# US 10,455,162 B2 · Imaging pixels with storage capacitors > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,455,162 B2 - Document ID: US10455162B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/914,122 - Filed: 2018-03-07 - Published: 2019-07-25 - Granted: 2019-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-23 - Assignees: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC - Applicants: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC - Inventors: Gurvinder Singh; Anirudh Oberoi; Bharat Balar; Sundaraiah Gurindagunta - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10455162B2 ## CPC - H04N 23/76: by influencing the image signals - H04N 23/65: Control of camera operation in relation to power supply - H04N 23/73: by influencing the exposure time - H04N 23/749: {by influencing the pick-up tube voltages} - H04N 25/59: by controlling the amount of charge storable in the pixel, e.g. modification of the charge conversion ratio of the floating node capacitance - H04N 25/627: Detection or reduction of inverted contrast or eclipsing effects - H04N 25/63: applied to dark current - H04N 25/65: applied to reset noise, e.g. KTC noise related to CMOS structures by techniques other than CDS - H04N 25/671: for non-uniformity detection or correction - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An image sensor may include an array of imaging pixels and row control circuitry. Each imaging pixel may include a photodiode, a floating diffusion region, a transfer transistor configured to transfer charge from the photodiode to the floating diffusion region, a dual conversion gain transistor coupled to the floating diffusion region, and a storage capacitor coupled to the dual conversion gain transistor. The capacitor may have a plate that receives a modulated control signal and the row control circuitry may be configured to modulate the control signal. To reduce image artifacts, the modulated control signal may be modulated low during the integration time of the pixel and may be modulated high during the high conversion gain readout time of the pixel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image sensor comprising: an array of imaging pixels, wherein at least one of the imaging pixels comprises: a photodiode; a floating diffusion region; a transfer transistor configured to transfer charge from the photodiode to the floating diffusion region; and a capacitor coupled to the floating diffusion region, wherein the capacitor has a plate that receives a control signal; and row control circuitry, wherein the row control circuitry is configured to modulate the control signal and wherein the row control circuitry is configured to provide the control signal to a first imaging pixel of the array of imaging pixels at a first voltage during a reset period for the first imaging pixel and wherein the row control circuitry is configured to provide the control signal to the first imaging pixel at a second voltage that is less than the first voltage during an integration period for the first imaging pixel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image sensor defined in claim 1, wherein the row control circuitry is configured to modulate the control signal between the first voltage, the second voltage, and a third voltage that is higher than the first voltage. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The image sensor defined in claim 2, wherein the first voltage is a power supply voltage. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The image sensor defined in claim 2, wherein the row control circuitry is configured to provide the control signal to the first imaging pixel at the third voltage during a high conversion gain readout period for the first imaging pixel and wherein the row control circuitry is configured to provide the control signal to the first imaging pixel at a fourth voltage that is less than the third voltage during a low conversion gain readout period for the first imaging pixel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The image sensor defined in claim 4, wherein the fourth voltage is different from the first voltage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image sensor defined in claim 1, wherein the row control circuitry comprises a plurality of drivers and wherein each driver is configured to provide the control signal to a respective row of imaging pixels in the array of imaging pixels. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The image sensor defined in claim 1, wherein each of the at least one imaging pixel comprises: a transistor interposed between the capacitor and the floating diffusion region. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The image sensor defined in claim 7, wherein each of the at least one imaging pixel comprises: a source follower transistor, wherein the floating diffusion region is coupled to a gate of the source follower transistor; and a reset transistor coupled between the floating diffusion region and a voltage supply that supplies a power supply voltage. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The image sensor defined in claim 8, wherein the first voltage is equal to the power supply voltage. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The image sensor defined in claim 7, wherein the transistor is a dual conversion gain transistor. ### Claim 11 An image sensor comprising: an array of imaging pixels, wherein at least one of the imaging pixels comprises: a photodiode; a floating diffusion region; a transfer transistor configured to transfer charge from the photodiode to the floating diffusion region; and a capacitor coupled to the floating diffusion region, wherein the capacitor has a plate that is coupled to a control line; and row control circuitry, wherein the row control circuitry is configured to provide a control signal to the plate of the capacitor through the control line and wherein the row control circuitry is configured to modulate the control signal between a power supply voltage, a first voltage that is less than the power supply voltage, and a second voltage that is higher than the power supply voltage. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The image sensor defined in claim 11, wherein each of the at least one imaging pixel comprises: a dual conversion gain transistor interposed between the capacitor and the floating diffusion region. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The image sensor defined in claim 11, wherein the row control circuitry is configured to provide the control signal to a first imaging pixel of the array of imaging pixels at the power supply voltage during a reset period for the first imaging pixel, wherein the row control circuitry is configured to provide the control signal to the first imaging pixel at the first voltage during an integration period for the first imaging pixel, and wherein the row control circuitry is configured to provide the control signal to the first imaging pixel at the second voltage during a high conversion gain readout period for the first imaging pixel. ### Claim 14 An image sensor comprising: an array of imaging pixels that includes a first imaging pixel in a first row of imaging pixels, the first imaging pixel comprising: a photodiode; a floating diffusion region; a transfer transistor configured to transfer charge from the photodiode to the floating diffusion region; and a capacitor that has a first plate coupled to the floating diffusion region and a second plate that is coupled to a control line; and row control circuitry that includes a plurality of drivers, wherein a first driver of the plurality of drivers is coupled to the control line, wherein the first driver is configured to provide a control signal to the first row of imaging pixels using the control line, and wherein the first driver is configured to modulate the control signal between a first voltage and a second voltage that is less than the first voltage. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The image sensor defined in claim 14, wherein the control line directly couples the second plate of the capacitor to the first driver. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The image sensor defined in claim 14, wherein the first driver is configured to modulate the control signal between the first voltage, the second voltage, and a third voltage that is higher than the first voltage. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The image sensor defined in claim 16, wherein the first voltage is a power supply voltage. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The image sensor defined in claim 14, wherein the first driver is configured to provide the control signal to the first imaging pixel at the first voltage during a reset period for the first imaging pixel and wherein the first driver is configured to provide the control signal to the first imaging pixel at the second voltage during an integration period for the first imaging pixel.