EP0757390A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Combined photogate and photodiode active pixel image sensor
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1996-07-23
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2016-07-23
Abstract
Abstract An active pixel image sensor includes an array of pixels (38) arranged in a first group and a second group. The first group may constitute a row and the second group may constitute a column, for example. A first common conductor is coupled to the pixels in the first group for conducting control signals. A second common conductor (50) is coupled to the pixels in the second group for selectively transmitting signals to processing electronics. Each of the pixels includes a plurality of sensing elements (102a, 102b, 109) that are each configured for capturing a portion of energy from an object to be imaged. At least one of the sensing elements is of a type distinct from another of the sensing elements. For example, one of the sensing elements may be a photogate (102a,102b) and another may be a photodiode (109). An amplifying arrangement (125,130) is provided for receiving signals from selected ones of the plurality of sensing elements and for selectively providing output signals to the second common conductor (50).
Inventors
- 👤 Bryan David Ackland
- 👤 David Andrew Inglis
- 👤 Alexander George Dickinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 02:30
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F39/00; H10F39/10; H10F39/12; H10F39/18; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/80; H04N23/84; H04N25/00; H04N25/40; H04N25/44; H04N25/447; H04N25/70; H04N25/76; H04N25/77; H04N25/778; H10F39/182; H10F39/80; H10F39/802
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
An active pixel image sensor comprising: an array of pixels arranged in a first group and a second group; a first common conductor coupled to the pixels in the first group for conducting control signals; a second common conductor coupled to the pixels in the second group for selectively transmitting signals to processing electronics; each of said pixels including: a plurality of sensing elements, each configured for capturing a portion of energy from an object to be imaged, at least one of said sensing elements being of a type distinct from another of said sensing elements; an amplifying arrangement for selectively receiving signals from the plurality of sensing elements and selectively providing output signals to the second common conductor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
An active pixel image sensor comprising: a plurality of pixels each for converting a portion of an image to an electronic signal, said plurality of pixels including peripheral pixels and interior pixels, each of said pixels including: a plurality of sensing elements, each configured for capturing a portion of energy from an object to be imaged, at least one of said sensing elements being of a type distinct from another of said sensing elements; and an amplifying arrangement for receiving signals from selected ones of said at least one sensing element and for providing output signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The sensor of claim 1 or 2 wherein at least one of said sensing elements is a photodiode sensing element and another of said sensing elements is a photogate sensing element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The sensor of claim 3 wherein said photodiode sensing element is configured for capturing a first portion of energy and said photogate sensing element is configured for capturing a second portion of energy different from said first portion of energy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The sensor of claim 4 wherein said first portion of energy substantially corresponds to blue light.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The sensor of claim 4 or 5 further comprising a second photogate sensing element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The sensor of claim 1 or 2 wherein said plurality of sensing elements comprises first, second and third sensing elements respectively configured for capturing portions of energy corresponding to red, green and blue light, said third sensing element being a photodiode sensing element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The sensor of claim 1 or 2 wherein the active pixel has an N-channel configuration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The sensor of claim 1 or 2 wherein the amplifying arrangement comprises a voltage follower transistor electrically connected to a select transistor, wherein the voltage follower transistor is electrically coupled to the plurality of sensing elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The sensor of claim 9 when dependent from claim 1 further comprising a reset transistor electrically coupled to the plurality of sensing elements and the first common conductor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The sensor of claim 10 further comprising a load transistor coupled to said voltage follower transistor in a source follower configuration.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The sensor of claim 1 or 9 wherein said amplifying arrangement is CMOS.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The sensor of claim 1, or claim 4 when dependent from claim 1, wherein said first group forms a row and said second group forms a column.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The sensor of claim 13 further comprising a plurality of rows and columns each having a plurality of pixels.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The sensor of claim 1 or 13 wherein said amplifying arrangement comprises an amplifier and a switch for selectively transmitting the output signal from the amplifier to the second common conductor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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