Multicolor light sensing pixel structure

An image sensor, comprising:

• an array of multicolor light sensing pixel structures, each structure comprising
• a photodiode structure comprising a first plurality of co-located light band detectors that generate a first plurality of analog detector signals from which an amount of energy detected by each of the first plurality of co-located light band detectors since the photodiode structure has been reset by a reset command can be determined;
• a first multiplexing circuit coupled to the first plurality of analog detector signals of the photodiode structure, which sequentially generates each of the first plurality of analog detector signals at a first multiplexed output during each of a second plurality of time intervals that occur between two reset commands;
• a second multiplexing circuit coupled to a first plurality of reference signals, which sequentially generates at a second multiplexed output each of the first plurality of reference signals in synchronism with the first multiplexed output;
• and
• a single digital pixel sensor circuit having inputs coupled to the first and second multiplexed outputs, which sequentially generates a sets of digital outputs based on the first and second multiplexed outputs;
• and
• an array memory coupled to each of the single digital pixel sensor circuits, wherein each of the sets of digital output values quantifies the amount of energy detected by one of the first plurality of co-located light band detectors between two reset commands, and wherein the array memory stores at least one digital output value generated by the single digital pixel sensor circuit for each of the light band detectors.

An image equipment, comprising:

• an array of multicolor light sensing pixel structures, each structure comprising
• a photodiode structure comprising a first plurality of co-located light band detectors that generate a first plurality of analog detector signals from which an amount of energy detected by each of the first plurality of co-located light band detectors since the photodiode structure has been reset by a reset command can be determined;
• a first multiplexing circuit coupled to the first plurality of analog detector signals of the photodiode structure, which sequentially generates each of the first plurality of analog detector signals at a first multiplexed output during each of a second plurality of time intervals that occur between two reset commands;
• a second multiplexing circuit coupled to a first plurality of reference signals, which sequentially generates at a second multiplexed output each of the first plurality of reference signals in synchronism with the first multiplexed output;
• and
• a single digital pixel sensor circuit having inputs coupled to the first and second multiplexed outputs, which sequentially generates sets of digital outputs based on the first and second multiplexed outputs;
• and
• an array memory coupled to each of the single digital pixel sensor circuits, wherein each set of digital output values quantifies the amount of energy detected by one of the plurality of co-located light band detectors between two reset commands, and wherein the array memory stores one set of digital output values generated by the digital pixel sensor circuit for each of the light band detectors;
• and
• a control and processing circuit coupled to the array of multicolor light sensing pixel structures and to the array memory for controlling timing of the first and second multiplexers and the single digital pixel sensor circuits;
• for controlling storage of the sets of digital outputs in the array memory, and for generating an image file from data in the array memory.

An image equipment comprising:

• a plurality of multicolor light sensing pixel structures, each comprising
• a photodiode structure comprising a first plurality of co-located light band detectors that generate a first plurality of analog detector signals from which an amount of energy detected by each of the first plurality of co-located light band detectors since the photodiode structure has been reset by a reset command can be determined;
• a first multiplexing circuit coupled to the first plurality of analog detector signals of the photodiode structure, which sequentially generates each of the first plurality of analog detector signals at a first multiplexed output during each of a second plurality of time intervals that occur between two reset commands;
• a second multiplexing circuit coupled to a first plurality of reference signals, which sequentially generates at a second multiplexed output each of the first plurality of reference signals in synchronism with the first multiplexed output;
• and
• a single digital pixel sensor circuit having inputs coupled to the first and second multiplexed outputs, which sequentially generates sets of digital outputs based on the first and second multiplexed outputs, each set quantifying the amount of energy detected by each of the first plurality of co-located light band detectors between two reset commands, wherein the single digital pixel sensor circuit comprises a pixel memory for storing one set of the digital output values generated by the digital pixel sensor circuit for each of the first plurality of co-located light band detectors;
• and
• a control and processing circuit coupled to the plurality of multicolor light sensing pixel structures for controlling timing of the sequences of analog detector signals, reference values, and the single digital pixel sensor circuit, and for generating an image file from the sets of digital outputs.