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Samsung patents image sensor design with shared charge storage

Samsung has been granted a patent for an image sensor layout where multiple light sensors share a common storage area for electrical charges. The design connects specific groups of sensors together to combine their signals before reading them out.

Why it mattersThis technical improvement in sensor architecture could help cameras capture images with better quality or efficiency by optimizing how light data is processed.

In the filing’s own words

A pixel array and an image sensor including the pixel array are provided. The pixel array included in the image sensor includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, and a plurality of column lines each commonly connected to pixels arranged on a same column from among the plurality of pixels. Each of the plurality of pixels includes four subpixels. Each of the four subpixels includes four photoelectric conversion devices; a floating diffusion region storing electric charges generated by the four photoelectric conversion devices; and four transmission gates configured to transmit the electric charges generated by the four photoelectric conversion devices to the floating diffusion region. Four floating diffusion regions included in the four subpixels are electrically connected to one another via internal wiring. Each of the plurality of pixels further includes a reset gate, a first driving gate and a first selection gate.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. An image sensor comprising: a substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface; a first pixel comprising first-four photoelectric conversion devices (PDs) and a first floating diffusion (FD) region shared by the first-four PDs in the substrate; a second pixel comprising second-four PDs and a second FD region shared by the second-four PDs in the substrate; a third pixel comprising third-four PDs and a third FD region shared by the third-four PDs in the substrate; a fourth pixel comprising fourth-four PDs and a fourth FD region shared by the fourth-four PDs in the substrate; a fifth pixel comprising sixteen PDs arranged in a 4×4 matrix in the substrate; a green color filter on the sixteen PDs of the fifth pixel; and a red color filter on the first to fourth pixels, wherein the first to fourth pixels are arranged in a clockwise direction, wherein the first FD region is connected to the fourth FD region through a first internal wiring, wherein the second FD region is connected to the third FD region through a second internal wiring, wherein the fifth pixel is disposed directly adjacent to the second and third pixels, and wherein each of the first-four PDs to the fourth-four PDs are arranged in a 2×2 matrix.

Facts

Company
Samsung (Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.)
Official title
Pixel array and image sensor including the same
Patent number
US12751097B2
Application number
18954456
Filed
Nov 20, 2024
Granted
Sep 29, 2026
Inventors
2
Claims
18

Classified under

H10F 39/802 Electricity & electronicsH04N 25/75 Electricity & electronicsH04N 25/772 Electricity & electronicsH04N 25/78 Electricity & electronicsH10F 39/8053 Electricity & electronicsH10F 39/8063 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.