CCD image sensors and methods

摘要

In various embodiments, image sensors include photosensitive pixels, associated vertical CCDs, sense nodes each accepting charge from one or more of the vertical CCDs, and readout circuitry accepting signals from the sense nodes.

主权项

1. An image sensor comprising:
an array of photosensitive pixels arranged in columns; a plurality of vertical CCDs each associated with one of the columns of pixels; a plurality of sense nodes each associated with and accepting charge from the vertical CCDs and converting the charge into a voltage; and one or more delay stages for outputting charges from two or more vertical CCDs into one of the sense nodes, the one or more delay stages being configured to combine charges from the two or more vertical CCDs prior to output to the one of the sense nodes; readout circuitry for accepting voltage from the plurality of sense nodes and, based thereon, outputting signals for reconstruction into an image sensed by the array of photosensitive pixels.