IMAGE SENSOR, METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME, AND SYSTEM INCLUDING THE IMAGE SENSOR

摘要

An image sensor includes a pixel array having a plurality of layers and a control unit. Each of the plurality of layers including pixels having a photoelectric conversion element and a transmission transistor therein. The photoelectric conversion element is configured to collect charges during an associated charge collection time period and the transmission transistor is configured to transmit the charges to a respective floating diffusion node at an end of the charge collection time period. The control unit configured to individually instruct the transmission transistors associated with different ones of the layers to transmit the charges to the respective floating diffusion nodes such that the charge collection time periods associated with the photoelectric conversion elements implemented in at least two of the layers differs in length.

主权项

1. An image sensor comprising:
a plurality of transmission transistors each associated with one of a plurality of stacked pixel layers, the transmission transistors configured to transmit charges to respective floating diffusion nodes during respective charge transmission operations, the charges being generated during respective charge collection time periods by photoelectric conversion elements implemented in corresponding ones of the plurality of stacked pixel layers; and a control unit configured to individually control the charge transmission operations of the transmission transistors associated with each of the plurality of stacked pixel layers such that the photoelectric conversion elements implemented in different ones of the plurality of stacked pixel layers have different charge collection time periods.