Patent ID: 7541571
Filing Date: 2009-06-02
Classification: H01L,H04N

Abstract:
1. An image sensor comprising a pixel array in which a plurality of unit pixels are arranged in two dimensions, wherein each unit pixel comprises a photoelectric converter formed in a semiconductor substrate to generate charges and integrate the charges resulting from incident light, a first charge transmitter transmitting integrated charges to a charge detector, an overflow drain region discharging excess charges generated by the photoelectric converter, and a second charge transmitter transmitting the excess charges to the overflow drain region and having a width which is at least half of a span of the photoelectric converter, and the photoelectric converters of the plurality of unit pixels share the overflow drain region via second charge transmitters of the plurality of unit pixels, wherein the overflow drain region is disposed substantially between the second charge transmitters of the photoelectric converters, wherein the photoelectric converters of a plurality of unit pixels share the charge detector via first charge transmitters of the plurality of unit pixels, and wherein a first photoelectric converter shares a respective overflow drain region with a second adjacent photoelectric converter and a respective charge detector with a third adjacent photoelectric converter, the first, second, and third photoelectric converters being disposed in one of a row or column, wherein adjacent photoelectric converters do not share both the charge detector and the overflow drain region.