Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090200627 | Image sensor with high conversion efficiency - An image sensor includes a photoelectric converter, a reflector, and a charge carrier guiding region. The reflector is disposed under the photoelectric converter, and the charge carrier guiding region is disposed between the photoelectric converter and the reflector. The reflector reflects incident light passed by the photoelectric converter back through the photoelectric converter for increasing photoelectric conversion efficiency and reduced crosstalk. The charge carrier guiding region dissipates undesired charge carriers for further increasing photoelectric conversion efficiency. | 08-13-2009 |
20090219266 | Pixel circuit arrays - A pixel circuit array may include pixel circuits and/or a global reset transistor that has a first end connected to a second end of a reset transistor and is turned on or off in response a global reset signal. Each pixel circuit may include: a transmission transistor that may receive and/or transmit photocharges through ends of the transmission transistor in response to a transmission control signal; the reset transistor that may have a first end connected to the second end of the transmission transistor and may be turned on or off in response a reset control signal; a source-follower transistor that may receive a signal from the second end of the reset transistor and/or may be turned on or off in response the received signal; and/or a selection transistor that may be connected to the source-follower transistor and/or may be turned on or off in response a selection control signal. | 09-03-2009 |
20100123771 | Pixel circuit, photoelectric converter, and image sensing system including the pixel circuit and the photoelectric converter - Provided are a pixel circuit, a photoelectric converter, and an image sensing system thereof. The pixel circuit includes a photodiode and an output unit. The photodiode generates a first photo charge to detect the distance from an object and a second photo charge to detect the color of the object. The output unit generates at least one depth signal used to detect the distance based on the first photo charge generated by the photodiode, and a color signal used to detect the color of the object based on the second photo charge. | 05-20-2010 |
20100133635 | image sensor and image sensing system including the same - The image sensor and an image sensing system including the same are provided. The image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate, a pixel array formed at a pixel area located in the semiconductor substrate and comprising a plurality of photoelectric converts, a plurality of driver circuits formed at a circuit area defined in the semiconductor substrate. The image sensor includes at least one heat blocker or heat shield. The at least one heat blocker may be formed between the pixel area and the circuit area in the semiconductor substrate. The heat blocker or heat shield may block or dissipate heat generated at the circuit area from being transferred to the pixel area through the semiconductor substrate. The heat blocker or heat shield may be used in image sensors using a back-side illumination sensor (BIS) structure or image sensors using a silicon on insulator (SOI) semiconductor substrate. | 06-03-2010 |
20110018042 | UNIT PIXEL, AND CMOS IMAGE SENSOR HAVING THE SAME - A unit pixel of a CMOS image sensor include a photodiode that transforms light to an electric charge, and accumulates the electric charge, and a plurality of transistors that generate an electric signal based on the accumulated electric charge. The photodiode has a slope shape based on incident angle of the light in a semiconductor substrate. | 01-27-2011 |
20120273855 | UNIT PIXEL, AND CMOS IMAGE SENSOR HAVING THE SAME - A unit pixel of a CMOS image sensor include a photodiode that transforms light to an electric charge, and accumulates the electric charge, and a plurality of transistors that generate an electric signal based on the accumulated electric charge. The photodiode has a slope shape based on incident angle of the light in a semiconductor substrate. | 11-01-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130062500 | IMAGE SENSOR APPARATUS USING SHADED PHOTODETECTOR FOR TIME OF FLIGHT DETERMINATION - A unit pixel for an image sensor includes an accumulation circuit configured to generate an accumulated dark current by accumulating a charge corresponding to a dark current during a time of flight (TOF), the accumulation circuit being optically shaded to generate the dark current, an output voltage generation circuit configured to generate and output an output voltage corresponding to the TOF based on a charge corresponding to the accumulated dark current, a control circuit configured to control an operation of the output voltage generation circuit based on a light signal that is input to the unit pixel after being reflected by an object, the light signal being emitted by a light source, and an initialization circuit configured to initialize the accumulation circuit at a predetermined cycle. | 03-14-2013 |
20130099341 | IMAGE SENSOR FOR STABILIZING A BLACK LEVEL - An image sensor includes first pixels, second pixels and a deep trench. The first pixels are formed in an active region of a semiconductor substrate, and configured to measure photo-charges corresponding to incident light. The second pixels are formed in an optical-black region of the semiconductor substrate, and are configured to measure black levels. The deep trench is formed vertically in a boundary region of the optical-black region, where the boundary region is adjacent to the active region, and configured to block leakage light and diffusion carriers from the active region. | 04-25-2013 |
20130141619 | IMAGE SENSORS AND IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICES INCLUDING THE SAME - An image sensor may include a photodiode configured to convert an optical signal into photogenerated charge, a sensing node adjacent to the photodiode and configured to sense the photogenerated charge, a read-out circuit configured to convert the photogenerated charge into an electrical signal and to output the electrical signal through an output line, and/or at least one capacitor formed between the sensing node and a conversion gain control line. The conversion gain control line corresponding to the at least one capacitor may be selectively connected to a ground line or the output line based on at least one control signal. | 06-06-2013 |
20130188078 | IMAGE SENSOR, OPERATING METHOD THEREOF, AND PORTABLE DEVICE HAVING THE SAME - An image sensor includes a photo detector for accumulating charges in response to an incident light, a storage unit for storing the charges, a first transmission gate for transmitting the charges from the photo detector to the storage unit, a second transmission gate for transmitting the charges from the storage unit to the floating diffusion node, a reset gate for resetting the floating diffusion node in response a reset gate signal, and a coupling circuit connected between the reset gate and the storage unit. | 07-25-2013 |
20130188085 | IMAGE SENSORS HAVING REDUCED DARK CURRENT AND IMAGING DEVICES HAVING THE SAME - An image sensor includes a photo detector for accumulating charges in response to an incident light, a floating diffusion node, a first reset unit connected between a supply voltage node and the floating diffusion node, a transmission unit for transmitting accumulated charges from the photo detector to the floating diffusion node, a source follower output unit for converting charges stored in the floating diffusion node into an output voltage, a first selection unit for outputting the output voltage selectively, and a second selection unit connected between the floating diffusion node and the source follower output unit. Dark current may be reduced or prevented from flowing from the source follower output unit into the floating diffusion node. | 07-25-2013 |
20130201167 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGE SENSOR AND MOBILE DEVICE INCLUDING SAME - A 3D image sensor includes a depth pixel that includes; a photo detector generating photo-charge, first and second floating diffusion regions, a first transfer transistor transferring photo-charge to the first floating diffusion region during a first transfer period in response to a first transfer gate signal, a second transfer transistor transferring photo-charge to the second floating diffusion region during a second transfer period in response to a second transfer gate signal, and an overflow transistor that discharges surplus photo-charge in response to a drive gate signal. Control logic unit controlling operation of the depth pixel includes a first logic element providing the first transfer gate signal, a second logic element providing the second transfer gate signal, and another logic element providing the drive gate signal to the overflow transistor when the first transfer period overlaps, at least in part, the second transfer period. | 08-08-2013 |
20130299934 | PIXEL, PIXEL ARRAY, AND IMAGE SENSOR - A pixel and pixel array for use in an image sensor are provided. The image sensor includes floating sensing nodes symmetrically arranged with respect to a photodiode in each pixel. | 11-14-2013 |
20140002636 | METHOD AND DEVICE OF MEASURING THE DISTANCE TO AN OBJECT | 01-02-2014 |
20140252437 | DEPTH PIXEL INCLUDED IN THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGE SENSOR AND THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGE SENSOR INCLUDING THE SAME - A depth pixel includes a photo detection region, first and second photo gates and first and second floating diffusion regions. The photo detection region collects photo charges based on light reflected by an object. The collected photo charges are drifted in a first direction and a second direction different from the first direction based on an internal electric field in the photo detection region. The first photo gate is activated in response to a first photo control signal. The first floating diffusion region accumulates first photo charges drifted in the first direction if the first photo gate is activated. The second photo gate is activated in response to the first photo control signal. The second floating diffusion region accumulates second photo charges drifted in the second direction if the second photo gate is activated. | 09-11-2014 |
20140313416 | IMAGE SENSOR AND COMPUTING SYSTEM HAVING THE SAME - An image sensor includes a light-electron conversion unit, a signal generation unit, and a selection unit. The light-electron conversion unit generates photo-charges from incident light. The signal generation unit accumulates photo-charges from the converter in a storage node during a detection period, and then generates a first analog signal and a second analog signal during an output period. The analog signals are generated based on an amount of photo-charges accumulated in the storage node. The selection unit generates an image signal based on one of the first analog signal and the second analog signal. | 10-23-2014 |
20150195467 | IMAGE SENSORS AND IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - Provided are an image sensor and an image capturing apparatus including the image sensor. The image sensor includes a pixel array including: multiple sensing pixels outputting image signals respectively corresponding to intensities of incident light; and at least one pair of focusing pixels that are adjacent each other, and each outputting a phase difference of the incident light as a focusing signal; wherein each focusing pixel includes: a semiconductor layer including a photodetecting device accumulating electric charges generated according to absorbed light from among the incident light; a wiring layer formed on a first surface of the semiconductor layer and including wirings; a planarization layer having a first surface on a second surface of the semiconductor layer; a shielding layer formed in the planarization layer to block some of the incident light to be incident to the photodetecting device; and a color filter layer and a micro lens layer. | 07-09-2015 |
20150208006 | IMAGE SENSOR AND METHOD OF CORRECTING OUTPUT SIGNAL OF THE IMAGE SENSOR - A method of processing signals from an image sensor outputting signals from rows of pixels in the image sensor having optical signals, outputting signals from rows of pixels in the image sensor not having optical signals, and correcting the signals from the rows of pixels having optical signals based on the signals corresponding to the rows of pixels not having optical signals. | 07-23-2015 |
20150256769 | IMAGE SENSOR AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - Provided are an image sensor and a method of manufacturing the same. The method may include forming a photo-electric conversion region and a charge storage region in a semiconductor layer; forming a transistor on a front surface of the semiconductor layer; forming a recess by etching a portion of the semiconductor layer between the charge storage region and a rear surface of the semiconductor layer; and forming on a bottom surface of the recess a shield film that blocks light incident on the charge storage region. | 09-10-2015 |
20150279899 | UNIT PIXEL OF IMAGE SENSOR, IMAGE SENSOR INCLUDING THE SAME AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING IMAGE SENSOR - Provided are a unit pixel, an image sensor including the same, a portable electronic device including the same, and a method of manufacturing the same. The method of manufacturing includes: forming a photoelectric conversion region in a substrate; forming, in the substrate, a first floating diffusion region spaced apart from the photoelectric conversion region of the substrate, and a second floating diffusion region spaced apart from the first floating diffusion region; forming a first recess spaced apart from the first floating diffusion region and the second floating diffusion region by removing a portion of the substrate from a first surface of the substrate; filling the first recess to form a dual conversion gain (DCG) gate that extends perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly from the first surface of the substrate; and forming a conductive layer to fill an inside of the first recess. | 10-01-2015 |
20150288900 | Linear-Logarithmic Image Sensors and Electronic Devices Including the Same - A linear-logarithmic image sensor includes a pixel array, a signal generation unit, and a control unit. The pixel array includes at least one unit pixel that generates a leakage signal corresponding to leakage photo-charges and that sequentially generates a first analog signal corresponding to a portion of accumulated photo-charges and a second analog signal corresponding to a whole of the accumulated photo-charges by resetting a floating diffusion node and transferring the accumulated photo-charges from a storage node to the floating diffusion node in response to first and second transfer control signals that are sequentially activated. The signal generation unit includes at least one signal generation block that generates a final analog signal based on the leakage signal, the first analog signal, and the second analog signal. The control unit controls the pixel array and the signal generation unit. | 10-08-2015 |
20150372038 | IMAGE SENSOR AND IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM INCLUDING THE SAME - An image sensor capable of boosting a voltage of a floating diffusion node is provided. The image sensor includes a floating diffusion node and a storage element which are in a semiconductor substrate. The image sensor includes a first light-shielding material formed over the floating diffusion node, and a second light-shielding material formed over the storage diode. The second light-shielding material is separated from the first light-shielding material. The image sensor also includes a first voltage supply line configured to apply a first voltage to the first light-shielding material and a second voltage supply line configured to apply a second voltage lower than the first voltage to the second light-shielding material. | 12-24-2015 |
20150373291 | METHOD OF DRIVING AN IMAGE SENSOR, IMAGE SENSOR EMPLOYING THE SAME, AND PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME - An image sensor includes a pixel array including at least one unit pixel configured to generate accumulated charges, a correlated double sampler configured to perform a correlated double sampling operation to extract an effective signal component based on a signal component and a reset component from the unit pixel for at least first and second read-out periods, the correlated double sampler configured to read out an image signal during the first read-out period and to read out a light noise signal during the second read-out period, an analog-digital converter configured to convert the image signal into a first digital signal and to convert the light noise signal into a second digital signal and an image compensator configured to generate a compensated image signal based on the second digital signal and the first digital signal. | 12-24-2015 |
20160035784 | UNIT PIXEL OF IMAGE SENSOR, IMAGE SENSOR INCLUDING THE SAME AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING IMAGE SENSOR - Provided are a unit pixel, an image sensor including the same, a portable electronic device including the same, and a method of manufacturing the same. The method of manufacturing includes: forming a photoelectric conversion region in a substrate; forming, in the substrate, a first floating diffusion region spaced apart from the photoelectric conversion region of the substrate, and a second floating diffusion region spaced apart from the first floating diffusion region; forming a first recess spaced apart from the first floating diffusion region and the second floating diffusion region by removing a portion of the substrate from a first surface of the substrate; filling the first recess to form a dual conversion gain (DCG) gate that extends perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly from the first surface of the substrate; and forming a conductive layer to fill an inside of the first recess. | 02-04-2016 |
20160037101 | Apparatus and Method for Capturing Images - An apparatus and a method for capturing images are disclosed. The apparatus for capturing images includes an active pixel sensor (APS) array including a plurality of active pixels each including a photo diode and a storage diode, the plurality of active pixels being arranged in an array of N rows and M columns (where N and M are natural numbers of 2 or more), and an image signal processor that corrects an image signal output by the APS array. The APS array includes N pixel sensor rows, and the image signal processor removes noise from the image signal by using image signals that are sequentially output from non-adjacent ones of the pixel sensor rows. | 02-04-2016 |