Patent ID: 8049256

Claim:
An active pixel sensor comprising: (a) a sensor wafer including: an array of active pixel regions, each active pixel region including: a photodetector for collecting charge in response to light; readout circuitry for reading charge from the photodetector; and two or more interconnects connected to the readout circuitry, wherein each interconnect in the two or more interconnects is connected to corresponding readout circuitry in at least one other active pixel region in the array; (b) a support circuit wafer connected to the sensor wafer, wherein the support circuit wafer includes: support circuitry for the array of active pixel regions; and a plurality of interconnects connected to the support circuitry; and (c) a plurality of inter-wafer connector wires for transferring control and timing signals from the support circuit wafer to the sensor wafer and column output signals from the sensor wafer to the support circuit wafer, wherein each inter-wafer connector wire is connected between at least one interconnect on the sensor wafer and a corresponding interconnect on the support circuit wafer at a perimeter edge of the array of active pixel regions.