Method, apparatus, and system to reduce ground resistance in a pixel array
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorRichard A. Mauritzson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods, devices, and systems for an image sensor device are disclosed. An image sensor device comprises an array of image pixels wherein each pixel is configured for sensing light incident on the pixel. An image sensor device may further comprise a ground contact shared between at least two image pixels of the plurality. The ground contacts may be provided in an even pattern, a random pattern, or a repeating random pattern across the array. The image sensor device may further include an array of shared pixel structures comprising a plurality of pixels, wherein a ground contact may be evenly or randomly placed within each pixel structure across the array of pixel structures.
Claims34
An image sensor device, comprising:
- a substrate;
- an array of image pixels, each image pixel of the array configured for sensing light incident on the pixel, wherein each image pixel of the array comprises a photosensitive area within a p-type region for accumulating photo-generated charges within the photosensitive area, wherein the p-type region is formed on the substrate;
- and
- a plurality of ground contacts operably coupled to the p-type region, wherein at least some ground contacts of the plurality are shared between at least two image pixels of the array.
An electronic system, comprising:
- a processor-based device;
- and
- an image sensor device operably coupled to the processor-based device and comprising:
- a substrate;
- an array of image pixels, each image pixel of the array configured for sensing light incident on the pixel, wherein each image pixel of the array comprises a photosensitive area within a p-type region for accumulating photo-generated charges within the photosensitive area, wherein the p-type region is formed on the substrate;
- and
- a plurality of ground contacts operably coupled to the p-type region, wherein at least some ground contacts of the plurality are shared between at least two image pixels of the array.
A method of providing reduced ground resistance in an image pixel array, comprising:
- providing a substrate;
- forming a p-type region on the substrate;
- forming an array of image pixels, wherein each image pixel comprises a photosensitive area within the p-type region for accumulating photo-generated charges within the photosensitive area;
- and
- forming a plurality of ground contacts operably coupled to the p-type region, wherein at least some ground contacts of the plurality are shared between at least two image pixels of the array.
A method of reducing ground resistance of an image pixel array comprising a substrate having a p-type region on the substrate having an array of image pixels each comprising a photosensitive area within the p-type region, the method comprising:
- grounding the p-type region during operation of the image pixel array using a plurality of ground contacts, at least some of which ground contacts are shared between at least two image pixels of the array.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.