Patents by Inventor Denver Lloyd

Denver Lloyd has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11765474
    Abstract: In an embodiment a pixel arrangement includes at least one photodiode configured to convert electromagnetic radiation into a respective charge signal, a transfer gate between the photodiode and a capacitance for transferring the respective charge signal to the capacitance, a reset gate electrically coupled to the capacitance, the reset gate configured to reset the capacitance, an amplifier electrically connected to the capacitance and configured to generate, based on the respective charge signal and on a sensitivity mode, a respective amplified signal being a low sensitivity signal or a high sensitivity signal, respectively, wherein the low sensitivity signal and the high sensitivity signal are based on a common noise level, a first capacitor configured to store the high sensitivity signal, a second capacitor configured to store the low sensitivity signal, a first switch between an output terminal of the amplifier and the first capacitor and a second switch between the output terminal of the amplifier and the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignees: ams Sensors USA Inc., ams Sensors Belgium BVBA
    Inventors: Denver Lloyd, Adi Xhakoni, Scott Johnson
  • Patent number: 11696048
    Abstract: A pixel arrangement comprises a photodiode, a circuit node, a transfer transistor coupled to the photodiode and to the circuit node, an amplifier with an input coupled to the circuit node, a first and a second capacitor, a first transistor coupled to an output of the amplifier and to the first capacitor, a second transistor coupled to the first transistor and to the second capacitor, and a coupling transistor coupled to the circuit node and to the second capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: ams Sensors USA Inc.
    Inventors: Muhammad Maksudur Rahman, Denver Lloyd, Scott Johnson, Adi Xhakoni
  • Patent number: 11671719
    Abstract: A pixel arrangement comprises a photodiode, a circuit node, a transfer transistor coupled to the photodiode and to the circuit node, an amplifier with an input coupled to the circuit node, a first and a second capacitor, a first transistor coupled to an output of the amplifier and to the first capacitor, a second transistor coupled to the first transistor and to the second capacitor, and a coupling transistor coupled to the circuit node and to the second capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: ams Sensors USA Inc.
    Inventors: Muhammad Maksudur Rahman, Denver Lloyd, Scott Johnson, Adi Xhakoni
  • Patent number: 11647304
    Abstract: Some image sensors include pixels with capacitors. The capacitor may be used to store charge in the imaging pixel before readout. The capacitor may be a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor that is susceptible to dielectric relaxation. Dielectric relaxation may cause lag in the signal on the capacitor that impacts the signal on the capacitor during sampling. The image sensor may include dielectric relaxation correction circuitry that leverages the linear relationship between voltage stress and lag signal to correct for dielectric relaxation. The image sensor may include shielded pixels that operate with a similar timing scheme as the imaging pixels in the active array. Measured lag signals from the shielded pixels may be used to correct imaging data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Denver Lloyd, Manuel H. Innocent
  • Publication number: 20230051657
    Abstract: In an embodiment a pixel arrangement includes a photodetector configured to accumulate charge carriers by converting electromagnetic radiation, a transfer transistor electrically coupled to the photodetector, a diffusion node electrically coupled to the transfer transistor, a reset transistor electrically coupled to the diffusion node and to a pixel supply voltage and a sample-and-hold stage including at least a first capacitor and a second capacitor, an input of the sample-and-hold stage being electrically coupled to the diffusion node via an amplifier, wherein the transfer transistor is configured to be pulsed to different voltage levels for transferring parts of the accumulated charge carriers to the diffusion node, wherein at least the second capacitor is configured to store a low conversion gain signal representing a first part of the accumulated charge carriers, and wherein the first capacitor is configured to store a high conversion gain signal representing a remaining part of the accumulated charge ca
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Denver Lloyd, Adi Xhakoni, Scott Johnson
  • Publication number: 20230049844
    Abstract: In an embodiment a pixel arrangement includes at least one photodiode configured to convert electromagnetic radiation into a respective charge signal, a transfer gate between the photodiode and a capacitance for transferring the respective charge signal to the capacitance, a reset gate electrically coupled to the capacitance, the reset gate configured to reset the capacitance, an amplifier electrically connected to the capacitance and configured to generate, based on the respective charge signal and on a sensitivity mode, a respective amplified signal being a low sensitivity signal or a high sensitivity signal, respectively, wherein the low sensitivity signal and the high sensitivity signal are based on a common noise level, a first capacitor configured to store the high sensitivity signal, a second capacitor configured to store the low sensitivity signal, a first switch between an output terminal of the amplifier and the first capacitor and a second switch between the output terminal of the amplifier and the
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Denver Lloyd, Adi Xhakoni, Scott Johnson
  • Publication number: 20220286632
    Abstract: Some image sensors include pixels with capacitors. The capacitor may be used to store charge in the imaging pixel before readout. The capacitor may be a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor that is susceptible to dielectric relaxation. Dielectric relaxation may cause lag in the signal on the capacitor that impacts the signal on the capacitor during sampling. The image sensor may include dielectric relaxation correction circuitry that leverages the linear relationship between voltage stress and lag signal to correct for dielectric relaxation. The image sensor may include shielded pixels that operate with a similar timing scheme as the imaging pixels in the active array. Measured lag signals from the shielded pixels may be used to correct imaging data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Denver LLOYD, Manuel H. INNOCENT
  • Patent number: 11336848
    Abstract: Some image sensors include pixels with capacitors. The capacitor may be used to store charge in the imaging pixel before readout. The capacitor may be a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor that is susceptible to dielectric relaxation. Dielectric relaxation may cause lag in the signal on the capacitor that impacts the signal on the capacitor during sampling. The image sensor may include dielectric relaxation correction circuitry that leverages the linear relationship between voltage stress and lag signal to correct for dielectric relaxation. The image sensor may include shielded pixels that operate with a similar timing scheme as the imaging pixels in the active array. Measured lag signals from the shielded pixels may be used to correct imaging data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Denver Lloyd, Manuel H. Innocent