公开(公告)号：US08648948B2

公开(公告)日：2014-02-11

申请号：US12570679

申请日：2009-09-30

申请人： Conor S. Rafferty ,  Clifford A. King ,  Michael Philip Decelle ,  Jason Y. Sproul ,  Bryan D. Ackland

发明人： Conor S. Rafferty ,  Clifford A. King ,  Michael Philip Decelle ,  Jason Y. Sproul ,  Bryan D. Ackland

IPC分类号： H04N5/335

CPC分类号： H04N5/35563

摘要： Imaging arrays comprising at least two different imaging pixel types are described. The different imaging pixel types may differ in their light sensitivities and/or light saturation levels. Methods of processing the output signals of the imaging arrays are also described, and may produce images having a greater dynamic range than would result from an imaging array comprising only one of the at least two different imaging pixel types.

摘要翻译： 描述包括至少两个不同成像像素类型的成像阵列。 不同的成像像素类型在其光敏度和/或光饱和度方面可能不同。 还描述了处理成像阵列的输出信号的方法，并且可以产生具有比由仅包括至少两种不同成像像素类型中的一种的成像阵列产生的动态范围更大的图像。

公开(公告)号：US20120062774A1

公开(公告)日：2012-03-15

申请号：US13300135

申请日：2011-11-18

申请人： Bryan D. Ackland ,  Clifford A. King ,  Conor S. Rafferty

发明人： Bryan D. Ackland ,  Clifford A. King ,  Conor S. Rafferty

IPC分类号： H04N5/335

CPC分类号： H04N5/33 ,  H04N5/332 ,  H04N9/045

摘要： An improved monolithic solid state imager comprises plural sub-arrays of respectively different kinds of pixels, an optional filter mosaic comprising color filters and clear elements, and circuitry to process the output of the pixels. The different kinds of pixels respond to respectively different spectral ranges. Advantageously the different kinds of pixels can be chosen from: 1) SWIR pixels responsive to short wavelength infrared (SWIR) in the range of approximately 800-1800 nm; 2) regular pixels responsive to visible and NIR radiation (400-1000 nm) and wideband pixels responsive to visible, NIR and SWIR radiation.

摘要翻译： 改进的单片固态成像器包括分别不同种类的像素的多个子阵列，包括滤色器和清晰元件的可选滤色器马赛克，以及处理像素的输出的电路。 不同种类的像素响应于不同的光谱范围。 有利地，可以从以下选择不同种类的像素：1）响应于约800-1800nm范围内的短波长红外（SWIR）的SWIR像素; 2）响应于可见光和近红外辐射（400-1000nm）的响应于可见光NIR和SWIR辐射的宽带像素的规则像素。

公开(公告)号：US20120061567A1

公开(公告)日：2012-03-15

申请号：US13299712

申请日：2011-11-18

申请人： Conor S. Rafferty ,  Anders Ingvar Aberg ,  Tirunelveli Subramaniam Sriram ,  Bryan D. Ackland ,  Clifford A. King

发明人： Conor S. Rafferty ,  Anders Ingvar Aberg ,  Tirunelveli Subramaniam Sriram ,  Bryan D. Ackland ,  Clifford A. King

IPC分类号： H01L27/14

CPC分类号： H01L27/14649 ,  H01L27/14625

摘要： Imagers, pixels, and methods of using the same are disclosed for imaging in various spectra, such as visible, near infrared (IR), and short wavelength IR (SWIR). The imager may have an imaging array having pixels of different types. The different types of pixels may detect different ranges of wavelengths in the IR, or the SWIR, spectra. The pixels may include a filter which blocks some wavelengths of radiation in the IR spectrum while passing other wavelengths. The filter may be formed of a semiconductor material, and therefore may be easily integrated with a CMOS pixel using conventional CMOS processing techniques.

摘要翻译： 公开了使用它们的成像器，像素和方法用于在诸如可见光，近红外（IR）和短波长IR（SWIR）的各种光谱中成像。 成像器可以具有具有不同类型的像素的成像阵列。 不同类型的像素可以检测IR或SWIR光谱中的不同波长范围。 像素可以包括滤光器，其在通过其它波长的同时阻挡IR光谱中的一些波长的辐射。 滤波器可以由半导体材料形成，因此可以使用传统的CMOS处理技术容易地与CMOS像素集成。

公开(公告)号：US20100012841A1

公开(公告)日：2010-01-21

申请号：US12504005

申请日：2009-07-16

申请人： Conor S. Rafferty ,  Anders Ingvar Aberg ,  Tirunelveli Subramaniam Sriram ,  Bryan D. Ackland ,  Clifford A. King

发明人： Conor S. Rafferty ,  Anders Ingvar Aberg ,  Tirunelveli Subramaniam Sriram ,  Bryan D. Ackland ,  Clifford A. King

IPC分类号： H01L25/00

CPC分类号： H01L27/14649 ,  H01L27/14625

摘要： Imagers, pixels, and methods of using the same are disclosed for imaging in various spectra, such as visible, near infrared (IR), and short wavelength IR (SWIR). The imager may have an imaging array having pixels of different types. The different types of pixels may detect different ranges of wavelengths in the IR, or the SWIR, spectra. The pixels may include a filter which blocks some wavelengths of radiation in the IR spectrum while passing other wavelengths. The filter may be formed of a semiconductor material, and therefore may be easily integrated with a CMOS pixel using conventional CMOS processing techniques.

摘要翻译： 公开了使用它们的成像器，像素和方法用于在诸如可见光，近红外（IR）和短波长IR（SWIR）的各种光谱中成像。 成像器可以具有具有不同类型的像素的成像阵列。 不同类型的像素可以检测IR或SWIR光谱中的不同波长范围。 像素可以包括滤光器，其在通过其它波长的同时阻挡IR光谱中的一些波长的辐射。 滤波器可以由半导体材料形成，因此可以使用传统的CMOS处理技术容易地与CMOS像素集成。

公开(公告)号：US08586907B2

公开(公告)日：2013-11-19

申请号：US13212271

申请日：2011-08-18

申请人： Bryan D. Ackland

发明人： Bryan D. Ackland

IPC分类号： H03K17/78 ,  H01L27/00

CPC分类号： H04N5/3742 ,  H04N5/3559 ,  H04N5/3745

摘要： An improved CMOS pixel with a combination of analog and digital readouts to provide a large pixel dynamic range without compromising low-light performance using a comparator to test the value of an accumulated charge at a series of exponentially increasing exposure times. The test is used to stop the integration of photocurrent once the accumulated analog voltage has reached a predetermined threshold. A one-bit output value of the test is read out of the pixel (digitally) at each of the exponentially increasing exposure periods. At the end of the integration period, the analog value stored on the integration capacitor is read out using conventional CMOS active pixel readout circuits.

摘要翻译： 具有模拟和数字读数组合的改进的CMOS像素，以提供大的像素动态范围，而不会在使用比较器的低亮度性能的情况下以一系列指数增长的曝光时间来测试累积电荷的值。 一旦累积的模拟电压达到预定阈值，该测试用于停止光电流的积分。 在每个指数增长的曝光周期中，从像素（数字地）读出测试的一位输出值。 在积分周期结束时，使用常规CMOS有源像素读出电路读出存储在积分电容器上的模拟值。

公开(公告)号：US6097195A

公开(公告)日：2000-08-01

申请号：US88852

申请日：1998-06-02

申请人： Bryan D. Ackland ,  David A. Inglis ,  Gregory P. Kochanski

发明人： Bryan D. Ackland ,  David A. Inglis ,  Gregory P. Kochanski

IPC分类号： H01L23/522 ,  G01R31/26

CPC分类号： H01L23/5225 ,  H01L2924/0002

摘要： A shield region of metallization is formed in a first metallization layer of an integrated circuit so as to increase the metal density of the first metallization layer to at least a minimum density required for proper fabrication. The shield region is coupled via an amplifier or other suitable coupling mechanism to at least a portion of another metallization layer overlying or underlying the first metallization layer in the integrated circuit, such that the shield region acts to reduce parasitic capacitance associated with a circuit node in the other metallization layer. In an illustrative fingerprint sensor cell implementation, the shield region is in the form of a shield plate underlying a sensor plate in the sensor cell and serves to increase the metal density of a lower-level metallization layer in the cell. The sensor plate is coupled to the shield plate via a unity-gain amplifier, so as to reduce the parasitic capacitance seen by the sensor plate, thereby improving the ability of the sensor cell to detect fingerprint characteristics. The invention can provide similar advantages in numerous other integrated circuit applications.

摘要翻译： 在集成电路的第一金属化层中形成金属化的屏蔽区域，以便将第一金属化层的金属密度增加到适当制造所需的至少最小密度。 屏蔽区域经由放大器或其它合适的耦合机构耦合到叠加在集成电路中的第一金属化层上或下方的另一金属化层的至少一部分，使得屏蔽区域用于减小与电路节点相关的寄生电容 另一个金属化层。 在说明性指纹传感器单元实现中，屏蔽区域处于传感器单元内的传感器板下方的屏蔽板的形式，并用于增加电池中较低级金属化层的金属密度。 传感器板通过单位增益放大器耦合到屏蔽板，以便减小传感器板所看到的寄生电容，从而提高传感器单元检测指纹特性的能力。 本发明可以在许多其他集成电路应用中提供类似的优点。

公开(公告)号：US5576763A

公开(公告)日：1996-11-19

申请号：US344785

申请日：1994-11-22

申请人： Bryan D. Ackland ,  Alexander G. Dickinson ,  El-Sayed I. Eid ,  David A. Inglis

发明人： Bryan D. Ackland ,  Alexander G. Dickinson ,  El-Sayed I. Eid ,  David A. Inglis

IPC分类号： H01L27/092 ,  H01L21/8238 ,  H01L27/146 ,  H01L31/113 ,  H04N5/335

CPC分类号： H01L27/14609 ,  H01L27/14643 ,  H01L31/1136

摘要： The single-polysilicon active pixel comprises a photo site located on a substrate for generating and storing charge carriers, the charge carriers being generated from photonic energy incident upon the photo site and semiconductor substrate, a photo gate, a transfer transistor and output and reset electronics. The gate of the transfer transistor and the photo gate are defined in a single layer of polysilicon disposed on the semiconductor substrate. The source of transfer transistor is a doped region of substrate, referred to as a coupling diffusion, which provides the electrical coupling between the photo gate and the transfer transistor. The coupling diffusion allows for the transfer of a signal stored in a photo site under the photo gate to the output electronics for processing. The single-polysilicon active pixel may be operated by biasing the transfer transistor to the low operating voltage of the pixel, for example, 0 volts. By virtue of the structure of the single-polysilicon active pixel, this mode of operation results in the same timing as if the transfer transistor were clocked, but neither a clock nor the associated driving circuitry are required. However, there is little no tendency for image lag as occurs in double polysilicon active pixels when they are operated in a manner which avoids clocking the transfer gate.

摘要翻译： 单个多晶硅有源像素包括位于衬底上的用于产生和存储电荷载流子的光电子位点，电荷载体由入射到光电位置和半导体衬底上的光能产生，光栅，传输晶体管以及输出和复位电子 。 传输晶体管的栅极和光栅限定在设置在半导体衬底上的单层多晶硅中。 传输晶体管的源是衬底的掺杂区域，被称为耦合扩散，其提供光栅和转移晶体管之间的电耦合。 耦合扩散允许将存储在光栅下的照片位置的信号传送到输出电子器件用于处理。 可以通过将传输晶体管偏置到像素的低工作电压（例如0伏）来操作单多晶硅有源像素。 由于单个多晶硅有源像素的结构，这种操作模式产生与传输晶体管时钟相同的定时，但是不需要时钟和相关的驱动电路。 然而，当双重多晶硅有源像素以避免传输门时钟的方式操作时，几乎没有发生图像滞后的趋势。

公开(公告)号：US4384273A

公开(公告)日：1983-05-17

申请号：US245952

申请日：1981-03-20

申请人： Bryan D. Ackland ,  David J. Burr ,  Neil H. E. Weste

发明人： Bryan D. Ackland ,  David J. Burr ,  Neil H. E. Weste

IPC分类号： G10L11/00 ,  G06K9/64 ,  G06T7/00 ,  G10L15/12 ,  G10L15/28 ,  G10L1/00

CPC分类号： G06K9/6206 ,  G10L15/12

摘要： Known signal processors for matching signal patterns commonly compare an unknown signal with one of a set of reference signals. Various comparison techniques are known. One comparison technique for solving a parenthesization problem includes an orthogonal array of interconnected cells which are adapted for dynamic programming and for extending data and control information in a generally left-to-right direction as well as in a bottom-to-top direction. For solving a pattern matching problem, known arrangements for extending control information in a generally left-to-right or bottom-to-top direction do not appear to be satisfactory. The disclosed signal processor for matching signal patterns and for dynamically time warping an unknown input signal with a reference input signal generates a measure of the correspondence between the input signals. In generating the correspondence measure, the processor includes an arrangement for controlling all processor cells on a predetermined diagonal of the array of cells. Thereby all cells coupled to the diagonal can operate in parallel to increase and improve the efficiency of the signal processor. The processor also includes an arrangement for controlling all processor cells on each diagonal of the array of cells. As a result, not only can all cells on each diagonal operate in parallel but also each of the plurality of diagonals can operate in parallel for processing the same or different sets of input signals. Thereby, a still further increase in the efficiency of the signal processor obtains.

摘要翻译： 用于匹配信号模式的已知信号处理器通常将未知信号与一组参考信号之一进行比较。 已知各种比较技术。 用于解决括号化问题的一种比较技术包括互连单元的正交阵列，其适于用于动态编程并且用于在大致从左到右的方向以及从底部到顶部的方向上扩展数据和控制信息。 为了解决模式匹配问题，用于扩展从左到右或从上到下的方向的控制信息的已知布置似乎不令人满意。 所公开的用于匹配信号模式的信号处理器和用参考输入信号动态地对未知输入信号进行扭曲的时间产生输入信号之间的对应关系的度量。 在产生对应度量时，处理器包括用于控制单元阵列的预定对角线上的所有处理器单元的装置。 因此，耦合到对角线的所有单元可以并行操作以增加和提高信号处理器的效率。 处理器还包括用于控制单元阵列的每个对角线上的所有处理器单元的装置。 结果，不仅每个对角线上的所有单元均可并行操作，而且多个对角线中的每一个可以并行操作，以处理相同或不同的输入信号组。 从而，信号处理器的效率进一步提高。

公开(公告)号：US08022350B2

公开(公告)日：2011-09-20

申请号：US12012542

申请日：2008-02-04

申请人： Bryan D. Ackland

发明人： Bryan D. Ackland

IPC分类号： H03K17/78 ,  H01L27/00

CPC分类号： H04N5/3742 ,  H04N5/3559 ,  H04N5/3745

摘要： An improved CMOS pixel with a combination of analog and digital readouts to provide a large pixel dynamic range without compromising low-light performance using a comparator to test the value of an accumulated charge at a series of exponentially increasing exposure times. The test is used to stop the integration of photocurrent once the accumulated analog voltage has reached a predetermined threshold. A one-bit output value of the test is read out of the pixel (digitally) at each of the exponentially increasing exposure periods. At the end of the integration period, the analog value stored on the integration capacitor is read out using conventional CMOS active pixel readout circuits.

摘要翻译： 具有模拟和数字读数组合的改进的CMOS像素，以提供大的像素动态范围，而不会在使用比较器的低亮度性能的情况下以一系列指数增长的曝光时间来测试累积电荷的值。 一旦累积的模拟电压达到预定阈值，该测试用于停止光电流的积分。 在每个指数增长的曝光周期中，从像素（数字地）读出测试的一位输出值。 在积分周期结束时，使用常规CMOS有源像素读出电路读出存储在积分电容器上的模拟值。

公开(公告)号：US4509187A

公开(公告)日：1985-04-02

申请号：US388033

申请日：1982-06-14

申请人： Bryan D. Ackland ,  David J. Burr ,  Neil H. E. Weste

发明人： Bryan D. Ackland ,  David J. Burr ,  Neil H. E. Weste

IPC分类号： G10L15/00 ,  G10L15/12 ,  G06K9/64 ,  G10L1/00

CPC分类号： G10L15/12 ,  G10L15/00

摘要： In known speech recognition systems, processors and methods, utterances are analyzed to obtain a set of reference signals. An unknown signal may be compared with the reference signals. The unknown signal may be said to be the reference signal with which it most closely corresponds as defined by some correspondence measure. Known signal recognition arrangements using multiple processor cells tend to be expensive, in part because they tend to use many processor cells.The disclosed system, processor and method contemplate an arrangement including an array of processor cells for time warping an unknown signal having m elements with respect to a reference signal having n elements or vice versa. The cells, responsive to control signals on a control diagonal, generate the correspondence measure. As the signals propagate through the array, the instant arrangement recirculates signals from cells near one (or first) periphery of the arrangement, e.g., from the right periphery, to cells near another (or second) periphery, e.g., to the left periphery. As a result, rather than using m.times.n processor cells, the instant arrangement may use substantially less than m.times.n cells.

摘要翻译： 在已知的语音识别系统中，处理器和方法，分析话语以获得一组参考信号。 可以将未知信号与参考信号进行比较。 未知信号可以被认为是由一些对应度量来定义的最接近对应的参考信号。 使用多个处理器单元的已知信号识别装置倾向于昂贵，部分原因是它们倾向于使用许多处理器单元。 所公开的系统，处理器和方法考虑了一种包括处理器单元阵列的布置，用于对具有n个元件的参考信号或反之亦然的时间扭曲具有m个元件的未知信号。 响应控制对角线上的控制信号的单元产生对应度量。 随着信号传播通过阵列，本装置将信号从布置的一个（或第一）周边（例如从右边周边）再循环到靠近另一个（或第二）周边的单元，例如到左边缘。 因此，不是使用mxn处理器单元，本发明可以使用基本上小于m×n个单元。