Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to the field of semiconductor devices, particularly to improved isolation techniques for image sensors.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     An image sensor generally includes an array of pixel cells. Each pixel cell includes a photo-conversion device for converting light incident on the array into electrical signals. An image sensor also typically includes peripheral circuitry for controlling devices of the array and for converting the electrical signals into a digital image.  
         [0003]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view block diagram of a portion of a typical CMOS image sensor  10 . The image sensor  10  includes an array  11  of pixel cells arranged in columns and rows (not shown). The array  11  includes pixel cells  20  ( FIG. 2A ) in an active array region  12  and pixel cells  20 ′ in a black region  13 .  FIG. 2A  is a schematic diagram of typical pixel cells  20  and  FIG. 2B  is a top plan view of a pixel cell  20 . The black pixel cells  20 ′ have the same structure and operate in a similar manner to the active array pixel cells  20 . Accordingly, black pixel cells  20 ′ can be configured as shown in  FIG. 2A .  
         [0004]     The black region  13  is similar to the active array region  12 , except that light is prevented from reaching the photo-conversion devices of the black pixel cells  20 ′ by, for example, a metal layer, a black color filter array, or any opaque material (not shown). Signals from black pixel cells  20 ′ can be used to determine the black level for the array  11 , which is used to adjust the resulting image produced by the image sensor  10 .  
         [0005]     The pixel cells  20  illustrated in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  are typical CMOS four-transistor (4T) pixel cells. Typically, the pixel cells  20  are formed at a surface of a substrate (not shown). The substrate is doped to a first conductivity type, e.g., p-type and is biased at a ground potential. As is known in the art, a pixel cell  20  functions by receiving photons of light and converting those photons into charge carried by electrons. For this, each one of the pixel cells  20  includes a photo-conversion device  21 , which is shown as a pinned photodiode, but can be a photogate, photoconductor, or other photosensitive device. The photodiode  21  includes an n-type photodiode charge accumulation region  22  and a p-type surface layer (not shown).  
         [0006]     Each pixel cell  20  also includes a transfer transistor  27 , which receives a transfer control signal TX at its gate  27   a . The transfer transistor  27  is connected to the photodiode  21  and a floating diffusion region  25 . During operation, the TX signal operates the transfer transistor  27  to transfer charge from the photodiode charge accumulation region  22  to the floating diffusion region  25 .  
         [0007]     The pixel cell  20  further includes a reset transistor  28 , which receives a reset control signal RST at its gate  28   a . The reset transistor  28  is connected to the floating diffusion region  25  and includes a source/drain region  60  coupled to a voltage supply, Vaa-pix, through a contact  23 . In response to the RST signal the reset transistor  28  operates to reset the diffusion region  25  to a predetermined charge level, Vaa-pix.  
         [0008]     A source follower transistor  29  has a gate  29   a  coupled to the floating diffusion region  25  through a contact  23  that receives and amplifies a charge level from the diffusion region  25 . The source follower transistor  29  also includes a first source/drain region  60  coupled to the power supply voltage, Vaa-pix, and a second source/drain region  60  connected to a row select transistor  26 . The row select transistor  26  receives a row select control signal ROW_SEL at its gate  26   a . In response to the ROW_SEL signal, the row select transistor  26  couples the pixel cell  20  to a column line  22 , which is coupled to a source/drain region  60  of the row select transistor  26 . When the row select gate  26   a  is operated, an output voltage is output from the pixel cell  20  through the column line  22 .  
         [0009]     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , after pixel cells of array  11  generate charge in response to incident light, electrical signals indicating charge levels are read out and processed by circuitry  15  peripheral to array  11 . Peripheral circuitry  15  typically includes row select circuitry  16  and column select circuitry  17  for activating particular rows and columns of the array  11 ; and other peripheral circuitry  18 , which can include analog signal processing circuitry, analog-to-digital conversion circuitry, and digital logic processing circuitry. Peripheral circuitry  15  can be located adjacent to the array  11 , as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0010]     In order to obtain a high quality image, it is important to obtain an accurate black level for the array  11 . One problem encountered in the conventional image sensor  10  is interference from the active array region  12  with the black region  13 . When very bright light is incident on active array pixel cells  20  adjacent to the black region  13 , blooming can occur and excess charge from the active array pixel cells  20  can travel to and interfere with black pixel cells  20 ′ in the adjacent black region  13 . Additionally, excess charge from adjacent circuitry, e.g., peripheral circuitry  15 , can travel to and interfere with pixel cells  20 ′ in the adjacent black region  13 . This can cause inaccurate black levels and distortion of the resultant image.  
         [0011]     One solution to the above noted problem is to provide buffer pixel cells  20 ″ within the black region  13  and adjacent the black pixel cells  20 ′, as shown in  FIG. 2C .  FIG. 2C  depicts a portion of rows of the array  11 . Typically, the buffer pixel cells  20 ″ have a similar structure to the black pixel cells  20 ′ and the active array pixel cells  20 . During operation of the image sensor  10 , the signal output from the buffer pixel cells  20 ″ is discarded. As shown in  FIG. 2C , multiple rows  14   b  of buffer pixel cells  20 ″ are provided flanking (i.e., on two sides) the rows  14   a  of black pixel cells  20 ′. In this manner, the buffer pixel cells  20 ″ act as a spacer to distance black pixel cells  20 ′ from active array pixel cells  20  and other devices that can cause interference. Even with buffer pixel cells  20 ″, however, interference with black pixel cells still occurs.  
         [0012]     Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have an improved image sensor with reduced interference between active and black pixel cells.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     Exemplary embodiments of the invention include an image sensor having an array of pixel cells, each including a photo-conversion device. The array has first, second, and third groups of pixel cells. The first group of pixel cells receives light and the second and third groups are shielded from light. Each pixel cell of the second group is configured to output a black reference signal for determining a black level of the array. Each pixel cell of the third group has at least one first transistor coupled to the photo-conversion device, and each transistor coupled to the photo-conversion device has a gate coupled to a power supply voltage. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     The foregoing and other advantages and features of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of exemplary embodiments provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view block diagram of a conventional image sensor;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2A  is a schematic diagram of conventional CMOS pixel cells;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2B  is a top plan view of a pixel cell of  FIG. 2A ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2C  is a block diagram of a portion of the image sensor of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a top plan block diagram of an image sensor according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;  
         [0020]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are block diagrams of portions of the image sensor of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 5A  is a schematic diagram of pixel cells of  FIG. 4A  according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 5B  is a top plan view of a pixel cell of  FIG. 5A ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 5C  is a schematic diagram of pixel cells of  FIG. 4B  according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of additional conventional CMOS pixel cells;  
         [0025]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  are schematic diagrams of pixel cells according to additional exemplary embodiments of the invention; and  
         [0026]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram of a processor system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0027]     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof and illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In the drawings, like reference numerals describe substantially similar components throughout the several views. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and that structural, logical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0028]     The terms “wafer” and “substrate” are to be understood as including silicon, silicon-on-insulator (SOI), or silicon-on-sapphire (SOS) technology, doped and undoped semiconductors, epitaxial layers of silicon supported by a base semiconductor foundation, and other semiconductor structures. Furthermore, when reference is made to a “wafer” or “substrate” in the following description, previous process steps may have been utilized to form regions or junctions in the base semiconductor structure or foundation. In addition, the semiconductor need not be silicon-based, but could be based on silicon-germanium, germanium, or gallium-arsenide.  
         [0029]     The term “pixel” or “pixel cell” refers to a picture element unit cell containing a photo-conversion device for converting electromagnetic radiation to an electrical signal.  
         [0030]     Referring to the drawings,  FIG. 3  depicts an image sensor  300  according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Image sensor  300  includes a pixel array  311  comprising an active array region  12  and two black regions  313 ,  315 . Light is prevented from reaching pixel cells of the black regions  313 ,  315  by, for example, a metal layer, a black color filter array, or any opaque material (not shown).  
         [0031]     There is also peripheral circuitry  15  adjacent to the array  311 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the peripheral circuitry can include row select circuitry  16  and column select circuitry  17  for activating particular rows and columns of the array  11 ; and other peripheral circuitry  18 , which can include analog signal processing circuitry, analog-to-digital conversion circuitry, and digital logic processing circuitry. The configuration of image sensor  300  is exemplary only. Accordingly, image sensor  300  need not include peripheral circuitry  15  adjacent to the array  311 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 4A  depicts a portion of the black region  313 , and  FIG. 4B  depicts a portion of the black region  315 . Like black region  13  ( FIG. 1 ), the illustrated black regions  313 ,  315  include black pixel cells  20 ′. Preferably, the black regions  313 ,  315  also include buffer pixel cells  20 ″. The first black region  313  includes guard row pixel cells  353 , and the second black region  315  includes guard column pixel cells  355 . Light is prevented from reaching the photo-conversion devices  21  of the pixel cells  20 ′,  20 ″,  353 ,  355  in the black regions  313 ,  315  by, for example, a metal layer, a black color filter array, or any opaque material (not shown).  
         [0033]     As shown in  FIG. 4A , the first black region  313  includes rows  314  of guard row pixel cells  353 , rows  14   a  of black pixel cells  20 ′, and rows  14   b  of buffer pixel cells  20 ″. There can be any number of rows  14   a ,  14   b ,  314 . Preferably, there are between approximately two and approximately twenty rows  314  of guard row pixel cells  353 . Preferably, the rows  14   b ,  314  flank the rows  14   a  of black pixel cells  20 ′, as shown in  FIG. 4A . It is also preferable that the buffer pixel cells  20 ″ are between the guard pixel cells  353  and black pixel cells  20 ′.  
         [0034]     Although  FIG. 4A  shows an equal number of buffer pixel cells  20 ″ and guard row pixel cells  353  above and below the rows  14   a  of black pixel cells  20 ′, embodiments of the invention include an image sensor  300  having different numbers of buffer pixel cells  20 ″ and/or guard row pixel cells  353  above the black pixel cells  20 ′ than are below the black pixel cells  20 ′. Additionally, embodiments of the invention include an image sensor  300 , having buffer pixel cells  20 ″ and/or guard row pixel cells  353  only on one side of the black pixel cells  20 ′.  
         [0035]      FIG. 5A  is a schematic diagram of rows  314 , including a detailed diagram of a guard row pixel cell  353 ;  FIG. 5B  is a top plan view of a guard row pixel cell  353 . Similar to a conventional active array pixel cell  20 , each guard row pixel cell  353  includes a transfer transistor  27 , a floating diffusion region  25 , a reset transistor  28 , a source follower transistor  29 , and a row select transistor  26 . The guard row pixel cell  353 , however, includes different connections and, therefore, operates differently than active array pixel cell  20  as described in more detail below.  
         [0036]     As shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the gates  27   a ,  28   a  of the transfer and reset transistors  27 ,  28  are coupled to a power supply voltage (Vaa-pix) rail  303 . This is in contrast to the active array pixel cells  20  ( FIGS. 2A and 2B ), where the gates  27   a ,  28   a  of the transfer and reset transistors  27 ,  28  receive TX and RST signals, respectively. Since all pixel cells in the guard rows  314  are guard pixel cells  353 , connections (e.g., metal lines) are not needed to provide TX and RST signals to the rows  314 . Also, if desired, the gate of the row select transistor  26  can be coupled to a ground potential.  
         [0037]     As shown in  FIG. 4B , the black region  315  includes columns  317   a  of black pixel cells  20 ′, columns  317   b  of buffer pixel cells  20 ″, and columns  316  of guard column pixel cells  355 . There can be any number of columns  317   a ,  317   b ,  316 . Preferably, there are between approximately two and approximately twenty columns  316  of guard column pixel cells  355 . Preferably, the columns  317   b ,  316  flank the columns  14   a  of black pixel cells  20 ′, as shown in  FIG. 4B . It is also preferable that the buffer pixel cells  20 ″ are between the guard pixel cells  355  and black pixel cells  20 ′.  
         [0038]     Although  FIG. 4B  shows an equal number of buffer pixel cells  20 ″ and guard column pixel cells  355  on each side of the columns  317   a  of black pixel cells  20 ′, embodiments of the invention include an image sensor  300  having different numbers of buffer pixel cells  20 ″ and/or guard column pixel cells  355  on one side of the black pixel cells  20 ′ than are on the other side of the black pixel cells  20 ′. Additionally, embodiments of the invention include an image sensor  300 , having buffer pixel cells  20 ″ and/or guard column pixel cells  355  only on one side of the black pixel cells  20 ′.  
         [0039]      FIG. 5C  is a schematic diagram of the columns  316 , including a detailed diagram of a guard column pixel cell  355 . Similar to a conventional active array pixel cell  20 , each guard column pixel cell  355  includes a transfer transistor  27 , a floating diffusion region  25 , a reset transistor  28 , a source follower transistor  29 , and a row select transistor  26 . The guard column pixel cell  355 , however, includes different connections and, therefore, operates differently than active array pixel cell  20 , as described in more detail below.  
         [0040]     The guard column pixel cell  355  is similar to the guard row pixel cell  353 , except that in the guard column pixel cell  355  the gate of the row select transistor  26  is not coupled to a ground potential. Additionally, connections (e.g., metal lines) are provided over the guard column pixel cells  355  to supply TX and RST signals to the active array pixel cells  20 , black pixel cells  20 ′, and buffer pixel cells,  20 ″ located in the same row as the guard column pixel cell  355 . Accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 5C , the gates of the transfer and reset transistors  27 ,  28  are coupled to the Vaa-pix rail  303 , in contrast to the active array pixel cells  20  ( FIGS. 2A and 2B ).  
         [0041]     Excess charge (e.g., blooming charge from the active array pixel cells  20 ) is collected in the photo-conversion devices  21  of the guard pixel cells  353 ,  355 . Since the gates  27   a ,  28   a  of the transfer and reset transistors  27 ,  28  are coupled to the Vaa-pix rail  303 , the gates are held open. That is, the gates  27   a ,  28   a  are continuously operated. Therefore, charge in the photodiode  21  and the floating diffusion region  25  is drained from the pixel cells  353 ,  355  through the Vaa-pix rail  303 . In this manner, the guard pixel cells  353 ,  355  serve to isolate the black pixel cells  20 ′ from interference, particularly from interference from the active array pixel cells  20 . Further, the connection to the Vaa-pix rail  303  creates a gradient in the electric field of the photodiode  21  and floating diffusion region  25  with respect to the substrate (not shown), which is biased at a ground potential. The electrical gradient promotes the collection of negative photon-generated charge (e.g., blooming charge from adjacent pixel cells  20 ) in the photodiode  21  and the floating diffusion region  25 , where it is removed via the Vaa-pix rail  303 .  
         [0042]     The guard pixel cells  353 ,  355  can be formed similarly to the other pixel cells  20 ,  20 ′,  20 ″ of the array, except that the guard pixel cells  353 ,  355  are formed having the connections described above with reference to  FIGS. 5A-5C . Also, the guard pixel cells  353 ,  355  can be formed concurrently with the other pixel cells  20 ,  20 ′,  20 ″. In one embodiment of the invention, the pixel cells  353 ,  355  are formed by known methods on a substrate (not shown).  
         [0043]     Although the image sensor  300  is shown including black region  313  having pixel cells  20 ′,  20 ″,  353  arranged in rows and black region  315  having pixel cells  20 ′,  20 ″,  355  arranged in columns, embodiments of the invention include an image sensor  300  having additional or fewer black regions  313 ,  315 . For example, the image sensor  300  can include only one of the first or second black regions  313 ,  315 , if desired.  
         [0044]     According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the image sensor  300  can include active array pixel cells having configurations other than a 4T configuration. For example, the image sensor can include active array pixel cells  30  having a three-transistor (3T) configuration, as shown in  FIG. 6 , instead of active array pixel cells  20 . The 3T active array pixel cell  30  is known in the art and differs from the 4T active array pixel cell  20  ( FIG. 2A ) by the absence of the transfer transistor  27 . The image sensor  300  can also include black pixel cells and buffer pixel cells having 3T configurations (not shown), instead of 4T pixel cells  20 ′,  20 ″. Further, the image sensor  300  can include guard row pixel cells  753  and guard column pixel cells  755  having 3T configurations, as shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , instead of 4T guard pixel cells  353 ,  355 .  
         [0045]     The 3T guard row pixel cells  753  are similar to the 4T guard row pixel cells  353 , except that the 3T guard row pixel cells  753  lack a transfer transistor  27 . Accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 7A , the gates of the reset transistors  28  are coupled to a power supply voltage (Vaa-pix) rail  303 . This is in contrast to the 3T active array pixel cell  30  ( FIG. 6 ), where the gate reset transistor  28  receives RST signals. Also, if desired, the gate  26   a  ( FIG. 5B ) of the row select transistor  26  can be coupled to a ground potential.  
         [0046]     Likewise, 3T guard column pixel cells  755  are similar to the 4T guard column pixel cells  355 , except that the 3T guard column pixel cells  755  lack a transfer transistor  27 . Accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 7B , the gate  28   a  ( FIG. 5B ) of the reset transistor  28  is coupled to the Vaa-pix rail  303 , in contrast to the 3T active array pixel cells  30  ( FIG. 6 ).  
         [0047]     It should be noted that the configuration of the pixel cells  20 ,  30 ,  20 ′,  20 ″,  353 ,  355 ,  753 ,  755  is only exemplary and that various changes may be made as are known in the art and pixel cells of the image sensor  300  may have other configurations. For example, although the invention is described in connection with four-transistor (4T) guard pixel cells  353 ,  355  and three-transistor (3T) guard pixel cells  753 ,  755 , the invention may also be incorporated into other pixel circuits having different numbers of transistors. Without being limiting, such a circuit may include five-transistor (5T) pixel cell, six-transistor (6T), and seven-transistor (7T) guard pixel cells. The 5T, 6T, and 7T guard pixel cells would differ from the 4T pixel cell by the addition of one, two, or three transistors, respectively, such as a shutter transistor, a CMOS photogate transistor, and an anti-blooming transistor.  
         [0048]     In each case, the gates of the transistor(s) connected to the photo-conversion device and the floating diffusion region would be coupled to a power supply voltage (e.g., Vaa-pix) such that charge from the photo-conversion device and the floating diffusion region is drained from the guard pixel cells through the connection to the power supply voltage. For example, when a guard pixel cell  353 ,  355  further includes an anti-blooming transistor (not shown) connected to the photodiode  21 , the gate of the anti-blooming transistor would be coupled to Vaa-pix.  
         [0049]     Also, while the above embodiments are described in connection with p-n-p-type photodiodes the invention is not limited to these embodiments. The invention also has applicability to other types of photo-conversion devices, such as a photodiode formed from n-p or n-p-n regions in a substrate, a photogate, or a photoconductor. If an n-p-n-type photodiode is formed the conductivity types of all structures would change accordingly.  
         [0050]      FIG. 8  illustrates a processor-based system  800  including an image sensor  300  of  FIG. 3  having guard pixel cells  353 ,  355  ( FIGS. 5A-5C ). Instead, as described above, the image sensor  300  could include guard pixel cells  753 ,  755  ( FIGS. 7A and 7B ). The processor-based system  800  is exemplary of a system having digital circuits that could include image sensor devices. Without being limiting, such a system could include a computer system, camera system, scanner, machine vision, vehicle navigation, video phone, surveillance system, auto focus system, star tracker system, motion detection system, image stabilization system, and data compression system.  
         [0051]     The processor-based system  800 , for example a camera system, generally comprises a central processing unit (CPU)  860 , such as a microprocessor, that communicates with an input/output (I/O) device  861  over a bus  863 . Image sensor  300  also communicates with the CPU  860  over bus  863 . The processor-based system  800  also includes random access memory (RAM)  862 , and can include removable memory  864 , such as flash memory, which also communicate with CPU  860  over the bus  863 . Image sensor  300  may be combined with a processor, such as a CPU, digital signal processor, or microprocessor, with or without memory storage on a single integrated circuit or on a different chip than the processor.  
         [0052]     It is again noted that the above description and drawings are exemplary and illustrate preferred embodiments that achieve the objects, features and advantages of the present invention. It is not intended that the present invention be limited to the illustrated embodiments. Any modification of the present invention which comes within the spirit and scope of the following claims should be considered part of the present invention.

Technology Category: 5