Abstract: An image sensor that has one or more pixels within a pixel array. The pixels are arranged within a plurality of rows within the array. Each row of the pixel array can be selected by a row decoder in response to an edge of a control signal. The control signal may be one of a plurality of signals generated by a processor coupled to the image sensor. The processor can control the exposure time of the pixels by varying the control signals. The control signals may also have an embedded narrow pulse that is used to determine the location of a “window” in the pixel array.

Abstract: An image sensor pixel that includes a photoelectric conversion unit supported by a substrate and an insulator adjacent to the substrate. The pixel includes a light guide that is located within an opening of the insulator and extends above the insulator such that a portion of the light guide has an air interface. The air interface improves the internal reflection of the light guide. Additionally, the light guide and an adjacent color filter are constructed with a process that optimizes the upper aperture of the light guide. These characteristics of the light guide eliminate the need for a microlens.

Abstract: An image sensor pixel that includes a photoelectric conversion unit (102) supported by a substrate (106) and an insulator (110) adjacent to the substrate. The pixel includes a cascaded light guide (116,130) that is located within an opening of the insulator and extends above the insulator such that a portion (130) of the cascaded light guide has an air interface (424). The air interface improves the internal reflection of the cascaded light guide. The cascaded light guide may include a self-aligned color filter (114B,114G) having, air-gaps (.422). between adjacent color filters. These characteristics of the light guide eliminate the need for a microlens. Additionally, an anti-reflection stack (230) is interposed between the substrate (106) and the light guide (116) to reduce backward reflection from the image sensor. Two pixels of having different color filters may have a difference in the thickness of an anti-reflection film within the anti-reflection stack.

Abstract: An image sensor with a plurality of photodiodes that each is adjacent to a first region constructed from a first type of material and comprises a second region constructed from a second type of material. Located between second regions of adjacent photodiodes is a barrier region. The photodiodes are reverse biased to create depletion regions within the substrate. The barrier region limits the lateral growth of the depletion regions and inhibits depletion merger between adjacent photodiodes.

Abstract: An image sensor pixel that includes a photoelectric conversion unit supported by a substrate and an insulator adjacent to the substrate. The pixel includes a cascaded light guide that is located within an opening of the insulator and extends above the insulator such that a portion of the cascaded light guide has an air interface. The air interface improves the internal reflection of the cascaded light guide. The cascaded light guide may include a self-aligned color filter having air-gaps between adjacent color filters. Air-gaps may be sealed from above by a transparent sealing film. The transparent sealing film may have a concave surface over the air-gap to diverge light that crosses the concave surface into the air-gap away from the air-gap into adjacent color filters. These characteristics of the light guide eliminate the need for a microlens.

Abstract: An image sensor pixel that includes a photoelectric conversion unit supported by a substrate and an insulator adjacent to the substrate. The pixel includes a light guide that is located within an opening of the insulator and extends above the insulator such that a portion of the light guide has an air interface. The air interface improves the internal reflection of the light guide. Additionally, the light guide and an adjacent color filter are constructed with a process that optimizes the upper aperture of the light guide. These characteristics of the light guide eliminate the need for a microlens.

Abstract: An image sensor system with an image sensor that generates a first image and a second image. The first and second images are transmitted to a processor in a time overlapping manner. By way of example, the images may be transferred to the processor in an interleaving manner or provided on separate dedicated busses.

Abstract: An image sensor pixel that includes a photoelectric conversion unit supported by a substrate and an insulator adjacent to the substrate. The pixel includes a light guide that is located within an opening of the insulator and extends above the insulator such that a portion of the light guide has an air interface. The air interface improves the internal reflection of the light guide. Additionally, the light guide and an adjacent color filter are constructed with a process that optimizes the upper aperture of the light guide. These characteristics of the light guide eliminate the need for a microlens.

Abstract: An image sensor that has a plurality of pixels within a pixel array coupled to a control circuit and to one or more subtraction circuits. The control circuit may cause an output transistor coupled to a pixel to provide a first reference output signal, a common reset output signal, and a first sense-node reset output signal, between which a subtraction circuit may form a weighted difference to create a noise signal. The control circuit may cause the output transistor to provide a second sense-node reset output signal, a light response output signal and a second reference output signal, between which a subtraction circuit may form a weighted difference to create a normalized light response signal. The light response output signal corresponds to the image that is to be captured by the sensor. The noise signal may be subtracted from the normalized light response signal to generate a denoised signal.

Abstract: An auto focus image system that includes a pixel array coupled to a focus signal generator. The pixel array captures an image that has at least one edge with a width. The focus signal generator may generate a focus signal that is a function of the edge width and/or statistics of edge widths. A processor receives the focus signal and/or the statistics of edge widths and adjust a focus position of a focus lens. The edge width can be determined by various techniques including the use of gradients. A histogram of edge widths may be used to determine whether a particular image is focused or unfocused. A histogram with a large population of thin edge widths is indicative of a focused image.

Abstract: An image sensor having one or more pixels within a pixel array. A vertical signal line across the pixel array conductively connects to a drain terminal of a transistor of one of the pixels. The drain terminal is driven to a first drain voltage via the vertical signal line so that the transistor enters a triode region. A gate of the transistor is placed into a tri-state during the triode region, the gate being at a first gate voltage prior to the tri-state. The drain terminal is driven to a second drain voltage during the tri-state, whereby the gate is capacitively coupled to a second gate voltage. The second drain voltage may be higher than the first drain voltage so as to effectuate a gate voltage boosting for the transistor. The transistor may be a reset transistor having a drain terminal conductively coupled to reset said photodetector.

Abstract: An image sensor that has one or more pixels within a pixel array. The pixel array may be coupled to a control circuit and one or more subtraction circuits. The control circuit may cause each pixel to provide a first reference output signal and a reset output signal. The control circuit may then cause each pixel to provide a light response output signal and a second reference output signal. The light response output signal corresponds to the image that is to be captured by the sensor. The subtraction circuit may provide a difference between the reset output signal and the first reference output signal to create a noise signal that is stored in memory. The subtraction circuit may also provide a difference between the second reference output signal and the light response output signal to create a normalized light response output signal. The noise signal may then be subtracted from the normalized light response output signal to generate the output data of the sensor.

Abstract: An image sensor pixel that includes a photoelectric conversion unit supported by a substrate and an insulator adjacent to the substrate. The pixel includes a light guide that is located within an opening of the insulator and extends above the insulator such that a portion of the light guide has an air interface. The air interface improves the internal reflection of the light guide. Additionally, the light guide and an adjacent color filter are constructed with a process that optimizes the upper aperture of the light guide. These characteristics of the light guide eliminate the need for a microlens.

Abstract: An auto focus image system that includes an image sensor coupled to a controller. The image sensor captures an image that has at least one edge with a width. The controller generates a focus signal that is a function of the edge width. A lens receives the focus signal and adjust a focus. The edge width can be determined by various techniques including the use of gradients. A histogram of edge widths can be used to determine whether a particular image is focused or unfocused. A histogram with a large population of thin edge widths is indicative of a focused image.

Abstract: An image sensor with a pixel array that includes at least one pixel. The sensor may also include a circuit that is connected to the pixel and provides a final image pixel value that is a function of a sampled reset output signal generated from the pixel. The final image pixel value is set to a reserved value if the sampled reset output signal exceeds a threshold. The final image may be a function of first, second and/or third images and a field that provides information on whether the final image includes a first exposure rate, a second exposure rate and/or a third exposure rate.

Abstract: An image sensor with a plurality of photodiodes that each have a first region constructed from a first type of material and a second region constructed from a second type of material. Located adjacent to the first region and between second regions of adjacent photodiodes is a barrier region. The photodiodes are reversed biased to create depletion regions within the first regions. The barrier region limits the lateral growth of the depletions regions and inhibits depletion merger between adjacent photodiodes.

Abstract: A device that analyzes an image. The device includes a circuit that receives an image that includes a plurality of pixels. The circuit creates a histogram of the image and analyzes the histogram to determine an acceptable exposure of the image. The histogram may include a plurality of bins versus a population of pixels associated with each bin. By way of example, the bins may be associated with an intensity of light. The images and histograms may include data defined by low dynamic range number of bits and/or an extended dynamic range number of bits. Certain features and criteria of the image may be determined and analyzed to determine whether the image has an acceptable exposure. If the image is unacceptable, an exposure characteristic can be changed and the process can be repeated until an acceptable image is obtained.

Abstract: An image sensor with a plurality of photodiodes that each have a first region constructed from a first type of material and a second region constructed from a second type of material. Located adjacent to the first region and between second regions of adjacent photodiodes is a barrier region. The photodiodes are reversed biased to create depletion regions within the first regions. The barrier region limits the lateral growth of the depletions regions and inhibits depletion merger between adjacent photodiodes.

Abstract: An image sensor with a plurality of photodiodes that each have a first region constructed from a first type of material and a second region constructed from a second type of material. The photodiodes also have an insulating region between the first and second regions. The photodiodes are arranged in an array. In corner regions of the array, the second regions are offset relative to the insulating regions to capture more photons of incoming light.

Abstract: An image sensor with a light reader circuit coupled to a pixel array. The light reader circuit retrieves a first image and a second image generated by the pixel array. The image sensor may also include a memory controller and/or data interface that transfers the first and second images to an external device in an interleaving manner.