Image sensor having multiple storage wells per pixel
US5867215A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 27, 1997 |
| Grant date | Feb 2, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 27, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N25/00
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An image sensing device having an array of photodetectors capable of generating electron/hole pairs from incident photons, with multiple charge coupled devices organized in a tandem well design that employs multiple storage wells per pixel. The wells use thresholds to control the overflow of charge from one well to the next and are arranged such that a first charge coupled device having a plurality of cells is operatively coupled to the photodetectors by first transfer means for placing charge accumulated within the photodetectors from generated electron/hole pairs within the first charge coupled device, and a second charge coupled device having a plurality of cells being operatively coupled to the first charge coupled device by second transfer means for removing charge exceeding a predetermined threshold within the first charge coupled device and placing charge exceeding the predetermined threshold within the second charge coupled device. Clocking means are provided for cycling charge through the cells of the charge coupled devices. Embodiments have output means for combining signals from first and second charge coupled devices, and generating either analog or digital outputs. The…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.