Patent ID: 8081249

Claim:
A pixel circuit formed on a substrate for use in an imaging device, said pixel circuit comprising: a photosensor for generating charge during an integration period; a shutter transistor connected to said photosensor to transfer charge from said photosensor; a storage node formed by a depletion region that is at least partially within the substrate, the storage node being connected to said shutter transistor to receive said charge transferred by said shutter transistor; a barrier region located within the substrate between the photosensor and the storage node, the barrier region being opposingly doped than the storage node and being coupled to and controlled by the shutter transistor; a transfer gate connected to said storage node to transfer charge from said storage node; a floating diffusion node connected to said transfer gate to receive said charge from said transfer gate; and a readout circuit connected to said floating diffusion node to output a signal based on the charge accumulated at the floating diffusion node.