Abstract:
Methods and apparatuses for reducing dark current and hot pixels in CMOS image sensors. A pixel apparatus includes a photosensor capable of generating dark current, a floating diffusion region coupled to the photosensor by way of a charge transfer transistor, a rest transistor connected between the floating diffusion region and an array pixel supply voltage. The array supply voltage varies between first and second voltages when sampling pixel signals from the pixel.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of CMOS image sensors and, more particularly, to reducing dark current and hot pixels in CMOS image sensors. 
     Image sensors, including complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors and charge-coupled devices (CCD), may be used in many different digital imaging applications to capture scenes. An image sensor may include an array of pixels. Each pixel in the array may include at least a photosensitive element for outputting a signal having a magnitude proportional to the intensity of incident light contacting the photosensitive element. When exposed to incident light to capture a scene, each pixel in the array may output a signal having a magnitude corresponding to an intensity of light at one point in the scene. The signals output from each photosensitive element may be processed to form an image representing the captured scene. 
     As pixels are made smaller, pixel elements may be located closer together in the pixel, resulting in increased risk of cross-talk between adjacent pixels. Further, the supply voltage node must be located close to the photodiode. Shallow trench isolation (STI) regions, which may be dielectric-filled trenches formed in the substrate of the image sensor, may be used to isolate pixels and pixel elements from each other. 
     While helping to electrically isolate pixels and pixel elements, the STI regions may also create problems in the operation of the pixel cell. For example, STI boundaries may have a higher defect density than the substrate, creating a higher density of “trap sites” along the STI boundaries as compared to the silicon/gate oxide interface or silicon surface that can “trap” electrons or holes. Trap sites may result from defects along the silicon dioxide/silicon interface between the STI boundaries and the silicon substrate. For example, dangling bonds or broken bonds along the silicon dioxide/silicon interface may trap electrons or holes. 
     Trapped electrons or holes may generate a proportional current at the trap site. The current generation from trap sites inside or near the photosensor may contribute to dark current (i.e., electrical current in the photosensor in the absence of light) in CMOS image sensors since a constant charge may be leaking in the photodiode. Because the readout circuitry of the image sensor may not distinguish between sources of charge in the photosensitive element, dark current may be added to the magnitude of the signal output from the pixel, thus making the pixel appear brighter in the produced image than that point actually appeared in the scene. Such a pixel may be referred to as a hot pixel. 
     In conventional image sensors, a supply voltage may be applied to the photodiode and the floating diffusion during reset to deplete the photodiode of charge, returning the photodiode to its pinned voltage, and to reset the floating diffusion region. It may be desirable to maintain the supply voltage at a high voltage level (e.g., 2.8 v for mobile applications and 3.3 v for digital camera applications) to reset the floating diffusion to a high voltage and to fully deplete the photodiode. The high supply voltage applied to the supply voltage node may deplete the active area connected to the supply voltage node and may also deplete the photodiode to its pinned voltage (e.g., 1.5 V). When this occurs, a field may be generated between the supply voltage node and the photodiode, which may pull the photodiode depletion region close to the STI edge. Accordingly, dark current may increase at photodiode and STI interface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       Included in the drawing are the following figures: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of a pixel according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional diagram of the pixel of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an image sensor including at least one of the pixels of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a timing diagram for operation of the image sensor of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  are graphs showing test results of the operation of the image sensor of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention may reduce dark current at photodiode and STI interfaces due to the electrical field generated between the supply voltage node and the photodiode. This is achieved by reducing the supply voltage so that it is closer to, equal to, or lower than the pinned voltage of the photodiode during column readout. When the supply voltage equals the pinned voltage of the photodiode, no field is generated. Accordingly, the present invention may reduce dark current at the photodiode and STI interface by reducing or eliminating the electrical field between the supply voltage node and the photodiode. 
     A pixel  10 , according to the present invention, is shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown, pixel  10  includes four transistors  30 ,  40 ,  60  and  70 , photodiode  20 , floating diffusion region  50 , column readout line  90  and array supply voltage node  80 . The four transistors include transfer gate  30 , reset transistor  40 , source follower transistor  60  and row select transistor  70 . In this pixel, a pinned photodiode is used as photodiode  20 . Photodiode  20  may, however, be any photosensitive element, which may include photogates, photoconductors, p-n junction photodiodes, Schottky photodiodes or other suitable photoconversion devices. Further, pixel  10  is a four transistor pixel. Pixel  10 , however, may have any suitable layout. 
     A cross-sectional view of the structure of pixel  10  is shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown, pixel  10  includes semiconductor substrate  210 , photodiode  20  formed in semiconductor substrate  210 , p-well  140  formed in semiconductor substrate  210  and floating diffusion region  50  formed in p-well  140 . Photodiode  20  includes a p-n junction formed between p-type region  20   a  and n-type region  20   b . Transfer gate  30  is coupled between photodiode  20  and floating diffusion region  50  for transferring charge therebetween. Reset transistor  40  is coupled between floating diffusion region  50  and source/drain region  150  for resetting floating diffusion region  50  using Vaa_pix prior to charge transference. Row select transistor  70  is coupled between source follower transistor  60  and column readout line  90  for sampling the voltage that is transferred across source follower transistor  60 . 
     Pixel  10  further includes shallow trench isolation regions (STIs)  110 . STIs  110  may be formed by etching trenches into substrate  210  and filling the trenches with a dielectric. As shown in  FIG. 2 , STIs  110  are formed on outer edges of pixel  10 . In this embodiment, STIs  110  provide physical and electric barriers between pixel  10  and neighboring pixels (not shown) in an image sensor. While pixel  10  includes STIs on the outer edges of the photodiode to isolate photodiode  40  from neighboring photodiodes, STIs may also be formed at different places on a substrate, for example, to isolate the photodiodes from the transistor circuitry within pixel  10  or to isolate devices or circuitry from other devices on circuitry. The isolation regions could also be formed using a “locos” process vs. STI. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a block diagram of CMOS image sensor  301  including pixel array  330 . Pixel array  330  may include a plurality of pixels arranged in a predetermined number of columns and rows. For sake of clarity, CMOS image sensor  301  includes at least one pixel  100  of  FIG. 1  or  2 ; however, this is not intended to limit CMOS image sensor  301  to only such an embodiment. 
     All the pixels in the same row may be sampled at the same time by applying a row select line signal RS to row select transistor  70  of the selected row. Specific pixels in each column may be selectively output by respective column select lines (e.g., column readout line  90  of  FIG. 1 ). A plurality of row and column lines may be provided for the entire array  330 . The row lines may be selectively activated in sequence by row drivers  320  in response to row address decoder  310  and the column select lines may be selectively activated in sequence for each row activation by column driver  350  in response to column address decoder  360 . One example sequence is described below. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , CMOS image sensor  301  is operated by timing and control circuit  340 , which controls address decoders  310  and  360  to select appropriate row and column lines for pixel readout and controls row and column driver circuitry  320  and  350  to apply driving voltages to the drive transistors (not shown) of the selected row and column lines. 
     An example of a sequence by which row and column lines may be activated is referred to as a global shutter. In a global shutter, all rows in the array are reset and integrated concurrently. After an integration period, individual rows may be read out sequentially, one row at a time. 
     Another example sequence by which rows of pixels may be reset is referred to as a rolling shutter. In a rolling shutter, the reset and integration process occurs one row at a time. That is, a first row in the array may be reset and integrated. After the first row meets the integration time, it may be read. The process continues to reset, integrate and read sequential rows as they meet the integration time. Therefore, during the rolling shutter, one row may be integrating while another row is being read. 
       FIG. 4  shows a timing diagram for image sensor  301  during a rolling shutter. While this example is shown and described in terms of a rolling shutter, this is not intended to limit the present invention to use of a rolling shutter operation. It is contemplated that the present invention may use other sequences such as, for example, the global shutter described above. 
     In  FIG. 4 , period I represents operation during pixel to column readout of the n(th) row, period II represents operation during reset of the (n+m)th row, and period III represents operation during column readout of the n(th) row. The sequence of period I and period II can be swapped. Further, “Row Addr” represents the address of the selected row during each period and “Col Addr” represents the address of the column being read out during each period. Signals SHR and SHS are control signals for Vrst and Vsig sample and hold, respectively. Signals RST, TX, RS and VAA_pix correspond, respectively, to RST, TX, RS and VAA_pix of  FIG. 1 . 
     During pixel to column readout period I, row n is selected by applying a signal RS to the row select line corresponding to row n, thereby turning on a row select transistor  70  for each pixel in row n. Next, reset signal RST is applied to reset transistor  40 , applying VAA_pix to floating diffusion region  50  of each pixel in row n, thereby resetting respective floating diffusion region  50 . Next, the SHR command causes sampling of Vrst from each pixel in row n to sample and hold circuitry  370 . Thereafter, TX may be applied to transfer gates  30 , transferring a signal representing the level of respective photodiode  20  to respective floating diffusion  50 , for each pixel in row n. Then, the SHS command causes sampling of Vsig from each pixel in row n to sample and hold circuitry  370 . Throughout period I, VAA_pix may remain at a relatively high voltage (e.g., 2.8v) to allow respective floating diffusion regions  50  to reset to a relatively high voltage. 
     During period II, floating diffusion region  50  and photodiode  20  of each pixel in row (n+m) is reset. To accomplish this, the RST signal is applied to a respective reset transistor  40  and the TX signal is applied to a respective transfer gate  30 , thereby applying VAA_pix to a respective photodiode  20  and floating diffusion region  50 . Throughout period II, Vaa_pix remains at a relatively high voltage (e.g., 2.8v) to allow a respective floating diffusion region  50  to reset to a relatively high voltage and to allow a respective photodiode  20  to be fully depleted. When photodiode  20  is fully depleted, the photodiode returns to its respective pinned voltage (e.g., 1.5v). 
     At the end of pixel to column readout during period I for the (n)th row, Vrst and Vsig for each pixel in the (n)th row may be stored in column sample and hold capacitors in sample and hold circuitry  370 . During period III for the (n)th row, column readout may take place. Here, the signals on sample and hold capacitors for each pixel in the row may be transferred to differential amplifier  380 . As described above, differential amplifier  380  may provide signal (Vsig−Vrst) to ADC  390 , which may convert signals (Vsig−Vrst) for each read out pixel into digital signals. 
     In a conventional imager, VAA_pix remains relatively high throughout all three periods described above. For example, in one conventional imager, the VAA_pix may remain at 2.8v for mobile applications and at 3.3v for digital camera applications. Maintaining VAA_pix at a voltage higher than the pinned voltage of the photodiode (e.g., 1.5v), however, may generate an electrical field between the VAA_pix node and the photodiode. This may cause the photodiode depletion region to be pulled closer to the STI edge, as shown in the example provided in  FIG. 5 . As shown, when VAA_pix (represented by Vd in  FIG. 5 ) is 2.8 V, for example, depletion edges  5   a  touch STI edges  6 . Accordingly, dark current may increase when the depletion edge touches the STI edges as a result of VAA_pix being set at 2.8 V. 
     In the embodiment of the present invention, shown in  FIG. 4 , on the other hand, VAA_pix remains relatively high (e.g., 2.8v) during pixel readout period I and reset period II. During column readout period III, however, VAA_pix is reduced to a relatively low voltage. 
     When VAA_pix is reduced to a relatively low voltage during column readout period III, the electrical field between the VAA_pix node and the photodiode is substantially reduced as compared to conventional imagers. When VAA_pix is set to equal the pinned voltage of the photodiode (e.g., VAA_pix=1.5v), the electrical field is substantially reduced. With a weak electrical field or with no electrical field, as the case may be, the depletion region of the photodiode remains spaced apart from the STI edge, as shown in  FIG. 5 . As shown, when VAA_pix is, for example, 1.4 V, the depletion edge  5   b  does not touch STI edges  6 . As a result, dark current generated close to the photodiode may be substantially reduced. 
     This embodiment also permits high voltage reset of the floating diffusion region during pixel to column readout period I and reset period II and a full depletion of the photodiode to its pinned voltage during reset period II. This is so because VAA_pix remains relatively high (e.g., 2.8v) throughout both periods. Because VAA_pix is not used to reset the floating diffusion region or photodiode during column readout period III, however, VAA_pix may be reduced during the column readout period III without significantly affecting the operation of the image sensor. This results in reduced dark current in the photodiode. 
     In one embodiment, VAA_pix may be reduced during column readout period III to a lower voltage, for example, in the range of 1.0v to 1.5v. This voltage range during period III may be desirable for at least one reason. As VAA_pix approaches 0v, the electrical field between the VAA_pix node and the photodiode changes such that the relatively low potential VAA_pix node acts as a hot electron generator. That is, the VAA_pix node injects a relatively large amount of hot electrons into the photodiode. Accordingly, it may be desirable to reduce VAA_pix to a voltage between 1.0v and 1.5v during column readout period III to reduce dark current in the photodiode and to prevent injection of hot electrons into the photodiode. 
     While the above-described embodiments describe reducing VAA_pix during period III, it is within the scope of the embodiments of the present invention to maintain VAA_pix at a lower voltage whenever possible, except during reset of the photodiode or when signal readout is occurring. By way of example, VAA_pix may be maintained at a lower voltage during column readout (as previously described) or during integration of the photodiode whenever possible (such as during longer integration times when neither signal readout or reset of the pixel is taking place). 
     Although the invention is illustrated and described herein with reference to specific embodiments, the invention is not intended to be limited to the details shown. Rather, various modifications may be made in the details within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims and without departing from the invention.