# US 2013/0155303 A1 · Method of capturing an image with an image sensor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0155303 A1 - Document ID: US20130155303A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/711,037 - Filed: 2012-12-11 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-19 - Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.r.l. - Inventors: Frederic BARBIER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130155303A1 ## CPC - H10F 39/813: {Electronic components shared by multiple pixels, e.g. one amplifier shared by two pixels} - H04N 25/00: Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof - H04N 25/46: by combining or binning pixels - H04N 25/531: by controlling rolling shutters in CMOS SSIS - 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 25/76: Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors - H04N 25/771: comprising storage means other than floating diffusion - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A method may include a cycle of reading a current pixel including connecting the capacitive node of the pixel to a capacitive node of a previous pixel already read, connecting the capacitive node of the current pixel and the capacitive node of a previous pixel to an output line, reading a first voltage of the capacitive node of the pixel through the output line, transferring charges from the accumulation node to the capacitive node of the pixel, reading a second voltage of the capacitive node of the pixel through the output line, and disconnecting the capacitive node from the capacitive node of a previous pixel, and a cycle of reading a next pixel. This cycle may include accumulating charges in the accumulation node of the next pixel while the capacitive node of the current pixel is connected to a capacitive node of a previous pixel. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-15. (canceled) ### Claim 16 A method for capturing an image with an array of pixels, each pixel comprising a photosensitive accumulation node, and a capacitive node coupled thereto, the method comprising: a cycle of reading a current pixel comprising connecting a capacitive node of the current pixel to at least one capacitive node of previous pixels already read, coupling the capacitive node of the current pixel to an output line, coupling the at least one capacitive node of the previous pixels to the output line, reading a first voltage of the capacitive node of the current pixel through the output line, transferring charge from an accumulation node to the capacitive node of the current pixel, reading a second voltage of the capacitive node of the current pixel through the output line, and disconnecting the capacitive node of the current pixel from the at least one capacitive node of the previous pixels; and a cycle of reading a next pixel overlapping the cycle of reading the current pixel and comprising accumulating charge in an accumulation node of the next pixel while the capacitive node of the current pixel is connected to the at least one capacitive node of the previous pixels. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16 further comprising resetting a capacitive node of the next pixel while the capacitive node of the current pixel is connected to the at least one capacitive node of the previous pixels. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16 further comprising: capturing a first image without connecting the capacitive node of the current pixel to the at least one capacitive node of the previous pixels; and analyzing the first image. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18 further comprising, based upon a result of the analysis of the first image, capturing a second image by connecting the capacitive node of the current pixel to the at least one capacitive node of the previous pixels. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18 further comprising, based upon the result of the analysis of the first image, capturing the second image without connecting the capacitive node of the current pixel to the at least one capacitive node of the previous pixels. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16 further comprising before accumulating charges in the accumulation node of the current pixel: resetting the capacitive node of the current pixel; and transferring charge from the accumulation node to the capacitive node of the current pixel, to reset the accumulation node. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16 wherein each capacitive node is coupled to the output line through a source-follower transistor and an output transistor set in a conducting state. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method according to claim 22 further comprising: resetting the at least one capacitive node of the previous pixels while the output transistor is set in a conducting state; and resetting the at least one capacitive node of the previous pixels while the output transistor is then set in a non-conducting state. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method according to claim 23 wherein resetting the at least one capacitive node comprises applying a set voltage to the at least one capacitive node. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16 wherein the array of pixels is arranged in rows and columns; and further comprising: capturing the image row-by-row with overlapping row read cycles, each row read cycle comprising a plurality of pixel read cycles; and selecting the previous pixels in a previously read row and in a same column as the current pixel. ### Claim 26 A method for capturing an image with an array of pixels, each pixel comprising a photosensitive accumulation node, and a capacitive node coupled thereto, the method comprising: reading a current pixel comprising connecting a capacitive node of the current pixel to at least one capacitive node of previous pixels already read, and reading a first voltage of the capacitive node of the current pixel; and reading a next pixel overlapping the reading of the current pixel and comprising accumulating charge in an accumulation node of the next pixel while the capacitive node of the current pixel is connected to the at least one capacitive node of the previous pixels. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method according to claim 26 further comprising resetting a capacitive node of the next pixel while the capacitive node of the current pixel is connected to the at least one capacitive node of the previous pixels. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The method according to claim 26 further comprising: capturing a first image without connecting the capacitive node of the current pixel to the at least one capacitive node of the previous pixels; and analyzing the first image. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The method according to claim 28 further comprising, based upon a result of the analysis of the first image, capturing a second image by connecting the capacitive node of the current pixel to the at least one capacitive node of the previous pixels. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The method according to claim 28 further comprising, based upon the result of the analysis of the first image, capturing the second image without connecting the capacitive node of the current pixel to the at least one capacitive node of the previous pixels. ### Claim 31 An imaging device comprising: an array of pixels; and a controller unit configured to select and read said array of pixels, each pixel comprising a photosensitive accumulation node, and a capacitive node coupled thereto; said controller unit configured to perform: a cycle of reading a current pixel comprising connecting a capacitive node of the current pixel to at least one capacitive node of previous pixels already read, coupling the capacitive node of the current pixel to an output line, coupling the at least one capacitive node of the previous pixels to the output line, reading a first voltage of the capacitive node of the current pixel through the output line, transferring charge from an accumulation node to the capacitive node of the current pixel, reading a second voltage of the capacitive node of the current pixel through the output line, and disconnecting the capacitive node of the current pixel from the at least one capacitive node of the previous pixels; and a cycle of reading a next pixel overlapping the cycle of reading the current pixel and comprising accumulating charge in an accumulation node of the next pixel while the capacitive node of the current pixel is connected to the at least one capacitive node of the previous pixels. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The imaging device according to claim 31 wherein said control unit is configured to reset the capacitive node of the next pixel while the capacitive node of the current pixel is connected to the at least one capacitive node of the previous pixels. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The imaging device according to claim 31 wherein said control unit is configured to: capture a first image without connecting the capacitive node of the current pixel to the at least one capacitive node of the previous pixels; and analyze the first image. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The imaging device according to claim 33 wherein said control unit is configured to, based upon a result of the analysis of the first image, capture a second image by connecting the capacitive node of the current pixel to the at least one capacitive node of the previous pixels. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The imaging device according to claim 33 wherein said control unit is configured to, based upon the result of the analysis of the first image, capture the second image without connecting the capacitive node of the current pixel to the at least one capacitive node of the previous pixels. ### Claim 36 (depends on 31) The imaging device according to claim 31 wherein said array of pixels is arranged in rows, and columns; and wherein said control unit is configured to: capture the image row-by-row with overlapping row read cycles, each row read cycle comprising a plurality of pixel read cycles; and select the previous pixels in a previously read row and in a same column as the current pixel. ### Claim 37 An imaging device comprising: an array of pixels; and a controller unit configured to select and read said array of pixels, each pixel comprising a photosensitive accumulation node, and a capacitive node coupled thereto; said controller unit configured to perform: reading a current pixel comprising connecting a capacitive node of the current pixel to at least one capacitive node of previous pixels already read, and reading a first voltage of the capacitive node of the current pixel; and reading a next pixel overlapping the reading of the current pixel and comprising accumulating charge in an accumulation node of the next pixel while the capacitive node of the current pixel is connected to the at least one capacitive node of the previous pixels. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The imaging device according to claim 37 wherein said control unit is configured to reset the capacitive node of the next pixel while the capacitive node of the current pixel is connected to the at least one capacitive node of the previous pixels. ### Claim 39 (depends on 37) The imaging device according to claim 37 wherein said control unit is configured to: capture a first image without connecting the capacitive node of the current pixel to the at least one capacitive node of the previous pixels; and analyze the first image. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The imaging device according to claim 39 wherein said control unit is configured to, based upon a result of the analysis of the first image, capture a second image by connecting the capacitive node of the current pixel to the at least one capacitive node of the previous pixels.