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US 8,077,236 B2Granted
Method and apparatus providing reduced metal routing in imagers
AssigneeAptina Imaging Corporation
InventorsRichard S. Johnson, John Ladd
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An imaging device and method for operating the device. The imaging device comprises a pixel array having a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns. At least one pixel of the array comprises a photosensor and a first reset circuit responsive to a first reset control signal for resetting the photosensor. A first terminal of the first reset circuit is coupled to the photosensor and a second terminal of the first reset circuit is configured to receive a first resetting voltage from a control line.
Claims8
An imaging device, comprising:
- a pixel array having a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns, at least one pixel of the array comprising:
- a photosensor;
- a first reset transistor operable to reset the photosensor, wherein the first reset transistor has a first source-drain terminal, a second source-drain terminal, and a gate terminal and wherein the first source-drain terminal of the first reset transistor is coupled to the photosensor;
- a global reset line, wherein the gate terminal and the second source-drain terminal of the first reset transistor are coupled to the global reset line;
- a first storage node including a floating diffusion region operable to store charges generated by the photosensor;
- a second storage node operable to store the charges generated by the photosensor;
- a first transfer transistor operable to transfer the charges generated by the photosensor from the photosensor to the second storage node;
- a second transfer transistor operable to transfer the charges generated by the photosensor from the second storage node to the floating diffusion region of the first storage node;
- and
- a second reset transistor operable to reset the floating diffusion region of the first storage node, wherein the second reset transistor has a first source-drain terminal, a second source-drain terminal, and a gate terminal, wherein the first source-drain terminal of the second reset transistor is coupled to the floating diffusion region of the first storage node, wherein the gate terminal and the second source-drain terminal of the second reset transistor are coupled to a column line.
7 more elements
An imaging pixel comprising:
- a photosensor;
- a first reset transistor, wherein the first reset transistor has a first source-drain terminal, a second source-drain terminal, and a gate terminal;
- an output line, wherein at least one of the terminals of the first reset transistor is coupled to the output line, wherein the gate terminal and the first source-drain terminal of the first reset transistor are coupled to the output line;
- a reset line;
- and
- a second reset transistor having first and second source-drain terminals and a gate terminal, wherein the first source-drain terminal and the gate terminal of the second reset transistor are coupled to the reset line.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.