAGE SENSOR CLOCKING METHOD - A method for reducing dark current within a charge-coupled device, the method includes each gate phase n having a capacitance C | 12-03-2009 |
20090310004 | WIDE APERTURE IMAGE SENSOR PIXEL - An image sensor includes a unit cell of four pixels. The unit cell includes four photosensitive regions that collect charge in response to light; four transfer transistors that respectively pass the charge from each of the four photosensitive regions to one common charge-to-voltage conversion mechanism; three control wires in which a first control wire controls two of the transfer transistors and a second control wire controls one of the transfer transistors and a third control wire controls one of the transfer transistors; an amplifier connected to the common charge-to-voltage conversion mechanism that outputs an output signal in response to a signal from the charge-to-voltage conversion mechanism; and a reset transistor connected to the common charge-to-voltage conversion mechanism for resetting the charge-to-voltage conversion mechanism to a predetermined signal level. | 12-17-2009 |
20090314928 | HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE IMAGE SENSOR - An image sensor includes a plurality of pixels, each pixel includes a first photosensitive region that collects charge in response to light and having a first sensitivity; a second photosensitive region that collects charge in response to light and having a second sensitivity that is lower than the sensitivity of the first photosensitive region; and a polarizer spanning the second photosensitive region. | 12-24-2009 |
20100045840 | IMAGE SENSOR FOR STILL OR VIDEO PHOTOGRAPHY - An image sensor includes a plurality of vertical CCDs; first HCCD receiving charge packets from even numbered vertical CCDs; and a second HCCD receiving charge packets from odd numbered vertical CCDs; wherein four charge packets are summed together from the first HCCD, and four charge packets are summed together in the second HCCD such that the summing process in the second HCCD begins one or two charge packets spatially after the first charge packet of the four charge packets summed in the first HCCD. | 02-25-2010 |
20100051784 | IN-PIXEL SUMMING OF CHARGE GENERATED BY TWO OR MORE PIXELS HAVING TWO RESET TRANSISTORS CONNECTED IN SERIES - An image sensor includes (a) a plurality of pixels, wherein each pixel comprises:(i) at least one photosensor; (ii) at least one transfer gate connecting the photosensor to a floating diffusion; (iii) an output transistor connected to the floating diffusion; (iv) a first reset transistor connected between the floating diffusion and a summing node; (v) a second reset transistor connected to the summing node; and (b) a first summing transistor connecting together the summing nodes of two or more pixels. | 03-04-2010 |
20100149396 | IMAGE SENSOR WITH INLAID COLOR PIXELS IN ETCHED PANCHROMATIC ARRAY - An image sensor includes a substrate with a plurality of photosensitive elements. A transparent inorganic layer is situated over the substrate, and a plurality of openings is formed in the transparent inorganic layer. A color filter array has a plurality of panchromatic filter elements that are formed by the transparent inorganic layer, and a plurality of color filter elements are situated in the openings. The panchromatic filter elements and the color filter elements each include top surfaces that are essentially planar with the top surface of the transparent inorganic layer. | 06-17-2010 |
20100157118 | MULTLIPLE OUTPUT CHARGE-COUPLED DEVICES - An image sensor includes a plurality of pixels overlaid with a color filter pattern of at least two colors having the same color on every other pixel in one direction; three or more charge-coupled devices oriented parallel to the every other pixel color filter repeat pattern; a charge sensing amplifier at the output of at least two of the charge couple devices; each charge-coupled device having a first and a second gate; a CCD-to-CCD transfer gate connecting adjacent charge-coupled devices with the first gate being on one side of the CCD-to-CCD transfer gate and the second gate being on the opposite side of the CCD-to-CCD transfer gate; all CCD-to-CCD transfer gates are electrically connected together; all first gates are electrically connected; and all second gates are electrically connected. | 06-24-2010 |
20100157119 | MULTIPLE OUTPUT CHARGE-COUPLED DEVICES - An image sensor includes a plurality of pixels overlaid with a color filter pattern of at least two colors having the same color on every other pixel in one direction; three or more charge-coupled devices oriented parallel to the every other pixel color filter repeat pattern; a charge sensing amplifier at the output of at least two of the charge couple devices; each charge-coupled device having a first and a second gate; a CCD-to-CCD transfer gate connecting adjacent charge-coupled devices with the first gate being on one side of the CCD-to-CCD transfer gate and the second gate being on the opposite side of the CCD-to-CCD transfer gate; all CCD-to-CCD transfer gates are electrically connected together; all first gates are electrically connected; and all second gates are electrically connected. | 06-24-2010 |
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 |
20110122307 | REDUCED PIXEL AREA IMAGE SENSOR - An image sensor that includes a plurality of pixels disposed on a substrate, each pixel includes at least one photosensitive region that collects charges in response to incident light; a charge-to-voltage conversion node for sensing the charge from the at least one photosensitive region and convening the charge to a voltage; an amplifier transistor having a source connected to an output node, having a gate connected to the charge-to-voltage conversion node and having a drain connected to at least a portion of a power supply node; and a reset transistor connecting the output node and the charge-to-voltage conversion node. | 05-26-2011 |
20110147875 | IMAGE SENSOR WITH WELL BOUNCE CORRECTION - An image sensor includes a pixel array having photoactive pixels and dark reference pixels. The photoactive pixels can be configured in a sub-array within the pixel array. Well contacts are only placed along opposing sides or edges of the sub-array of photoactive pixels or along opposing sides or edges of the pixel array. | 06-23-2011 |
20110267515 | ELECTRONIC SHUTTER CONTROL IN IMAGE SENSORS - An image sensor includes an electronic shutter layer that is used to drain charge during an electronic shutter operation. A timing generator is electrically connected to a selector component. The selector component is electrically connected to an electronic shutter pulse driver component. The electronic shutter pulse driver component is electrically connected to a current sensing component. The current sensing component is electrically connected to the electronic shutter layer through a contact. The current sensing component senses a current level in the electronic shutter layer and changes a state of an alert signal when the current level equals or exceeds a threshold current level. Depending on the state of an alert signal, the selector component either transmits, or does not transmit, the drive pulse signal to the electronic shutter pulse driver component. An electronic shutter operation is performed when the electronic shutter pulse driver component receives the drive pulse signal. | 11-03-2011 |
20110267516 | ELECTRONIC SHUTTER CONTROL IN IMAGE SENSORS - An image sensor includes an electronic shutter layer that is used to drain charge away from the photosensitive regions during an electronic shutter operation. A current sensing component and a selector component are electrically connected to a contact to the electronic shutter layer in the image sensor. The current sensing component senses a current level in the electronic shutter layer and changes a state of an alert signal when the current level equals or exceeds a threshold current level. The selector component receives the alert signal from the current sensing component and a shutter signal from an electronic shutter pulse driver component. Depending on the state of the alert signal, the selector component either transmits, or does not transmit, the shutter signal to the electronic shutter layer. An electronic shutter operation is performed when the electronic shutter layer receives the shutter signal. | 11-03-2011 |
20110267517 | ELECTRONIC SHUTTER CONTROL IN IMAGE SENSORS - An image sensor includes an electronic shutter layer that is used to drain charge away from the photosensitive regions during an electronic shutter operation. A current reference component is electrically connected to a contact to the electronic shutter layer. The current reference component produces a signal having a level that is constant as a load current varies from zero to a threshold current level. A scaler component is electrically connected between the current reference component and an electronic shutter pulse driver component. The scaler component transmits the signal to the electronic shutter pulse driver component when the load current does not exceed the threshold current level. When the load current exceeds the threshold current level, the scaler component scales the level of the signal to a different level and transmits the scaled signal to the electronic shutter pulse driver component. | 11-03-2011 |
20110267518 | CONTROLLING ELECTRONIC SHUTTER IN IMAGE SENSORS - An image sensor includes an electronic shutter layer that drains charge away from the photosensitive regions during an electronic shutter operation. A signal is applied to the electronic shutter layer through a contact. Prior to performing an electronic shutter operation, a determination is made as to whether or not a current level in the electronic shutter layer substantially equals or exceeds a threshold current level. If the current level in the electronic shutter layer substantially equals or exceeds the threshold current level, the electronic shutter operation is not performed. The electronic shutter operation is performed if the current level in the electronic shutter layer does not substantially equal or exceed the threshold current level. | 11-03-2011 |
20120144656 | METHOD OF PRODUCING AN IMAGE SENSOR HAVING MULTIPLE OUTPUT CHANNELS - A method for producing an image sensor includes providing a horizontal shift register electrically connected to a pixel array for receiving charge packets from the pixel array. A non-destructive sense node is provided that is connected to an output of the horizontal shift register. A charge directing switch is provided that is electrically connected to the non-destructive sense node. The charge directing switch includes first and second outputs. A charge multiplying horizontal shift register is provided that is electrically connected to the first output of the charge directing switch. A bypass horizontal shift register or an amplifier is provided that is connected to the second output of the charge directing switch. | 06-14-2012 |
20120147235 | IMAGE SENSOR WITH CHARGE MULTIPLICATION - An image sensor includes a horizontal shift register electrically connected to a pixel array for receiving charge packets from the pixel array. A non-destructive sense node is connected to an output of the horizontal shift register. A charge directing switch is electrically connected to the non-destructive sense node. The charge directing switch includes two outputs. A charge multiplying horizontal shift register is electrically connected to one output of the charge directing switch. A bypass horizontal shift register or an amplifier can be connected to the other output of the charge directing switch. | 06-14-2012 |
20120147236 | IMAGE SENSOR WITH CHARGE MULTIPLICATION - An image sensor includes a horizontal shift register electrically connected to a pixel array for receiving charge packets from the pixel array. A non-destructive sense node is connected to an output of the horizontal shift register. A charge directing switch is electrically connected to the non-destructive sense node. The charge directing switch includes two outputs. A charge multiplying horizontal shift register is electrically connected to one output of the charge directing switch. A bypass horizontal shift register or an amplifier can be connected to the other output of the charge directing switch. | 06-14-2012 |
20120147239 | METHODS FOR PROCESSING AN IMAGE CAPTURED BY AN IMAGE SENSOR HAVING MULTIPLE OUTPUT CHANNELS - Charge packets are transferred from a pixel array in an image sensor to a horizontal shift register. Each charge packet is shifted to a non-destructive sense node. Each charge packet is non-destructively sensed and a signal representative of a number of charge carriers in the charge packet is produced. Respective charge packets are directed to a charge multiplying output channel when the signal representative of the number of charge carriers in each charge packet indicates the charge packet will not saturate the charge multiplying horizontal shift register. Respective charge packets are directed to a charge bypass output channel or an amplifier when the signal representative of the number of charge carriers in each charge packet indicates the charge packet will saturate the charge multiplying horizontal shift register. | 06-14-2012 |
20120147240 | METHOD OF PRODUCING AN IMAGE WITH PIXEL SIGNALS PRODUCED BY AN IMAGE SENSOR THAT INCLUDES MULTIPLE OUTPUT CHANNELS - An image sensor includes multiple output channels, a non-destructive charge sensing output channel having an associated gain value of G | 06-14-2012 |
20120151753 | IMAGE SENSOR WITH CHARGE MULTIPLICATION OUTPUT CHANNEL AND CHARGE SENSING OUTPUT CHANNEL - An image sensor includes a horizontal shift register electrically connected to a pixel array for receiving charge packets from the pixel array. A non-destructive sense node is connected to an output of the horizontal shift register. A charge directing switch is electrically connected to the non-destructive sense node. The charge directing switch includes two outputs. A charge multiplying horizontal shift register is electrically connected to one output of the charge directing switch. A discharging element is connected to the other output of the charge directing switch. | 06-21-2012 |
20120154620 | METHOD FOR PROCESSING AN IMAGE CAPTURED BY AN IMAGE SENSOR HAVING A CHARGE MULTIPLICATION OUTPUT CHANNEL AND A CHARGE SENSING OUTPUT CHANNEL - An image sensor includes a horizontal shift register electrically connected to a pixel array for receiving charge packets from the pixel array. A non-destructive sense node is connected to an output of the horizontal shift register. A charge directing switch is electrically connected to the non-destructive sense node. The charge directing switch includes two outputs. A charge multiplying horizontal shift register is electrically connected to one output of the charge directing switch. A discharging element is connected to the other output of the charge directing switch. | 06-21-2012 |
20120154652 | IMAGE SENSOR WITH CHARGE MULTIPLICATION OUTPUT CHANNEL AND CHARGE SENSING OUTPUT CHANNEL - An image sensor includes a horizontal shift register electrically connected to a pixel array for receiving charge packets from the pixel array. A non-destructive sense node is connected to an output of the horizontal shift register. A charge directing switch is electrically connected to the non-destructive sense node. The charge directing switch includes two outputs. A charge multiplying horizontal shift register is electrically connected to one output of the charge directing switch. A discharging element is connected to the other output of the charge directing switch. | 06-21-2012 |
20120168611 | IMAGE SENSOR PIXEL WITH GAIN CONTROL - A method for reading out an image signal includes providing at least two photosensitive regions and providing at least two transfer gates respectively associated with each photosensitive region. The method also includes providing a common charge-to-voltage conversion region electrically connected to the transfer gates and providing a reset mechanism that resets the common charge-to-voltage conversion region. After transferring charge from at least one of the photo-sensitive regions, all the transfer gates are disabled at a first time. The method further includes enabling at least one transfer gate at a subsequent second time and transferring charge from at least one of the photosensitive regions at a subsequent third time while the at least one transfer gate from the second time remains enabled. | 07-05-2012 |
20130075580 | MULTIPLE CLOCKING MODES FOR A CCD IMAGER - A CCD image sensor includes vertical CCD shift registers and gate electrodes disposed over the vertical CCD shift registers. The gate electrodes are divided into distinct groups of gate electrodes. The CCD image sensor is adapted to operate in an accumulation mode and a charge transfer mode, an accumulation mode and a charge shifting mode, or an accumulation mode, a charge transfer mode, and a charge shifting mode. The charge transfer mode has an initial charge transfer phase and a final charge transfer phase. The charge shifting mode has an initial charge shifting phase and a final charge shifting phase. | 03-28-2013 |
20130075581 | MULTIPLE CLOCKING MODES FOR A CCD IMAGER - A CCD image sensor includes vertical CCD shift registers and gate electrodes disposed over the vertical CCD shift registers. The gate electrodes are divided into distinct groups of gate electrodes. The CCD image sensor is adapted to operate in an accumulation mode and a charge transfer mode, an accumulation mode and a charge shifting mode, or an accumulation mode, a charge transfer mode, and a charge shifting mode. The charge transfer mode has an initial charge transfer phase and a final charge transfer phase. The charge shifting mode has an initial charge shifting phase and a final charge shifting phase. | 03-28-2013 |
20130075582 | MULTIPLE CLOCKING MODES FOR A CCD IMAGER - A CCD image sensor includes vertical CCD shift registers and gate electrodes disposed over the vertical CCD shift registers. The gate electrodes are divided into distinct groups of gate electrodes. The CCD image sensor is adapted to operate in an accumulation mode and a charge transfer mode, an accumulation mode and a charge shifting mode, or an accumulation mode, a charge transfer mode, and a charge shifting mode. The charge transfer mode has an initial charge transfer phase and a final charge transfer phase. The charge shifting mode has an initial charge shifting phase and a final charge shifting phase. | 03-28-2013 |
20130075583 | MULTIPLE CLOCKING MODES FOR A CCD IMAGER - A CCD image sensor includes vertical CCD shift registers and gate electrodes disposed over the vertical CCD shift registers. The gate electrodes are divided into distinct groups of gate electrodes. The CCD image sensor is adapted to operate in an accumulation mode and a charge transfer mode, an accumulation mode and a charge shifting mode, or an accumulation mode, a charge transfer mode, and a charge shifting mode. The charge transfer mode has an initial charge transfer phase and a final charge transfer phase. The charge shifting mode has an initial charge shifting phase and a final charge shifting phase. | 03-28-2013 |
20130075791 | DEPLETED CHARGE-MULTIPLYING CCD IMAGE SENSOR - In various embodiments, a charge-coupled device includes channel stops laterally spaced away from the channel by fully depleted regions. | 03-28-2013 |
20130099095 | MULTIPLE-GAIN CHARGE SENSING IN IMAGE SENSORS - In various embodiments, image sensors include output channels enabling high-gain and/or low-gain charge read-out while minimizing charge-conversion noise. | 04-25-2013 |
20140000093 | METHOD OF PRODUCING AN IMAGE SENSOR HAVING MULTIPLE OUTPUT CHANNELS | 01-02-2014 |
20140049676 | MULTIMODE INTERLINE CCD IMAGING METHODS - In various embodiments, image-capture methods include a mode in which an image is acquired via charge accumulation in multiple regions of an imaging array and read out to one or more outputs, and/or a mode in which an image is acquired via charge accumulation in a first region of an imaging array, held in vertical CCDs of another region of the imaging array, and read out along with a second image acquired via charge accumulation in the first region of the imaging array. | 02-20-2014 |
20140231881 | DEPLETED CHARGE-MULTIPLYING CCD IMAGE SENSOR - In various embodiments, a charge-coupled device includes channel stops laterally spaced away from the channel by fully depleted regions. | 08-21-2014 |