公开(公告)号：US08601674B2

公开(公告)日：2013-12-10

申请号：US12973134

申请日：2010-12-20

申请人： Christopher Parks

发明人： Christopher Parks

IPC分类号： H01H11/00 ,  H01H65/00

CPC分类号： H04N5/355 ,  H01L29/76816 ,  H04N5/37213

摘要： A method for producing an image sensor includes: providing a horizontal shift register electrically connected to a pixel array for receiving charge packets from the pixel array; providing a non-destructive sense node connected to an output of the horizontal shift register; providing a charge directing switch electrically connected to the non-destructive sense node, where the charge directing switch includes first and second outputs; providing a charge multiplying horizontal shift register electrically connected to the first output of the charge directing switch; and providing a discharging element connected to the second output of the charge directing switch.

摘要翻译： 一种用于产生图像传感器的方法包括：提供电连接到像素阵列的水平移位寄存器，用于从像素阵列接收电荷包; 提供连接到水平移位寄存器的输出的非破坏性感测节点; 提供电连接到所述非破坏性感测节点的充电指示开关，其中所述充电指示开关包括第一和第二输出; 提供电连接到所述充电指示开关的第一输出的电荷倍增水平移位寄存器; 并且提供连接到充电指示开关的第二输出的放电元件。

公开(公告)号：US20130099095A1

公开(公告)日：2013-04-25

申请号：US13625069

申请日：2012-09-24

申请人： Christopher Parks

发明人： Christopher Parks

IPC分类号： H01L27/146 ,  H01L27/148

CPC分类号： H04N5/3559 ,  H04N5/37452

摘要： In various embodiments, image sensors include output channels enabling high-gain and/or low-gain charge read-out while minimizing charge-conversion noise.

摘要翻译： 在各种实施例中，图像传感器包括在最小化电荷转换噪声的同时实现高增益和/或低增益电荷读出的输出通道。

公开(公告)号：US20130075581A1

公开(公告)日：2013-03-28

申请号：US13241526

申请日：2011-09-23

申请人： Christopher Parks

发明人： Christopher Parks

IPC分类号： H01L27/148

CPC分类号： H01L27/14843 ,  H01L27/14806

摘要： A CCD image sensor includes vertical CCD shift registers and gate electrodes disposed over the vertical CCD shift registers. The gate electrodes are divided into distinct groups of gate electrodes. The CCD image sensor is adapted to operate in an accumulation mode and a charge transfer mode, an accumulation mode and a charge shifting mode, or an accumulation mode, a charge transfer mode, and a charge shifting mode. The charge transfer mode has an initial charge transfer phase and a final charge transfer phase. The charge shifting mode has an initial charge shifting phase and a final charge shifting phase.

公开(公告)号：US20120154652A1

公开(公告)日：2012-06-21

申请号：US12973090

申请日：2010-12-20

申请人： Christopher Parks

发明人： Christopher Parks

IPC分类号： H04N5/335

CPC分类号： H04N5/37213 ,  H04N5/355

摘要： An image sensor includes a horizontal shift register electrically connected to a pixel array for receiving charge packets from the pixel array. A non-destructive sense node is connected to an output of the horizontal shift register. A charge directing switch is electrically connected to the non-destructive sense node. The charge directing switch includes two outputs. A charge multiplying horizontal shift register is electrically connected to one output of the charge directing switch. A discharging element is connected to the other output of the charge directing switch.

摘要翻译： 图像传感器包括电连接到像素阵列的水平移位寄存器，用于从像素阵列接收电荷分组。 非破坏性感测节点连接到水平移位寄存器的输出。 充电指示开关电连接到非破坏性感测节点。 充电指示开关包括两个输出。 充电倍增水平移位寄存器电连接到充电指示开关的一个输出端。 放电元件连接到充电指示开关的另一个输出端。

公开(公告)号：US20120147240A1

公开(公告)日：2012-06-14

申请号：US12967326

申请日：2010-12-14

申请人： Christopher Parks

发明人： Christopher Parks

IPC分类号： H04N5/335

CPC分类号： H04N5/372 ,  H04N5/37213 ,  H04N5/378

摘要： An image sensor includes multiple output channels, a non-destructive charge sensing output channel having an associated gain value of G1 and a charge multiplying output channel having an associated gain value G3. The image sensor can also include a charge bypass output channel having an associated gain value G2. For each charge packet, a pixel signal produced by either the charge sensing output channel, the charge multiplying output channel or the charge bypass output channel is selected. If the pixel signal produced by the charge sensing output channel is selected, a gain factor (G3/G1) is applied to each pixel signal selected from the charge bypass output channel. If the pixel signal produced by the charge bypass output channel is selected, a gain factor (G3/G2) is applied to each pixel signal selected from the charge bypass output channel. The pixel signals are combined to produce an image.

摘要翻译： 图像传感器包括多个输出通道，具有相关联的增益值G1的非破坏性电荷感测输出通道和具有相关联的增益值G3的电荷倍增输出通道。 图像传感器还可以包括具有相关联的增益值G2的充电旁路输出通道。 对于每个电荷包，选择由电荷感测输出通道，充电倍增输出通道或充电旁路输出通道产生的像素信号。 如果选择由电荷感测输出通道产生的像素信号，则将增益因子（G3 / G1）施加到从充电旁路输出通道选择的每个像素信号。 如果选择由充电旁路输出通道产生的像素信号，则将增益因子（G3 / G2）施加到从充电旁路输出通道选择的每个像素信号。 像素信号被组合以产生图像。

公开(公告)号：US20120147236A1

公开(公告)日：2012-06-14

申请号：US12967428

申请日：2010-12-14

申请人： Christopher Parks

发明人： Christopher Parks

IPC分类号： H04N5/335

CPC分类号： H04N5/3594 ,  H04N5/37213 ,  H04N5/378

摘要： An image sensor includes a horizontal shift register electrically connected to a pixel array for receiving charge packets from the pixel array. A non-destructive sense node is connected to an output of the horizontal shift register. A charge directing switch is electrically connected to the non-destructive sense node. The charge directing switch includes two outputs. A charge multiplying horizontal shift register is electrically connected to one output of the charge directing switch. A bypass horizontal shift register or an amplifier can be connected to the other output of the charge directing switch.

摘要翻译： 图像传感器包括电连接到像素阵列的水平移位寄存器，用于从像素阵列接收电荷分组。 非破坏性感测节点连接到水平移位寄存器的输出。 充电指示开关电连接到非破坏性感测节点。 充电指示开关包括两个输出。 充电倍增水平移位寄存器电连接到充电指示开关的一个输出端。 旁路水平移位寄存器或放大器可以连接到充电指示开关的另一个输出。

公开(公告)号：US20110267518A1

公开(公告)日：2011-11-03

申请号：US12770826

申请日：2010-04-30

申请人： Christopher Parks ,  Gregory O. Moberg

发明人： Christopher Parks ,  Gregory O. Moberg

IPC分类号： H04N5/335

CPC分类号： H04N5/3592 ,  H04N5/345 ,  H04N5/3728 ,  H04N5/3765

摘要： An image sensor includes an electronic shutter layer that drains charge away from the photosensitive regions during an electronic shutter operation. A signal is applied to the electronic shutter layer through a contact. Prior to performing an electronic shutter operation, a determination is made as to whether or not a current level in the electronic shutter layer substantially equals or exceeds a threshold current level. If the current level in the electronic shutter layer substantially equals or exceeds the threshold current level, the electronic shutter operation is not performed. The electronic shutter operation is performed if the current level in the electronic shutter layer does not substantially equal or exceed the threshold current level.

摘要翻译： 图像传感器包括电子快门层，其在电子快门操作期间将电荷从光敏区域排出。 通过触点将信号施加到电子快门层。 在执行电子快门操作之前，确定电子快门层中的当前电平是否基本上等于或超过阈值电流水平。 如果电子快门层中的当前电平基本上等于或超过阈值电流电平，则不执行电子快门操作。 如果电子快门层中的当前电平基本上不等于或超过阈值电流电平，则执行电子快门操作。

公开(公告)号：US20110267517A1

公开(公告)日：2011-11-03

申请号：US12770818

申请日：2010-04-30

申请人： Christopher Parks ,  Gregory O. Moberg

发明人： Christopher Parks ,  Gregory O. Moberg

IPC分类号： H04N5/335

CPC分类号： H04N5/353 ,  H04N5/3592 ,  H04N5/3728 ,  H04N5/3765

摘要： An image sensor includes an electronic shutter layer that is used to drain charge away from the photosensitive regions during an electronic shutter operation. A current reference component is electrically connected to a contact to the electronic shutter layer. The current reference component produces a signal having a level that is constant as a load current varies from zero to a threshold current level. A scaler component is electrically connected between the current reference component and an electronic shutter pulse driver component. The scaler component transmits the signal to the electronic shutter pulse driver component when the load current does not exceed the threshold current level. When the load current exceeds the threshold current level, the scaler component scales the level of the signal to a different level and transmits the scaled signal to the electronic shutter pulse driver component.

摘要翻译： 图像传感器包括电子快门层，其用于在电子快门操作期间将电荷从光敏区域排出。 电流参考分量与电子快门层的触点电连接。 电流参考分量产生一个信号，该信号的电平在负载电流从零变化到阈值电流电平时是恒定的。 定标器部件电连接在电流参考部件和电子快门脉冲驱动器部件之间。 当负载电流不超过阈值电流电平时，定标器部件将信号发送到电子快门脉冲驱动器部件。 当负载电流超过阈值电流电平时，缩放器分量将信号的电平缩放到不同的电平，并将缩放的信号发送到电子快门脉冲驱动器部件。

公开(公告)号：US07995129B2

公开(公告)日：2011-08-09

申请号：US12612950

申请日：2009-11-05

申请人： Christopher Parks

发明人： Christopher Parks

IPC分类号： H04N3/14

CPC分类号： H04N9/045 ,  H04N5/335 ,  H04N5/3456 ,  H04N5/3458 ,  H04N5/347 ,  H04N5/3728

摘要： An image sensor includes a plurality of vertical CCDs; first HCCD receiving charge packets from even numbered vertical CCDs; and a second HCCD receiving charge packets from odd numbered vertical CCDs; wherein four charge packets are summed together from the first HCCD, and four charge packets are summed together in the second HCCD such that the summing process in the second HCCD begins one or two charge packets spatially after the first charge packet of the four charge packets summed in the first HCCD.

摘要翻译： 图像传感器包括多个垂直CCD; 第一HCCD从偶数垂直CCD接收电荷包; 以及从奇数垂直CCD接收电荷分组的第二HCCD; 其中四个充电分组从第一HCCD相加在一起，并且四个充电分组在第二HCCD中相加在一起，使得第二HCCD中的求和过程在四个充电分组的第一充电分组相加之后在空间上开始一个或两个充电分组 在第一个HCCD。

公开(公告)号：US07847845B2

公开(公告)日：2010-12-07

申请号：US12407314

申请日：2009-03-19

申请人： Christopher Parks

发明人： Christopher Parks

IPC分类号： H04N3/16 ,  H04N5/335

CPC分类号： H04N5/23245 ,  H04N5/37213

摘要： An image sensor includes an array of pixels arranged into two or more subarrays and each subarray captures charge; and an output charge-coupled device that receives charge from the array of pixels; wherein the output charge-coupled device is divided into substantially two equal first and second portions in which either one portion receives charge from only one subarray or both portions receive charge respectively from a subarray, and the first portion of the charge-coupled device is a charge-multiplying charge-coupled device in which charge is amplified, and the second portion of the charge-coupled device does not amplify charge.

摘要翻译： 图像传感器包括排列成两个或多个子阵列的像素阵列，并且每个子阵列捕获电荷; 以及从像素阵列接收电荷的输出电荷耦合器件; 其中所述输出电荷耦合器件被分成基本上两个相等的第一和第二部分，其中一个部分仅从一个子阵列接收电荷，或者两个部分分别从子阵列接收电荷，并且所述电荷耦合器件的第一部分是 电荷放大的充电倍增电荷耦合器件，并且电荷耦合器件的第二部分不放大电荷。