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US 6,552,322 B1Granted
Shared photodetector pixel image sensor
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorsScott Patrick Campbell, Eric R. Fossum
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A shared photodetector active pixel sensor uses a single photodetector between two different active pixels. The photodetector has a number of connection portions, which allow connecting to the different photodetector portions.
Claims43
An image sensor, comprising:
- a photodetector element producing a light indicative signal based on incoming light, said photodetector element having a first connection part at a first location, and a second connection part at a second location, different than said first location;
- a first storage cell;
- a second storage cell, separated from said first storage cell;
- a first switching element, connected between said first connection part of said photodetector element and said first storage cell, and having a first closed state in which a light indicative signal from said photodetector element is passed to said first storage cell, and a second opened state in which a light indicative signal from said photodetector element is blocked from passing to said first storage cell;
- and
- a second switching element, connected between said second connection part of said photodetector element and said second storage cell, and having a first closed state in which a light indicative signal from said photodetector element is passed to said second storage cell, and a second opened state in which a light indicative signal from said photodetector element is blocked from passing to said second storage cell.
3 more elements
A method, comprising:
- integrating incoming light in a photodetector element to form a light-indicative signal;
- first coupling said light indicative signal to a first storage cell that is coupled to said photodetector element in a first coupling location;
- and
- second coupling said light indicative signal to a second storage cell that is coupled to said photodetector element in a second coupling location different than said first coupling location.
1 more element
An image sensor, comprising:
- a semiconductor substrate;
- a plurality of photodetectors, arranged on said semiconductor substrate, each of said photodetectors having at least first and second connection parts;
- a plurality of pixel units, arranged on said semiconductor substrate, and connected such that each photodetector is connected to at least two of said pixel units;
- and
- a controller, on said substrate, and controlling a readout operation of said photodetectors to said pixel units.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.