Image sensor floating diffusion boosting by transfer gates
US9998696B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 21, 2016 |
| Grant date | Jun 12, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 27, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N25/778
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A shared pixel includes a plurality of transfer gates coupled between respective photodiodes and a shared floating diffusion. Each transfer gate is coupled to receive a transfer control signal to independently control a transfer of the image charge from the corresponding photodiodes to the shared floating diffusion. Each transfer control signal is set to one of an ON value, a first OFF value, and a second OFF value. One of the control signals that is coupled to an active transfer gate is set to the ON value during a transfer operation. The control signals coupled to idle transfer gates are set to the first OFF value during a reset period prior to the transfer operation, and are set to the second OFF value during the transfer operation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.