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EP0481373A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Solid state imager

Assignee: Sony Corp
•
Filing: 1991-10-11
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2011-10-11
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Abstract

Abstract The solid state imager of an amplifying type having an amplifying element (4) for each photo receptor portion comprises a noise cancelling unit (15) for the amplified output of each photo receptor portion at every vertical line. The imager is rear-illuminated so that the numerical aperture and the sensitivity are improved due to a reduction of noise. Photo receptor portions (22) are provided for each of a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix configuration in horizontal and vertical directions and each has said amplifying element (4) arranged on a major surface side of a substrate (20) for amplifying the signal charge accumulated depending on the quantity of light incident thereon. First and second signal holding units (C₁, C₂) are provided for holding during a horizontal blanking period amplified outputs of said photo receptor portions of two pixels (5) adjacent to each other in the vertical direction after passing through the noise cancelling unit (15). A signal reading unit (14-15) allows independent reading of the outputs of said first and second signal holding units (C₁, C₂).

Inventors

  • 👤 Masaharu Hamasaki

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 01:06
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N25/00; H04N25/60; H04N25/616; H04N25/62; H04N25/625; H04N25/67; H04N25/70; H04N25/71; H04N25/75; H04N25/76; H04N25/78; H10; H10F; H10F39/00; H10F39/10; H10F39/12; H10F39/15

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 134 words
A solid state image comprising: (a) a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix configuration and each having an amplifying element (4), the output of which is connected to a corresponding vertical signal line (9); (b) a plurality of noise cancel circuits (C₀),each being connected to a corresponding vertical signal line (9); (c) first hold means (C₁) for receiving the output signal of an n'th horizontal line during a horizontal blanking period through said noise cancel circuit (15); (d) second holding means (C₂) for receiving the output signal of a (n+1)'th horizontal line during a horizontal blanking period through said noise cancel circuit (15); and (e) switching means (14) for selectively supplying the output signal of said noise cancel circuit (15) to said first hold means (C₁) or to said second hold means (C₂).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 23 words
A solid state imager according to claim 1; wherein said amplifying element (4) is constituted by a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 28 words
A solid state imager according to claim 1, wherein said n'th horizontal line an (n + 1)'th horizontal line are selected by a vertical scanning shift register (8).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 52 words
A solid state imager according to claim 3, wherein each of said plurality of pixels has a reset drain region for selecting said n'th horizontal line or said (n + 1)'th horizontal line in response to a reset drain pulse (φ RD ) applied thereto from said vertical scanning shift register (8).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
A solid state imager according to claim 1, wherein each of said noise cancel circuits is constituted by a correlated double sampling circuit (15).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 157 words
A solid state imager, comprising: (1) photo receptor portions (22) each provided for each of a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix configuration in horizontal and vertical directions and each having an amplifying element (4) provided on a major surface side of a substrate (20) for amplifying a signal charge accumulated depending on the quantity of light incident thereon, said incident light being radiated on a rear surface side of said substrate; (2) noise cancelling means (15) each provided for each vertical line for cancelling a noise included in the output of the corresponding amplifying element (4); (3) first and second signal holding means (C₁, C₂) for holding during a horizontal blanking period amplified outputs of said photo receptor portions of two pixels adjacent to each other in the vertical direction passed through said noise cancelling means (15); and (4) signal reading means (14-17) for independently reading outputs of said first and second signal holding means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 27 words
A solid state imager according to claim 6, wherein the output signal of said signal reading means is taken out from the rear side of said substrate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 36 words
A solid state imager according to claim 6, wherein a reset drain electrode (RD, 23) for dumping the signal charge stored in said photo receptor portion is formed on the rear surface side of said substrate.

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