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US 2014/0175264 A1Published application
Pixel Structure and Reset Scheme
AssigneeRambus Inc.
InventorsSong Xue, Thomas Vogelsang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An image sensor that includes a pixel array with image pixels with conditional reset circuitry. The pixels can be reset by a combination of row select and column reset signals, which implements the reset function while minimizing the number of extra signal lines. The pixels may also include pinned photodiodes. The manner in which the pinned photodiodes are used reduces noise and allows the quantization of the pixel circuits to be programmable.
Claims19
A pixel circuit of an image sensor, comprising:
- at least one photodetecting section;
- a signal node coupled to the at least one photodetecting section;
- a reset element to reset the signal node;
- and
- a row-enabled switch to pass or not pass, depending on a state of a row signal, a column reset signal to the reset element.
2 more elements
An integrated-circuit image sensor comprising:
- row lines and column lines;
- a control circuit to generate row signals for the row lines and column reset signals for the column lines;
- and
- an array of pixel circuits each served by a respective one of the row lines and a respective one of the column lines, each pixel circuit comprising a reset element and a row-enabled switch to either pass or not pass, depending on a state of a corresponding row signal on the respective row line, a corresponding column reset signal on the respective column line to the reset element.
1 more element
A pixel circuit of an image sensor, comprising:
- a first photodetector;
- a signal node;
- a first charge transfer gate coupled between the first photodetector and the signal node to transfer charge carriers between the first photodetector and the signal node responsive to a first charge transfer signal;
- and
- a first row-enabled switch to pass or not pass, depending on a state of a row signal, the first charge transfer signal to the first charge transfer gate.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.