CN108495064B - Pixel circuit and image sensor device - Google Patents

Pixel circuit and image sensor device Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CN108495064B
CN108495064B CN201810657593.7A CN201810657593A CN108495064B CN 108495064 B CN108495064 B CN 108495064B CN 201810657593 A CN201810657593 A CN 201810657593A CN 108495064 B CN108495064 B CN 108495064B
Authority
CN
China
Prior art keywords
transistor
conversion gain
pixel circuit
image sensor
transmission
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
CN201810657593.7A
Other languages
Chinese (zh)
Other versions
CN108495064A (en
Inventor
王欣
高哲
石文杰
任冠京
邵泽旭
徐辰
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
SmartSens Technology Shanghai Co Ltd
Original Assignee
SmartSens Technology Shanghai Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by SmartSens Technology Shanghai Co Ltd filed Critical SmartSens Technology Shanghai Co Ltd
Priority to CN201810657593.7A priority Critical patent/CN108495064B/en
Publication of CN108495064A publication Critical patent/CN108495064A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CN108495064B publication Critical patent/CN108495064B/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N25/00Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof
    • H04N25/70SSIS architectures; Circuits associated therewith
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N25/00Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof
    • H04N25/70SSIS architectures; Circuits associated therewith
    • H04N25/76Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors

Abstract

The present invention provides a pixel circuit employing a plurality of transfer transistors: a high conversion gain pass transistor and one or more low conversion gain pass transistors. The pixel circuit comprises a reset transistor, a double conversion gain transistor, a capacitor, a high conversion gain transmission transistor, a low conversion gain transmission transistor and an output unit. The output unit includes an amplifying transistor and a row selecting transistor. The pixel circuit also includes an anti-overflow transistor for controlling the full well signal. The one or more low conversion gain transfer transistors form one or more transfer branches, each connected to the photodiode. The plurality of low conversion gain transmission transistors may be connected to a plurality of transmission branches, respectively, or sequentially connected to the same transmission branch. The invention also provides an image sensor device comprising the pixel circuit.

Description

Pixel circuit and image sensor device
Technical Field
The present invention relates to an image sensor device, and more particularly, to a pixel circuit employing a plurality of transfer transistors and an image sensor device.
Background
In a typical CMOS image sensor circuit, a transfer transistor is used to transfer electrons generated by a photo-effect from a photosensitive element, such as a photodiode PD, to a floating diffusion node FD, and fig. 1 is a prior art pixel circuit. In different application environments, such as a low light scene and a high light scene, the sensitivity of the image sensor device in the low light scene is relatively weak, and in order to improve the signal read out in the low light scene to reach the signal in the high light scene, a dual-gain pixel design mode is generally adopted. In a low light scene, the pixel circuit of the image sensor operates in a high conversion gain mode, and the sensitivity is high. In high light scenes, the pixel circuits of the image sensor operate in a low conversion gain mode with relatively low sensitivity, but are able to read out more signals.
In large pixel (pixel array) image sensor circuit designs, where the photodiodes have many full well signals, large-sized transfer transistors are required to complete the signal transfer. This can cause other problems, such as a large parasitic capacitance at the floating diffusion point, a high conversion gain, and reduced maximum sensitivity, thereby limiting normal use in low light scenes.
In order to solve the problems, the invention provides a high-performance pixel design circuit and an image sensor device, which are used for improving the sensitivity of the image sensor device in a low light scene, not increasing the parasitic capacitance of a floating diffusion point, improving the conversion gain of a circuit and improving the full-well signal control.
Disclosure of Invention
The invention aims to provide a pixel circuit, which adopts a plurality of transmission transistors: a high conversion gain pass transistor and one or more low conversion gain pass transistors, the pixel circuit comprising:
a reset transistor, the drain of which is connected with a first voltage source, and resets the circuit and the floating diffusion point voltage according to a reset control signal;
a dual conversion gain transistor connected between the reset transistor and a floating diffusion point;
a capacitor having one pole connected between the reset transistor and the dual conversion gain transistor;
a photodiode for converting incident light into electrons in a photoelectric effect;
a high conversion gain transfer transistor connected between the photodiode and the floating diffusion point, for transferring electrons output from the photodiode to the floating diffusion point in a low light scene;
one or more low conversion gain transfer transistors connected to the photodiode to transfer electrons output from the photodiode together with the high conversion gain transfer transistor in a low light scene;
an output unit including an amplifying transistor having a drain connected to a first voltage source, a drain connected to the floating diffusion point, and a source output connected to the row select transistor; the row select transistor connects the pixel circuit signal to an output to a column line; the amplifying transistor may be a source follower transistor;
optionally, the pixel circuit further includes an anti-overflow transistor connected to the photodiode for performing full well control on the photodiode;
optionally, the anti-overflow transistor is connected to the first voltage source or to a separate second voltage source;
optionally, the plurality of low conversion gain transmission transistors form one or more transmission branches, and the plurality of low conversion gain transmission transistors are respectively arranged in different transmission branches or in the same transmission branch; the one or more transmission branches are respectively connected to the photodiodes;
optionally, the capacitor is a device capacitor or a parasitic capacitor of a connection point of the reset transistor and the dual conversion gain transistor to ground; the appointed voltage connected with the other electrode of the device capacitor is an appointed voltage value or a ground terminal.
The invention also provides an image sensor device which comprises a pixel array formed by a plurality of pixel circuits which are arranged in rows and columns;
the image sensor device further includes peripheral circuitry to control and process the output of the pixel array.
The pixel circuit and the image sensor device provided by the invention work under a low light scene, and the high conversion gain transmission transistor can effectively improve the conversion gain and the sensitivity of the pixel circuit; the low conversion gain transmission transistor and the high conversion gain transmission transistor work in a high light scene, and can fully transmit circuit signals. Meanwhile, the pixel circuit and the image sensor device can also realize full-well control of the photodiode, prevent signal overflow and effectively improve the pixel quality of the pixel circuit and the image sensor device.
Drawings
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a pixel circuit of an image sensor in the prior art;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a pixel circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a timing diagram of a pixel circuit according to an embodiment of the invention;
fig. 4 is a block diagram of a pixel circuit according to a second embodiment of the present invention; a kind of electronic device with high-pressure air-conditioning system
Fig. 5 is a block diagram of a pixel circuit according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
Detailed Description
The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a pixel circuit according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and fig. 3 is a timing diagram of the pixel circuit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in fig. 2, the high conversion gain transfer transistor tx_hcg and the low conversion gain transfer transistor tx_lcg are respectively connected to the photodiode PD, and transfer and output electrons generated by the photoelectric effect of the photodiode PD from the incident light. The high conversion gain transfer transistor tx_hcg is connected to the floating diffusion FD, and the low conversion gain transfer transistor tx_lcg is connected to the connection point of the reset transistor RST and the dual conversion gain transistor DCG. The capacitor C may be a device capacitor or a parasitic capacitance of the junction of the reset transistor RST and the dual conversion gain transistor DCG. The other pole of the device capacitance C may be connected to a fixed voltage or ground, depending on the application. In conjunction with the circuit timing shown in fig. 3, the implementation procedure of the pixel circuit according to the first embodiment of the present invention is as follows:
firstly, a reset transistor RST, a double conversion gain transistor DCG, a high conversion gain transmission transistor TX_HCG and a low conversion gain transmission transistor TX_LCG are all set to be high level, and each transistor is conducted to reset a circuit and a photodiode PD;
the pulse light source is turned on to expose the photodiode PD, a control signal of the reset transistor RST is set to be low level when the exposure is finished, a control signal of the double conversion gain transistor DCG is set to be high level, the double conversion gain transistor DCG is conducted, charges stored in the capacitor C are transferred to the floating diffusion point FD, the row selection transistor RS is conducted, and the pixel circuit outputs a reference voltage VL0 when the conversion gain is low;
the control signal of the dual conversion gain transistor DCG is set to a low level, the control signal of the row selection transistor RS is set to a high level, the dual conversion gain transistor DCG is turned off, the row selection transistor RS is turned on, and the pixel circuit outputs a reference voltage VH0 when the conversion gain is high;
the photodiode integration process is finished, the control signal of the high conversion gain transmission transistor TX_HCG is set to be high level, the control signal of the row selection transistor RS is set to be high level, and the row selection transistor RS is conducted; the high conversion gain transfer transistor tx_hcg transfers electrons to the floating diffusion FD, outputting the high conversion gain time signal voltage VH1 via the row selection transistor RS;
setting the control signal of the dual conversion gain transistor DCG, the control signal of the high conversion gain transmission transistor tx_hcg and the control signal of the low conversion gain transmission transistor tx_lcg to be high levels, respectively turning on the dual conversion gain transistor DCG, the high conversion gain transmission transistor tx_hcg and the low conversion gain transmission transistor tx_lcg, and respectively transferring charges output by the high conversion gain transmission transistor tx_hcg and the low conversion gain transmission transistor tx_lcg and charges in the capacitor C to the floating diffusion point FD;
the control signal of the row select transistor RS is set to a high level, the row select transistor RS is turned on, and the pixel circuit outputs a low conversion gain signal VL1 from the floating diffusion FD.
Correlation operations are performed on VL0, VL1, VH0, and VH1, respectively, to obtain signal voltages vl=vl 1-VL0 in the low conversion gain mode, and signal voltages vh=vh 1-VH0 in the high conversion gain mode. By processing the image signals in different gain modes, a frame of high-quality image signal can be obtained.
In the application of the pixel circuit shown in fig. 2, the high conversion gain transmission transistor generally works under the low light scene, so that the conversion gain and the sensitivity of the pixel circuit can be effectively improved; the low conversion gain transmission transistor and the high conversion gain transmission transistor work in a high light scene, and can fully transmit circuit signals.
Fig. 4 is a pixel circuit according to a second embodiment of the present invention, which is different from the first embodiment in that the pixel circuit further includes an anti-overflow transistor AB connected to the photodiode PD, and is mainly used for controlling the full-well signal of the photodiode PD to avoid crosstalk between pixels caused by the overflow signal, which affects the image quality output by the pixel circuit. In the second embodiment, the voltage source connected to the anti-overflow transistor AB may be the same as the first voltage source VDD of the reset transistor RST, or separate voltage sources may be used. As shown in fig. 4, the voltage source connected to the anti-overflow transistor AB is VDD0, and the voltage source connected to the reset transistor RST is VDD1. The implementation of the circuit in fig. 4 is similar to that of the first embodiment shown in fig. 2 and 3, and will not be described again.
Fig. 5 is a pixel circuit according to a third embodiment of the present invention, which includes a plurality of low conversion gain transmission transistors tx_lcg transmission branches, as two branches are shown in the figure, unlike the first and second embodiments. As shown in fig. 5, the low conversion gain transfer transistors of the two branches are connected to the photodiodes PD, respectively, and transfer charges generated by the photoelectric effect after the exposure of the photodiodes PD, respectively. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of low conversion gain transmission transistors tx_lcg are sequentially connected and arranged in the same transmission branch, for example, tx_lcg1, tx_lcg2, tx_lcg3 and … are not shown in the present example.
The present invention also provides an image sensor device including the pixel circuit described in each of the above embodiments. The image sensor device includes the pixel circuit array provided in the above-described embodiments in which a plurality of rows and columns are arranged. The image sensor device further includes peripheral circuits for mainly controlling and processing the outputs of the pixel circuits.
Examples given in the embodiments of the present invention include, but are not limited to, the explanation and illustration of the summary of the invention presented. The above examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. Reasonable revisions or modifications may be made to the embodiments of the invention that fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims (14)

1. A pixel circuit employing a plurality of transfer transistors, the pixel circuit comprising:
a reset transistor, the drain of which is connected with a first voltage source;
a dual conversion gain transistor connected between the reset transistor and a floating diffusion point;
a capacitor connected between the reset transistor and the dual conversion gain transistor;
a photodiode for converting light into electrons in a photoelectric effect;
a high conversion gain transfer transistor connected between the photodiode and the floating diffusion point;
one or more low conversion gain transmission transistors forming one or more transmission branches, one ends of the one or more transmission branches being respectively connected to the photodiodes, and the other ends of the one or more transmission branches being respectively connected to connection points of the reset transistor and the dual conversion gain transistor; a kind of electronic device with high-pressure air-conditioning system
And an output unit including an amplifying transistor and a row selecting transistor, outputting the pixel circuit signal to a column line.
2. The pixel circuit of claim 1, further comprising a spill-resistant transistor, the spill-resistant transistor coupled to the photodiode.
3. A pixel circuit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of low conversion gain transfer transistors are arranged in the same transfer branch or in different transfer branches respectively.
4. The pixel circuit of claim 2, wherein the anti-overflow transistor is connected to the first voltage source or to a separate second voltage source.
5. A pixel circuit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the amplifying transistor of the output unit is a source follower transistor.
6. A pixel circuit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the capacitance is a device capacitance or a parasitic capacitance of a junction of the reset transistor and the dual conversion gain transistor to ground.
7. The pixel circuit of claim 6, wherein one pole of the device capacitance is connected to a specified voltage or ground.
8. An image sensor device comprising an array of a plurality of pixel circuits arranged in rows and columns, the pixel circuits comprising:
a reset transistor, the drain of which is connected with a first voltage source;
a dual conversion gain transistor connected between the reset transistor and a floating diffusion point;
a capacitor connected between the reset transistor and the dual conversion gain transistor;
a photodiode for converting light into electrons in a photoelectric effect;
a high conversion gain transfer transistor connected between the photodiode and the floating diffusion point;
one or more low conversion gain transmission transistors forming one or more transmission branches, one ends of the one or more transmission branches being respectively connected to the photodiodes, and the other ends of the one or more transmission branches being respectively connected to connection points of the reset transistor and the dual conversion gain transistor;
an output unit including an amplifying transistor and a row selecting transistor, outputting the pixel circuit signal to a column line; a kind of electronic device with high-pressure air-conditioning system
And the peripheral circuit is used for controlling and processing the pixel circuit.
9. The image sensor device of claim 8, wherein the pixel circuit further comprises a spill-resistant transistor, the spill-resistant transistor being connected to the photodiode.
10. The image sensor device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the plurality of low conversion gain transfer transistors are disposed in the same transfer branch or are disposed in different transfer branches, respectively.
11. The image sensor device of claim 9, wherein the anti-blooming transistor is connected to the first voltage source or to a separate second voltage source.
12. The image sensor device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the amplifying transistor of the output unit is a source follower transistor.
13. The image sensor apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the capacitance is a device capacitance or a parasitic capacitance of a connection point of the reset transistor and the dual conversion gain transistor to ground.
14. The image sensor apparatus of claim 13, one pole of the device capacitance connected to a specified voltage or ground.
CN201810657593.7A 2018-06-20 2018-06-20 Pixel circuit and image sensor device Active CN108495064B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN201810657593.7A CN108495064B (en) 2018-06-20 2018-06-20 Pixel circuit and image sensor device

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN201810657593.7A CN108495064B (en) 2018-06-20 2018-06-20 Pixel circuit and image sensor device

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CN108495064A CN108495064A (en) 2018-09-04
CN108495064B true CN108495064B (en) 2023-12-15

Family

ID=63342947

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CN201810657593.7A Active CN108495064B (en) 2018-06-20 2018-06-20 Pixel circuit and image sensor device

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CN (1) CN108495064B (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN110493546B (en) * 2019-09-05 2021-08-17 锐芯微电子股份有限公司 CMOS image sensor, pixel unit and control method thereof
CN110996023B (en) * 2019-12-12 2022-05-06 思特威(上海)电子科技股份有限公司 Clamping method based on reset transistor potential control in pixel circuit

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN1833429A (en) * 2003-06-11 2006-09-13 微米技术有限公司 Dual conversion gain imagers
CN102970493A (en) * 2011-08-30 2013-03-13 全视科技有限公司 Multilevel reset voltage for multi-conversion gain image sensor
CN104144305A (en) * 2013-05-10 2014-11-12 江苏思特威电子科技有限公司 Dual-conversion gain imaging device and imaging method thereof
CN208227176U (en) * 2018-06-20 2018-12-11 上海晔芯电子科技有限公司 Pixel circuit and image sensor apparatus

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8077237B2 (en) * 2007-10-16 2011-12-13 Aptina Imaging Corporation Method and apparatus for controlling dual conversion gain signal in imaging devices
US8026968B2 (en) * 2008-04-11 2011-09-27 Aptina Imaging Corporation Method and apparatus providing dynamic boosted control signal for a pixel
TWI456990B (en) * 2011-04-08 2014-10-11 Pixart Imaging Inc High dynamic range imager circuit and method for reading high dynamic range image
US20130256510A1 (en) * 2012-03-29 2013-10-03 Omnivision Technologies, Inc. Imaging device with floating diffusion switch
US9900481B2 (en) * 2015-11-25 2018-02-20 Semiconductor Components Industries, Llc Imaging pixels having coupled gate structure
US10044960B2 (en) * 2016-05-25 2018-08-07 Omnivision Technologies, Inc. Systems and methods for detecting light-emitting diode without flickering
US9942492B2 (en) * 2016-06-16 2018-04-10 Semiconductor Components Industries, Llc Image sensors having high dynamic range functionalities
JP6832649B2 (en) * 2016-08-17 2021-02-24 ブリルニクス インク Solid-state image sensor, solid-state image sensor drive method, and electronic equipment
US10110840B2 (en) * 2016-10-25 2018-10-23 Semiconductor Components Industries, Llc Image sensor pixels with overflow capabilities

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN1833429A (en) * 2003-06-11 2006-09-13 微米技术有限公司 Dual conversion gain imagers
CN102970493A (en) * 2011-08-30 2013-03-13 全视科技有限公司 Multilevel reset voltage for multi-conversion gain image sensor
CN104144305A (en) * 2013-05-10 2014-11-12 江苏思特威电子科技有限公司 Dual-conversion gain imaging device and imaging method thereof
CN208227176U (en) * 2018-06-20 2018-12-11 上海晔芯电子科技有限公司 Pixel circuit and image sensor apparatus

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
如何为视频监控应用选择合适的图像传感器;Cliff Cheng;;集成电路应用(第11期);全文 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN108495064A (en) 2018-09-04

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US10608101B2 (en) Detection circuit for photo sensor with stacked substrates
US7256382B2 (en) Solid state imaging device, method of driving solid state imaging device and image pickup apparatus
US9247170B2 (en) Triple conversion gain image sensor pixels
US7511275B2 (en) Semiconductor device, and control method and device for driving unit component of semiconductor device
US9848140B2 (en) Horizontal banding reduction with ramp generator isolation in an image sensor
US20130256510A1 (en) Imaging device with floating diffusion switch
US8687246B2 (en) Solid-state imaging apparatus and imaging system
US8969775B2 (en) High dynamic range pixel having a plurality of amplifier transistors
KR102553988B1 (en) Solid-state imaging element, and imaging device
US20130113966A1 (en) Solid-state imaging apparatus
US20120314109A1 (en) Solid-state imaging device and camera
CN108419032B (en) HDR image sensor pixel structure supporting multiple exposure modes and imaging system
JP6413401B2 (en) Solid-state image sensor
TW201904269A (en) Low noise complementary gold-oxygen half-image sensor with stacked architecture
US8604407B2 (en) Dual conversion gain pixel methods, systems, and apparatus
US9172893B2 (en) Solid-state imaging device and imaging apparatus
US10827143B2 (en) CMOS image sensor clamping method with divided bit lines
TW202025713A (en) Solid-state imaging device and electronic apparatus
CN108495064B (en) Pixel circuit and image sensor device
CN208227176U (en) Pixel circuit and image sensor apparatus
US20120267695A1 (en) Solid state imaging device
US10979657B2 (en) Image sensor circuit with reduced noise interference and control method thereof
US10560647B2 (en) Driver circuit, driving method, active pixel sensor, image sensor, and electronic device
US20240089623A1 (en) Image sensor with high dynamic range and low noise
EP3445039B1 (en) Detection circuit for photo sensor with stacked substrates

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PB01 Publication
PB01 Publication
SE01 Entry into force of request for substantive examination
SE01 Entry into force of request for substantive examination
CB02 Change of applicant information
CB02 Change of applicant information

Address after: Room 612, 6th floor, No. 111 Building, Xiangke Road, Shanghai Pudong New Area Free Trade Pilot Area, 201203

Applicant after: Siteway (Shanghai) Electronic Technology Co.,Ltd.

Address before: Room 612, 6th floor, No. 111 Building, Xiangke Road, Shanghai Pudong New Area Free Trade Pilot Area, 201203

Applicant before: SHANGHAI YE XIN ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY CO.,LTD.

CB02 Change of applicant information
CB02 Change of applicant information

Address after: Room 612, 6th floor, No. 111 Building, Xiangke Road, Shanghai Pudong New Area Free Trade Pilot Area, 201203

Applicant after: Starway (Shanghai) Electronic Technology Co.,Ltd.

Address before: Room 612, 6th floor, No. 111 Building, Xiangke Road, Shanghai Pudong New Area Free Trade Pilot Area, 201203

Applicant before: Siteway (Shanghai) Electronic Technology Co.,Ltd.

GR01 Patent grant
GR01 Patent grant