Pixel array with shared pixels in a single column and associated devices, systems, and methods
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorsZhiping Yin, Xiaofeng Fan, Xiangli Li
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Abstract
Pixel array with shared pixels in a single column and associated devices, systems, and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a pixel array includes a floating diffusion region, a source a source follower transistor having a gate coupled to the floating diffusion region, a plurality of first pixels associated with a first color, and a plurality of second pixels associated with a second color different than the first color and arranged in a single column with the first pixels. The first and second pixels are configured to transfer charge to the floating diffusion region.
Claims17
An imager, comprising:
- a pixel array, including
- a first floating diffusion region,
- a second floating diffusion region,
- a first source follower transistor having a gate coupled to the first floating diffusion region,
- a second source follower transistor having a gate coupled to the second floating diffusion region,
- a plurality of first pixels associated with a first color and configured to transfer charge to the first floating diffusion region,
- a plurality of second pixels associated with a second color different than the first color, configured to transfer charge to the first floating diffusion region, and arranged in a single column with the first pixels
- a plurality of third pixels associated with a third color different than the first and second colors, and
- a plurality of fourth pixels associated with the first color, configured to transfer charge to the second floating diffusion region, and arranged in a single column with the third pixels;
- and
- control circuitry operably coupled to the pixel array, wherein the control circuity is configured to successively read out onto a column line image signals corresponding to the charge transferred to the first floating diffusion region via each of the first and second pixels.
A pixel array comprising:
- a first floating diffusion region;
- a second floating diffusion region;
- a first source follower transistor having a gate coupled to the first floating diffusion region;
- a second source follower transistor having a gate coupled to the second floating diffusion region;
- a plurality of first pixels commonly coupled to the first floating diffusion region and associated with a first color;
- a plurality of second pixels commonly coupled to the first floating diffusion region, associated with a second color different than the first color, and arranged in a single column with the first pixels;
- a plurality of third pixels commonly coupled to the second floating diffusion region and associated with a third color different than the first and second colors;
- and
- a plurality of fourth pixels commonly coupled to the second floating diffusion region, associated with the first color, and arranged in a single column with the third pixels.
An imager, comprising:
- a plurality of pixels including at least four pixels arranged in a first single column and alternatingly associated with a first color and a second color different than the first color;
- a plurality of pixels including at least four pixels in a second single column and alternatingly associated with the first color and a third color different than the first and second colors;
- a first floating diffusion region commonly coupled to the first single column of pixels;
- a second floating diffusion region commonly coupled to the second single column of pixels;
- a first source follower transistor;
- a second source follower transistor;
- and
- sample and hold circuitry operably coupled to (1) the first floating diffusion region via the first source follower transistor, and (2) the second floating diffusion region via the second source follower transistor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.