Patent ID: 6069376
Filing Date: 2000-05-30
Classification: H01L,H04N

Abstract:
A storage pixel sensor disposed on a semiconductor substrate comprising:a capacitive storage element comprising a MOS capacitor having a diffusion terminal and a gate terminal;a speed node connected to said diffusion terminal, said speed node biased at either a first control potential or a second control potential, said first control potential selected to keep said MOS capacitor in a state of inversion, and said second control potential selected to keep said MOS capacitor in a state of depletion;a photodiode having a first terminal and a second terminal, said first terminal connected to a reference potential;a semiconductor reset switch having a first terminal connected to said second terminal of said photodiode, a second terminal connected to a reset reference potential that reverse biases said photodiode, and a control element connected to a control circuit for selectively activating said semiconductor reset switch;a semiconductor transfer switch having a first terminal connected to said second terminal of said photodiode, a second terminal connected to said gate terminal of said capacitive storage element, and a control element connected to said control circuit for selectively activating said semiconductor transfer switch;a semiconductor amplifier having an input and an output, said input connected to said gate terminal of said capacitive storage element;a light shield disposed over a portion of the semiconductor substrate including said second terminal of said semiconductor transfer switch to prevent substantially all photons from entering said portion of said semiconductor substrate; andminority carrier rejection means for preventing substantially all minority carriers generated in said semiconductor substrate from entering said second terminal of said semiconductor transfer switch.