Patent · US Expired

Lag cancellation in CMOS image sensors

US7417677B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
6References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 8, 2003
Grant dateAug 26, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 14, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N25/76
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A pixel cell with improved lag characteristics without increased noise. The pixel cell according to embodiments of the invention includes a photo-conversion device and a floating diffusion region switchably coupled to the photo-conversion device. The pixel cell includes a reset transistor, which has a first terminal electrically connected to the floating diffusion region and a second terminal switchably coupled to first and second voltage sources. The first voltage source is higher than the second voltage source. The pixel cell operates by returning a potential on the photo-conversion device to a value approximately equal to a value of a potential barrier between the photo-conversion device and the floating diffusion region prior to generating charge in the photo-conversion device.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.