AREA IMAGE SENSOR ADAPTABLE FOR FAST FRAME READOUT

摘要

AREA IMAGE SENSOR ADAPTABLE FOR FAST FRAME READOUT An area image sensor comprised of an array of photosites arranged in rows and columns is disclosed. The sensor is readable in blocks of adjacent photosite rows, thereby to enable operation of the sensor at frame rates on the order of thousands of frames per second. The sensor includes a semiconductor substrate covered by a layer of insulating material. A plurality of enable gate structures extend across the substrate. A plurality of isolution gate structures lie between the enable gates. A plurality of address gate structures extend across the enable and isolation gates to form the photosites. A plurality of read channels of semiconductor type opposite that of the substrate are disposed between alternate pairs of adjacent enable and isolation structures. A first potential is applied to the enable gates to form a plurality of first potential wells to collect photocharge. A second potential is applied to the address gates to form a plurality of second potential wells. A third potential is applied to the isolation gates to form a plurality of third potential wells. An enablement signal is applied to at least one of the enable gates to transfer charges collected in the first potential wells to the second potential wells. An address signal is applied to at least one of the address gates to transfer charges from the second potential wells, through a corresponding third potential well into a read channel.