Image sensor and operation method thereof
AssigneeSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
InventorsJinsuk HUH, Dongyoung JANG
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Abstract
An image sensor includes first and second pixels. The first pixel includes a first photodiode, a first transfer gate connected between the first photodiode and a first floating diffusion (FD) node, a first FD selection gate connected between a first node and the first FD node, a first lateral overflow integration capacitor (LOFIC) selection gate connected between the first FD node and a first LOFIC node, and a first capacitor connected between the first LOFIC node and a first reset voltage. The second pixel includes a second photodiode, a second transfer gate connected between the second photodiode and a second FD node, and a second FD selection gate connected between a second node electrically connected to the first node and the second FD node.
Claims21
An image sensor comprising:
- a first pixel including a first photodiode, the first pixel configured to output a first output voltage corresponding to light incident onto the first photodiode;
- and
- a second pixel including a second photodiode, the second pixel configured to output a second output voltage corresponding to light incident onto the second photodiode,
- wherein the first pixel further includes,
- a first transfer gate connected between the first photodiode and a first floating diffusion (FD) node,
- a first FD selection gate connected between a first node and the first FD node,
- a first lateral overflow integration capacitor (LOFIC) selection gate connected between the first FD node and a first LOFIC node, and
- a first capacitor connected between the first LOFIC node and a first reset voltage, and
- wherein the second pixel further includes,
- a second transfer gate connected between the second photodiode and a second FD node,
- a second FD selection gate connected between a second node electrically connected to the first node and the second FD node,
- a second LOFIC selection gate connected between the second FD node and a second LOFIC node, and
- a second capacitor connected between the second LOFIC node and the first reset voltage.
An operation method of an image sensor which includes a first pixel and a second pixel,
- wherein the first pixel includes a first photodiode, a first floating diffusion (FD) node, a first shared floating diffusion (SFD) circuit connected to the first FD node, and a first lateral overflow integration capacitor (LOFIC) circuit connected to the first FD node, and
- wherein the second pixel includes a second photodiode, a second FD node, a second SFD circuit connected to the second FD node, and a second LOFIC circuit connected to the second FD node,
- the method comprising:
- in a shared mode, electrically connecting the first FD node and the second FD node by disabling the first LOFIC circuit and enabling the first SFD circuit and performing a sensing operation on the first pixel based on the first and second FD nodes;
- and
- in an LOFIC mode, electrically connecting the first FD node and a first capacitor included in the first LOFIC circuit by disabling the first SFD circuit and enabling the first LOFIC circuit and performing a sensing operation on the first pixel based on the first FD node and the first capacitor, wherein
- during the sensing operation on the first pixel in the shared mode, the first capacitor is electrically separated from the first FD node, and
- during the sensing operation on the first pixel in the LOFIC mode, the second FD node is electrically separated from the first FD node.
An image sensor comprising
- a first photodiode;
- a first transfer gate connected between the first photodiode and a first floating diffusion (FD) node;
- a first shared floating diffusion (SFD) circuit connected to the first FD node;
- a first lateral overflow integration capacitor (LOFIC) circuit connected to the first FD node and including a first capacitor;
- a first source follower including a first gate terminal connected to the first FD node;
- and
- a first selection gate connected between the first source follower and a first column line,
- wherein the image sensor is configured to operate in a shared mode and in an LOFIC mode such that, in the shared mode, the first SFD circuit is configured to electrically connect the first FD node to a second FD node different from the first FD node, and
- in the LOFIC mode, the first LOFIC circuit is configured to electrically connect the first FD node to the first capacitor.
21-23. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.