US 12,085,442 B2 · Integrated circuit with sequentially-coupled charge storage and associated techniques

Abstract

Described herein are techniques that improve the collection and readout of charge carriers in an integrated circuit. Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to integrated circuits having pixels with a plurality of charge storage regions. Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to integrated circuits configured to substantially simultaneously collect and read out charge carriers, at least in part. Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to integrated circuits having a plurality of pixels configured to transfer charge carriers between charge storage regions within each pixel substantially at the same time. Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to integrated circuits having three or more sequentially coupled charge storage regions. Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to integrated circuits capable of increased charge transfer rates. Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to techniques for manufacturing and operating integrated circuits according to the other techniques described herein.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A method, comprising:

during a first time period, transferring first charge carriers from a first charge storage region to a second charge storage region;
and
during a second time period:
receiving second charge carriers at the first charge storage region;
and
reading out the first charge carriers from the second charge storage region.

3 more elements

A system, comprising:

a sample well configured to support a sample;
and
an integrated circuit, comprising:
a photodetection region configured to generate charge carriers in response to receiving photons emitted by the sample;
a first charge storage region electrically coupled to the photodetection region to receive charge carriers;
and
a second charge storage region electrically coupled to the first charge storage region to receive charge carriers,
wherein the integrated circuit is controllable to:
during a first time period, transfer first charge carriers from the first charge storage region to the second charge storage region;
and
during a second time period:
read out the first charge carriers from the second charge storage region;
and
receive second charge carriers at the first charge storage region from the photodetection region.

11 more elements

A system, comprising:

an integrated circuit, comprising:
a first charge storage region;
and
a second charge storage region electrically coupled to the first charge storage region;
and
a control circuit electrically coupled to the integrated circuit and configured to:
during a first time period, control the integrated circuit to transfer, from the first charge storage region to the second charge storage region, first charge carriers;
and
during a second time period, control the integrated circuit to:
receive, at the first charge storage region, second charge carriers;
and
read out, from the second charge storage region, the first charge carriers.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

17/507,585Filed 21 Oct 2021 · us provisional application

Priority

22 Oct 2020

Published

US 2022/0128402 A128 Apr 2022

Granted

10 Sep 2024

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification20 codes

G01J 1/44
Using electric radiation detectors: electric circuits
G01N 21/6408
Fluorescence; Phosphorescence: with measurement of decay time, time resolved fluorescence
B01J 19/0046
Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus: sequential or parallel reactions, e.g. for the synthesis of…
G01N 21/6454
Individual samples arranged in a regular 2D-array, e.g. multiwell plates: using an integrated detector array

Integrated circuit with sequentially-coupled charge storage and associated techniques

Life of this patent

Integrated circuit with sequentially-coupled charge storage and associated techniques

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23