公开(公告)号：US20130292548A1

公开(公告)日：2013-11-07

申请号：US13860157

申请日：2013-04-10

申请人： APTINA IMAGING CORPORATION

发明人： Gennadiy Agranov ,  Jaroslav Hynecek

IPC分类号： H01L27/146

CPC分类号： H01L27/14643 ,  H01L27/146 ,  H01L27/307

摘要： An image sensor with an organic photoelectric film for converting light into charge may be provided. The image sensor may include an array of image sensor pixels. Each image sensor pixel may include a charge-integrating pinned diode that collects photo-generated charge from the photoelectric film during an integration period. An anode electrode may be coupled to an n+ doped charge injection region in the charge-integrating pinned diode and may be used to convey the photo-generated charge from the photoelectric film to the charge-integrating pinned diode. Upon completion of a charge integration cycle, a first transfer transistor gate may be pulsed to move the charge from the charge-integrating pinned diode to a charge-storage pinned diode. The charge may be transferred from the charge-storage pinned diode to a floating diffusion node for readout by pulsing a gate of a second charge transfer transistor.

摘要翻译： 可以提供具有用于将光转换成电荷的有机光电膜的图像传感器。 图像传感器可以包括图像传感器像素的阵列。 每个图像传感器像素可以包括在积分时段期间从光电膜收集光生电荷的电荷积分二极管。 阳极可以与电荷积分二极管中的n +掺杂电荷注入区耦合，并可用于将来自光电膜的光电荷传送到电荷积分二极管。 在完成电荷积分周期之后，可以将第一传输晶体管栅极脉冲以将电荷从电荷积分二极管移动到电荷存储固定二极管。 电荷可以从电荷存储固定二极管转移到浮动扩散节点，以通过脉冲第二电荷转移晶体管的栅极来读出。

公开(公告)号：US08575531B2

公开(公告)日：2013-11-05

申请号：US13210619

申请日：2011-08-16

申请人： Jaroslav Hynecek ,  Hirofumi Komori

发明人： Jaroslav Hynecek ,  Hirofumi Komori

IPC分类号： H01L27/148 ,  H01L31/18

CPC分类号： H01L27/1464 ,  H01L27/14641 ,  H01L27/14679

摘要： The present invention provides a junction gate photo-diode (JGP) pixel that includes a JGP accumulating charge in response to impinging photons. The JGP is positioned on a substrate and includes a top n layer, a middle p layer and a bottom n layer forming a n-p-n junction, and a control terminal coupled to the top n layer. Also includes is a floating diffusion (FD) positioned on the substrate and coupled to a pixel output line through an amplifier. Also includes is a pinned barrier (PB) and a storage gate (SG) positioned on the substrate between the JGP and the FD. The PB temporarily blocks charge transfer between the JGP and the FD, and the SG stores the accumulated charge from the JGP, and transfers the stored charge to the FD for readout.

摘要翻译： 本发明提供一种结栅光电二极管（JGP）像素，其包括响应于入射光子的JGP累积电荷。 JGP位于衬底上，并且包括形成n-p-n结的顶部n层，中间p层和底部n层，以及耦合到顶部n层的控制端子。 还包括位于衬底上并通过放大器耦合到像素输出线的浮动扩散（FD）。 还包括位于JGP和FD之间的衬底上的钉扎屏障（PB）和存储门（SG）。 PB临时阻止JGP和FD之间的电荷传输，SG存储来自JGP的累积电荷，并将存储的电荷传送到FD以进行读出。

公开(公告)号：US08543788B2

公开(公告)日：2013-09-24

申请号：US11758801

申请日：2007-06-06

申请人： Amnon Silverstein

发明人： Amnon Silverstein

IPC分类号： G06F12/00 ,  H04N5/76

CPC分类号： H04N5/772 ,  H04N5/907

摘要： Methods, apparatus, and systems may operate to more efficiently utilize data stored in an array of storage blocks organized as rows and columns of contiguous blocks, where non-linearity is present in the data. Activities may include organizing data to discard useless elements from storage blocks when transferring the data to a memory buffer, and perhaps compressing the data for increased memory density utilization. Additional activities may include reconstructing data stored in the memory buffer and using an image distortion formula to display a linear representation of the non-linear data.

摘要翻译： 方法，装置和系统可以操作以更有效地利用存储在组织为连续块的行和列的存储块的阵列中的数据，其中非线性存在于数据中。 活动可能包括组织数据，以便在将数据传输到存储器缓冲区时从存储块中丢弃无用元素，并且可能压缩数据以提高存储密度利用率。 附加活动可以包括重建存储在存储器缓冲器中的数据，并使用图像失真公式来显示非线性数据的线性表示。

公开(公告)号：US08525284B2

公开(公告)日：2013-09-03

申请号：US13216766

申请日：2011-08-24

申请人： Ray Alan Mentzer

发明人： Ray Alan Mentzer

IPC分类号： H01L31/0232 ,  H01L21/00

CPC分类号： H01L27/1464 ,  H01L27/14609 ,  H01L27/14636

摘要： The present invention relates to a backside illuminated (BSI) imager having a plurality of layers. A plurality of pixel sensors are positioned on a first layer of a substrate. Pixel select conductors are positioned on the substrate in front of the first layer. Pixel readout conductors including a plurality of output lines, pixel power conductors, and a ground conductor are positioned on the substrate in front of the pixel select conductors. A plurality of sample and hold capacitors coupled to the pixel output lines are positioned vertically and/or horizontally on the substrate in front of the ground conductor.

摘要翻译： 本发明涉及具有多个层的背面照明（BSI）成像器。 多个像素传感器位于基板的第一层上。 像素选择导体位于第一层前面的衬底上。 包括多个输出线，像素电力导体和接地导体的像素读出导体位于像素选择导体之前的基板上。 耦合到像素输出线的多个采样和保持电容器位于接地导体前面的衬底上垂直和/或水平定位。

公开(公告)号：US08514322B2

公开(公告)日：2013-08-20

申请号：US12816575

申请日：2010-06-16

申请人： Yingjun Bai ,  Xiangli Li

发明人： Yingjun Bai ,  Xiangli Li

IPC分类号： H04N5/235 ,  G03B7/00 ,  H04N9/083 ,  H04N3/14 ,  H04N5/335 ,  H04N9/04

CPC分类号： H04N9/045 ,  H04N5/35554 ,  H04N5/35563 ,  H04N5/3745

摘要： Systems and methods are provided for obtaining adaptive exposure control and dynamic range extension of image sensors. In some embodiments, an image sensor of an image system can include a pixel array with one or more clear pixels. The image system can separately control the amount of time that pixels in different lines of the pixel array are exposed to light. As a result, the image system can adjust the exposure times to prevent over-saturation of the clear pixels, while also allowing color pixels of the pixel array to be exposed to light for a longer period of time. In some embodiments, the dynamic range of the image system can be extended through a reconstruction and interpolation process. For example, a signal reconstruction module can extend the dynamic range of one or more green pixels by combining signals associated with green pixels in different lines of the pixel array.

摘要翻译： 提供了用于获得图像传感器的自适应曝光控制和动态范围扩展的系统和方法。 在一些实施例中，图像系统的图像传感器可以包括具有一个或多个透明像素的像素阵列。 图像系统可以分别控制像素阵列的不同行中的像素暴露于光的时间量。 结果，图像系统可以调整曝光时间以防止透明像素的过度饱和，同时还允许像素阵列的彩色像素暴露于较长时间的光。 在一些实施例中，图像系统的动态范围可以通过重建和内插处理来扩展。 例如，信号重建模块可以通过组合与像素阵列的不同行中的绿色像素相关联的信号来扩展一个或多个绿色像素的动态范围。

公开(公告)号：US20130206962A1

公开(公告)日：2013-08-15

申请号：US13763249

申请日：2013-02-08

申请人： APTINA IMAGING CORPORATION

发明人： Peter Rupert Barabash Barr ,  Aaron Kenneth Belsher

IPC分类号： H01L27/146 ,  H01L31/02

CPC分类号： H01L27/1463 ,  H01L27/14601 ,  H01L27/1462 ,  H01L27/14632 ,  H01L27/14636 ,  H01L27/1464 ,  H01L27/14643 ,  H01L27/14685 ,  H01L27/14687 ,  H01L31/02002

摘要： An image sensor such as a backside illumination image sensor may be provided with analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and an image pixel array on a semiconductor substrate. Trench isolation structures may separate the analog circuitry from the digital circuitry on the substrate. The trench isolation structures may be formed from dielectric-filled trenches in the substrate that isolate the portion of the substrate having the analog circuitry from the portion of the substrate having the digital circuitry. The trench isolation structures may prevent digital circuit operations such as switching operations from negatively affecting the performance of the analog circuitry. Additional trench isolation structures may be interposed between portions of the substrate on which bond pads are formed and other portions of the substrate to prevent capacitive coupling between the bond pad structures and the substrate, thereby enhancing the high frequency operations of the image sensor.

摘要翻译： 诸如背面照明图像传感器的图像传感器可以在半导体衬底上设置有模拟电路，数字电路和图像像素阵列。 沟槽隔离结构可以将模拟电路与基板上的数字电路分离。 沟槽隔离结构可以由衬底中的介质填充沟槽形成，其将具有模拟电路的衬底的部分与具有数字电路的衬底的部分隔离。 沟槽隔离结构可以防止诸如开关操作之类的数字电路操作不利地影响模拟电路的性能。 另外的沟槽隔离结构可以插入到其上形成有接合焊盘的衬底的部分之间，以及衬底的其它部分以防止接合焊盘结构和衬底之间的电容耦合，从而增强了图像传感器的高频率操作。

公开(公告)号：US20130200251A1

公开(公告)日：2013-08-08

申请号：US13746211

申请日：2013-01-21

申请人： Aptina Imaging Corporation

发明人： Sergey Velichko

IPC分类号： H01L31/0232 ,  H01L31/18 ,  H01L27/146

CPC分类号： H01L31/02327 ,  H01L27/14621 ,  H01L27/14625 ,  H01L27/14629 ,  H01L27/1464 ,  H01L27/14685 ,  H01L31/18

摘要： An image sensor may be provided having a pixel array that includes optical cavity image pixels. An optical cavity image pixel may include a photosensitive element in a substrate and a reflective cavity formed from a frontside reflector that is embedded in an intermetal dielectric stack, a backside reflector formed in a dielectric layer above the photosensor that partially covers the photosensor, and sidewall reflectors formed in the substrate between adjacent photosensors using deep trench isolation techniques. Each optical cavity image pixel may also include a light-guide trench above the photosensor that guides light into the reflective cavity for that pixel. Each optical cavity pixel may also include color filter material in the trench. Light that is guided into the reflective cavity by the light-guide trench may experience multiple reflections from the reflectors of the reflective cavity before being absorbed and detected by the photosensor.

摘要翻译： 可以提供具有包括光腔图像像素的像素阵列的图像传感器。 光腔图像像素可以包括衬底中的感光元件和由嵌入在金属间电介质堆叠中的前侧反射器形成的反射腔，形成在部分地覆盖光传感器的光电传感器上方的电介质层中的背面反射器，以及侧壁 使用深沟槽隔离技术在相邻光电传感器之间形成在衬底中的反射器。 每个光腔图像像素还可以包括光传感器上方的光导沟槽，其将光引导到该像素的反射腔中。 每个光腔像素还可以包括沟槽中的滤色器材料。 由光导槽引导到反射腔中的光可以在被光电传感器吸收和检测之前经历来自反射腔的反射器的多次反射。

公开(公告)号：US08478123B2

公开(公告)日：2013-07-02

申请号：US13108727

申请日：2011-05-16

申请人： Dongqing Cao ,  Qun Sun ,  Juanqing Chen

发明人： Dongqing Cao ,  Qun Sun ,  Juanqing Chen

IPC分类号： G03B41/00 ,  H04N13/02 ,  H04N5/225 ,  H01L25/00

CPC分类号： G03B41/00 ,  G03B9/02 ,  H04N5/2254 ,  H04N5/2257 ,  H04N5/2258 ,  H04N5/332 ,  H04N5/3745 ,  H04N9/045 ,  H04N9/09

摘要： An array camera may be formed from an array of lenses, an array of corresponding apertures, and an array of corresponding image sensors. The array of apertures may be configured so that some image sensors receive light through apertures of different size than other image sensors. Providing apertures of smaller size increases the F/# of an array camera and increases the depth-of-field in a captured image. The array of image sensors may include a near-infrared image sensor. Providing an image sensor array with a near-infrared image sensor may enhance depth information in captured images or increase night vision capabilities of an array camera. Combining an array of image sensors that includes a near-infrared sensor with an array of apertures having different aperture diameters may allow increased depth-of-field imaging, enhanced extraction of depth information from an image, improved night vision, enhanced image clarity or other improvements.

摘要翻译： 阵列照相机可以由透镜阵列，相应孔的阵列和相应的图像传感器的阵列形成。 孔阵列可以被配置成使得一些图像传感器通过与其它图像传感器不同的尺寸的孔接收光。 提供较小尺寸的孔增加阵列相机的F /＃，并增加捕获图像中的景深。 图像传感器阵列可以包括近红外图像传感器。 提供具有近红外图像传感器的图像传感器阵列可以增强捕获的图像中的深度信息或增加阵列相机的夜视能力。 组合包括具有不同孔径直径的孔阵列的近红外传感器的图像传感器阵列可以允许增加景深成像，增强从图像提取深度信息，改善夜视，增强图像清晰度或其它 改进。

公开(公告)号：US08471315B1

公开(公告)日：2013-06-25

申请号：US13154428

申请日：2011-06-06

申请人： Jaroslav Hynecek ,  Hirofumi Komori

发明人： Jaroslav Hynecek ,  Hirofumi Komori

IPC分类号： H01L31/062 ,  H01L31/113

CPC分类号： H01L31/103 ,  H01L27/14603 ,  H01L27/14612 ,  H01L27/14641

摘要： The invention describes a solid-state CMOS image sensor array and in particular describes in detail image sensor array pixels having global and rolling shutter capabilities that are using a dual channel transfer-storage gate for charge transfer from a PD to a TX gate well and from the TX gate well onto a FD. The dual channels are stacked above each other where a shallow charge channel is used to drain surface generated dark current away from the pixel structure, while a buried bulk channel provides for standard charge transfer and storage functions. This feature thus improves the sensor noise performance and prevents signal contamination and various shading effects caused by the dark current buildup during a prolonged charge storage sequence in pixels of image sensor arrays using the global shutter mode of operation. Several embodiment of this concept are described including pixels which utilize shared circuitry, a complete PD reset capability, and an efficient anti-blooming control.

摘要翻译： 本发明描述了一种固态CMOS图像传感器阵列，并且具体地描述了具有全局和滚动快门功能的图像传感器阵列像素，其使用双通道传输存储栅极用于从PD到TX门极的电荷转移 TX门很好地放在FD上。 双通道堆叠在彼此之上，其中使用浅电荷通道来将表面产生的暗电流从像素结构排出，而掩埋的体通道提供标准的电荷转移和存储功能。 该特征因此提高了传感器噪声性能，并且防止了在使用全局快门操作模式的图像传感器阵列的像素中的延长的电荷存储序列期间由暗电流累积引起的信号污染和各种阴影效应。 描述了该概念的几个实施例，其包括利用共享电路的像素，完整的PD复位能力和有效的防起霜控制。

公开(公告)号：US08391598B2

公开(公告)日：2013-03-05

申请号：US12985310

申请日：2011-01-05

申请人： Peng Lin

发明人： Peng Lin

IPC分类号： G06K9/00

CPC分类号： G06T5/008 ,  G06T2207/10016 ,  G06T2207/20012 ,  G06T2207/20208

摘要： Adaptive local tone mapping may be used to convert a high dynamic range image to a low dynamic range image. Tone mapping may be performed on an on a Bayer domain image. A high dynamic range image may be filtered to produce a luminance signal. An illumination component of the luminance signal may be compressed. A reflectance component of the luminance signal may be sharpened. After the luminance signal has been processed, it may be used in producing an output image in the Bayer domain that has a lower dynamic range than the input image. The output Bayer domain image may be demosaiced to produce an RGB image. Tone-mapping may be performed with a tone-mapping processor.

摘要翻译： 自适应局部色调映射可用于将高动态范围图像转换为低动态范围图像。 色调映射可以在拜耳域图像上执行。 可以对高动态范围图像进行滤波以产生亮度信号。 可以压缩亮度信号的照明分量。 亮度信号的反射分量可以被削尖。 在亮度信号被处理之后，它可以用于产生具有比输入图像低的动态范围的拜耳域中的输出图像。 输出拜耳域图像可以被去马赛克以产生RGB图像。 音调映射可以用色调映射处理器来执行。