公开(公告)号：US20070001101A1

公开(公告)日：2007-01-04

申请号：US11238425

申请日：2005-09-28

Applicant: Raj Sundararaman ,  Chi-Shao Lin ,  Jiafu Luo ,  Richard Mann ,  Zeynep Toros

Inventor： Raj Sundararaman ,  Chi-Shao Lin ,  Jiafu Luo ,  Richard Mann ,  Zeynep Toros

IPC: H01J40/14

CPC classification number: H04N5/335 ,  H04N5/3745 ,  H04N5/376

Abstract: An electronic device is provided such as a programmable rise/fall time control circuit, for example, that delivers a continuous and near linear rising/falling slope of a control signal, with programmability that can be implemented in future CMOS image sensor devices. This device includes a programmability block for reset or transfer gate signals. The programmability block includes two inputs: an input bias current and a signal from the control bits. The programmability block further includes two similar internal circuit blocks, one for generating a fall time control signal, and one for generating a rise time control signal. Additionally the programmability block includes two outputs; a fall time control signal, and a rise time control signal. The device further includes a reset or transfer gate buffer configured as an inverter. The reset or transfer gate buffer includes three input signals: The fall time control signal and rise time control signal from the programmability block, and an INT Reset signal. Furthermore, the reset or transfer gate buffer includes an output reset or transfer gate signal. The device is configured to take an input bias current, and by controlling the transconductance of internal circuitry provide a tapered rise and fall time signal to a reset or transfer gate of a CMOS image sensor that is programmable.

Abstract translation: 提供了诸如可编程上升/下降时间控制电路的电子装置，其可以传递控制信号的连续和近似线性的上升/下降斜率，具有可在将来的CMOS图像传感器装置中实现的可编程性。 该器件包括用于复位或传输门信号的可编程块。 可编程块包括两个输入：输入偏置电流和来自控制位的信号。 可编程块还包括两个类似的内部电路块，一个用于产生下降时间控制信号，另一个用于产生上升时间控制信号。 此外，可编程块包括两个输出; 下降时间控制信号和上升时间控制信号。 该装置还包括被配置为反相器的复位或传输门缓冲器。 复位或传输门缓冲器包括三个输入信号：来自可编程块的下降时间控制信号和上升时间控制信号，以及一个INT复位信号。 此外，复位或传输门缓冲器包括输出复位或传输门信号。 该器件被配置为获取输入偏置电流，并且通过控制内部电路的跨导向可编程的CMOS图像传感器的复位或传输门提供渐变的上升和下降时间信号。

公开(公告)号：US20060250512A1

公开(公告)日：2006-11-09

申请号：US11478685

申请日：2006-07-03

Applicant: Satoshi Yoshihara ,  Yasuhito Maki

Inventor： Satoshi Yoshihara ,  Yasuhito Maki

IPC: H04N5/335

CPC classification number: H04N5/3692 ,  H04N5/361 ,  H04N5/372 ,  H04N5/37213 ,  H04N5/374 ,  H04N5/376 ,  H04N5/3765 ,  H04N5/378

Abstract: When a signal output by a solid-state image sensing device is clamped to a predetermined reference potential, a high voltage generated in a transfer suspension period after the clamping as generally supplied to an A/D converter is generated. A sample/hold output Va is clamped to a clamp level Vref over a period of time between a halfway point of time of a signal of a picture element preceding ahead by one line and the end of an inhibit period of transfer clocks of a signal output by an empty transmission unit via a first clamp pulse and a sample/hold output for the second picture element, or a subsequent one of an OPB unit is clamped to the clamp level via a second clamp pulse to prevent a signal output from exceeding a reference voltage from being supplied to an A/D converter at a later stage.

公开(公告)号：US07088395B2

公开(公告)日：2006-08-08

申请号：US10052706

申请日：2002-01-17

Applicant: Jun Takayama ,  Tetsufumi Takaba ,  Kyosei Miyata ,  Takao Hosaka ,  Takenori Kitada ,  Koichi Sato ,  Hiroshi Kibayashi

Inventor： Jun Takayama ,  Tetsufumi Takaba ,  Kyosei Miyata ,  Takao Hosaka ,  Takenori Kitada ,  Koichi Sato ,  Hiroshi Kibayashi

IPC: H04N3/14 ,  H04N5/335 ,  H04N5/222

CPC classification number: H04N5/3696 ,  H04N5/2351 ,  H04N5/2353 ,  H04N5/2354 ,  H04N5/353 ,  H04N5/3741 ,  H04N5/376

Abstract: The invention concerns an image-capturing apparatus and an imager. The image-capturing apparatus includes the imager in which a plurality of circuit cells are two-dimensionally aligned, and an electronic charge, photo-electronically converted from a received light and stored in each circuit cell, can be discharged from an arbitral circuit cell. The imager includes first group circuit cells to generate electronic charges corresponding to the pixels of the image including a subject, and second group circuit cells to generate electronic charges corresponding to an amount of light coming from the subject, the electronic charges further being converted to a detected value. In the imager, at least one of two operations of halting a generating-action of the electronic charges in the first group circuit cells and discharging the electronic charges from the first group circuit cells is performed, when the detected value exceeds a threshold value.

公开(公告)号：US20050162537A1

公开(公告)日：2005-07-28

申请号：US11017866

申请日：2004-12-22

Applicant: Yoshitaka Egawa ,  Hiroshige Goto

Inventor： Yoshitaka Egawa ,  Hiroshige Goto

IPC: H04N5/335 ,  H04N5/353 ,  H04N5/357 ,  H04N5/361 ,  H04N5/363 ,  H04N5/369 ,  H04N5/374 ,  H04N5/376 ,  H04N5/378 ,  H04N101/00

CPC classification number: H04N5/376 ,  H04N5/2357 ,  H04N5/351 ,  H04N5/363 ,  H04N5/378

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a solid-state imaging device which discharges a signal from a photodiode in each cell in which the photodiode, a read gate reading a signal from the photodiode and a detector detecting a read signal are two-dimensionally arranged on a semiconductor substrate, then stores a signal in each photodiode, and reads a signal from each photodiode after a storage time. The device comprises a circuit performing an operation of applying to each corresponding cell a first pulse used to discharge a signal in each photodiode corresponding to one horizontal line for a plurality of horizontal lines in a first horizontal scanning period, and an operation of applying to each diode corresponding cell a second pulse used to read a signal in each photodiode corresponding to one horizontal lines for a plurality of horizontal lines in a second horizontal scanning period.

Abstract translation: 根据本发明的一个方面，提供了一种固态成像装置，其从每个单元中的光电二极管放电信号，其中光电二极管，读取来自光电二极管的信号的读取门和检测读取信号的检测器是两个 然后在每个光电二极管中存储信号，并在存储时间之后从每个光电二极管读取信号。 该装置包括对第一水平扫描周期中的多条水平线对应于每个光电二极管对应于每个光电二极管的第一脉冲施加到每个对应的单元的操作的电路， 二极管对应单元，用于在第二水平扫描周期中读取与多个水平线的一条水平线对应的每个光电二极管中的信号的第二脉冲。

公开(公告)号：US06856350B2

公开(公告)日：2005-02-15

申请号：US08871199

申请日：1997-06-09

Applicant: Risto Olavi Orava ,  Jouni Ilari Pyyhtia ,  Tom Gunnar Schulman ,  Miltiadis Evangelos Sarakinos ,  Konstantinos Evangelos Spartiotis

Inventor： Risto Olavi Orava ,  Jouni Ilari Pyyhtia ,  Tom Gunnar Schulman ,  Miltiadis Evangelos Sarakinos ,  Konstantinos Evangelos Spartiotis

IPC: H01L27/14 ,  G01T1/24 ,  G01T1/29 ,  H01L27/146 ,  H01L27/148 ,  H04N5/32 ,  H04N5/325 ,  H04N5/335 ,  H01L27/00

CPC classification number: G01T1/2928 ,  G01T1/247 ,  G01T1/2964 ,  H01L27/146 ,  H01L27/14601 ,  H01L27/14676 ,  H01L27/14831 ,  H04N5/32 ,  H04N5/325 ,  H04N5/349 ,  H04N5/374 ,  H04N5/3745 ,  H04N5/376

Abstract: A semiconductor radiation imaging device includes an array of pixel cells having an array of pixel detectors which directly generate charge in response to incident radiation and a corresponding array of individually-addressable pixel circuits. Each pixel circuit is associated with a respective pixel detector for accumulating charge directly resulting from radiation incident on the pixel detector and includes threshold circuitry and charge accumulation circuitry. The threshold circuitry is configured to discard radiation hits on the pixel detector outside a predetermined threshold range, and the charge accumulation circuit is configured to accumulate charge directly resulting from a plurality of successive radiation hits on the respective pixel detector within the predetermined threshold range.

Abstract translation: 半导体辐射成像装置包括具有像素检测器阵列的像素单元的阵列，所述像素单元阵列响应于入射辐射而直接产生电荷，以及相应的单独寻址的像素电路阵列。 每个像素电路与相应的像素检测器相关联，用于累积由入射在像素检测器上的辐射直接产生的电荷，并且包括阈值电路和电荷累积电路。 阈值电路被配置为丢弃在预定阈值范围之外的像素检测器上的辐射命中，并且电荷累积电路被配置为在预定阈值范围内累积由相应像素检测器上的多个连续辐射命中直接产生的电荷。

公开(公告)号：US20050001915A1

公开(公告)日：2005-01-06

申请号：US10826038

申请日：2004-04-16

Applicant: Keiji Mabuchi ,  Eiichi Funatsu ,  Masanori Kasai

Inventor： Keiji Mabuchi ,  Eiichi Funatsu ,  Masanori Kasai

IPC: H01L27/146 ,  H04N5/335 ,  H04N5/355 ,  H04N5/361 ,  H04N5/369 ,  H04N5/374 ,  H04N5/376

CPC classification number: H04N5/378 ,  H04N5/2253 ,  H04N5/3559 ,  H04N5/365 ,  H04N5/3698 ,  H04N5/37213 ,  H04N5/374 ,  H04N5/376 ,  H04N5/3765

Abstract: A CMOS sensor has unit pixels each structured by a light receiving element and three transistors, to prevent against the phenomenon of saturation shading and the reduction of dynamic range. The transition time (fall time), in switching off the voltage on a drain line shared in all pixels, is given longer than the transition time in turning of any of the reset line and the transfer line. For this reason, the transistor constituting a DRN drive buffer is made proper in its W/L ratio. Meanwhile, a control resistance or current source is inserted on a line to the GND, to make proper the operation current during driving. This reduces saturation shading amount. By making a reset transistor in a depression type, the leak current to a floating diffusion is suppressed to broaden the dynamic range.

Abstract translation: CMOS传感器具有由光接收元件和三个晶体管构成的单位像素，以防止饱和阴影现象和动态范围的减小。 在关闭所有像素中共享的漏极线上的电压时，转换时间（下降时间）的长度大于转动任何复位线和传输线的转换时间。 因此，构成DRN驱动缓冲器的晶体管的W / L比是合适的。 同时，将控制电阻或电流源插入到GND的一条线上，以使驱动期间的操作电流正确。 这样可以减少饱和度遮蔽量。 通过使抑制型复位晶体管成为抑制浮动扩散的漏电流，扩大动态范围。

公开(公告)号：US20040227833A1

公开(公告)日：2004-11-18

申请号：US10814185

申请日：2004-04-01

Inventor： Masashi Murakami ,  Masayuki Masuyama

IPC: H04N005/335

CPC classification number: H04N5/353 ,  H04N5/3745 ,  H04N5/376

Abstract: The image sensor according to the present invention includes the following: a sensor unit being made up of a plurality of pixels; a scanning circuit having a dynamic logic circuit which outputs selection signals that select pixels from among the plurality of pixels in the sensor unit; and a bootstrap circuit that is placed between the scanning circuit and the sensor unit. The bootstrap circuit holds the selection signal outputted from the scanning circuit during one horizontal scanning period, and outputs, to the sensor unit, an AND signal obtained by operating a logical AND between the held selection signal and a drive signal that specifies a timing to output the AND signal to the sensor unit.

Abstract translation: 根据本发明的图像传感器包括：由多个像素构成的传感器单元; 具有动态逻辑电路的扫描电路，其输出从所述传感器单元中的所述多个像素中选择像素的选择信号; 以及放置在扫描电路和传感器单元之间的自举电路。 自举电路在一个水平扫描期间保持从扫描电路输出的选择信号，并向传感器单元输出通过在所保持的选择信号和指定输出定时的驱动信号之间操作逻辑“与”而获得的“与”信号 与传感器单元的“与”信号。

公开(公告)号：US20040080648A1

公开(公告)日：2004-04-29

申请号：US10661494

申请日：2003-09-15

Inventor： Howard E. Rhodes

IPC: H04N003/14

CPC classification number: H01L27/14603 ,  H01L27/14609 ,  H01L27/14641 ,  H01L27/14643 ,  H04N5/376

Abstract: An imaging device formed as a CMOS semiconductor integrated circuit having two adjacent pixels in a row connected to a common column line. By having adjacent pixels of a row share column lines, the CMOS imager circuit eliminates half the column lines of a traditional imager allowing the fabrication of a smaller imager. The imaging device also may be fabricated to have a diagonal active area to facilitate contact of two adjacent pixels with the single column line and allow linear row select lines, reset lines and column lines.

Abstract translation: 一种成像装置，其形成为具有连接到公共列线的行中的两个相邻像素的CMOS半导体集成电路。 通过使行的相邻像素共享列线，CMOS成像器电路消除了允许制造较小成像器的传统成像器的一半列线。 成像装置还可以被制造成具有对角线有源区域以促进两个相邻像素与单列线的接触，并允许线性行选择线，复位线和列线。

公开(公告)号：US06700611B1

公开(公告)日：2004-03-02

申请号：US09438584

申请日：1999-11-12

Applicant: Masayuki Masuyama

Inventor： Masayuki Masuyama

IPC: H04N314

CPC classification number: H04N5/3658 ,  H04N5/376

Abstract: A time an ith row reset signal RSi is generated and sent out for electronic shuttering is shifted from a conventionally defined time. In this manner, it is possible to avoid overlapping between a period during which the reset signal RSi is provided and a period during which an nth pixel row is selected to perform a readout operation thereon (i.e., a period when a row select signal SLn is at “High” level). As a result, reset potentials, which could otherwise be variable depending on whether or not readout operation is being performed on any other row, can be equalized among all the rows, thus eliminating the cause of horizontal noise.

Abstract translation: 产生并且发送用于电子快门的第i行重置信号RSi的时间从传统的限定时间转移。 以这种方式，可以避免提供复位信号RSi的周期与选择第n个像素行的周期之间的重叠，以在其上执行读出操作（即，行选择 信号SLn处于“高”电平）。 结果，可以根据是否在任何其他行上进行读出操作而变化的复位电位可以在所有行中相等，从而消除了水平噪声的原因。

公开(公告)号：US20010030701A1

公开(公告)日：2001-10-18

申请号：US09791544

申请日：2001-02-26

Inventor： Hiroki Hiyama ,  Toru Koizumi ,  Katsuhito Sakurai ,  Fumihiro Inui ,  Masaru Fujimura ,  Tomoko Eguchi ,  Masanori Ogura

IPC: H04N003/14

CPC classification number: H04N5/3742 ,  H04N5/376

Abstract: There is provided an image pickup apparatus comprising a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion unit which converts incident light into an electrical signal and accumulates the electrical signal, an amplifier transistor which amplifies and outputs the signal from the photoelectric conversion unit, a transfer transistor which transfers the electrical signal accumulated in the photoelectric conversion unit to the amplifier transistor, and a processing transistor which performs predetermined processing, and a control circuit which sets the signal level supplied to the control electrode of the transfer transistor in order to turn off the transfer transistor to be lower than the signal level supplied to the control electrode of the processing transistor in order to turn off the processing transistor.

Abstract translation: 提供了一种图像拾取装置，包括多个像素，每个像素包括将入射光转换成电信号并累积电信号的光电转换单元，放大并输出来自光电转换单元的信号的放大器晶体管，转移晶体管 其将累积在光电转换单元中的电信号传送到放大器晶体管，以及执行预定处理的处理晶体管，以及控制电路，其设置提供给转移晶体管的控制电极的信号电平以关闭转移 晶体管低于提供给处理晶体管的控制电极的信号电平，以便关闭处理晶体管。