Patent ID: 9040890
Filing Date: 2015-05-26
Classification: H01L,H04N

Abstract:
1. An image sensor having active-pixels formed in a semiconductor substrate, each active-pixel comprising, at the surface of a semiconductor active layer, a photodiode region, a charge storage node, a read transistor for reading the charges stored in the storage node, a reset transistor for resetting the potential of the storage node, and a transfer structure for transferring charges from the photodiode region to the storage node after a charge integration time for charges generated by light in the photodiode region, wherein the transfer structure comprises: a first transfer gate adjacent to the photodiode region, a second transfer gate adjacent to the storage node, an amplifying structure located between the first and second transfer gates and comprising two separate accelerating gates, an intermediate diode region at a fixed surface potential, located between the two accelerating gates, means for firstly applying to the first transfer gate a first transfer pulse for charge transfer from the first transfer gate to at least one first accelerating gate, means for then applying to the accelerating gates a succession of alternating high and low potentials for successive charge transfer from one accelerating gate to the other through the intermediate diode region, and means for then applying to the second transfer gate a second transfer pulse for charge transfer from the accelerating gates to the storage node.