Assignee: Foveon, Inc.

Location: Santa Clara, CA
No. of patents: 42

Number	Title	Issue Date
8115242	Pinned photodiode CMOS pixel sensor A multicolor CMOS pixel sensor formed in a p-type semiconductor region includes a first detector formed from an n-type region of semiconductor material located near the surface of the p-type region. A first pinned p-type region is formed at the surface of the p-type...	02/14/2012
8039916	CMOS pixel sensor with depleted photocollectors and a depleted common node An active pixel sensor in a p-type semiconductor body includes an n-type common node formed below a pinning region. A plurality of n-type blue detectors more lightly doped than the common node are disposed below pinning regions and are spaced apart from the common n...	10/18/2011
7910394	Photodiode with improved charge capacity A method for forming a photodiode cathode in an integrated circuit imager includes defining and implanting a photodiode cathode region with a photodiode cathode implant dose of a dopant species and defining and implanting an edge region of the photodiode cathode reg...	03/22/2011
7907079	Delta sigma modulator for analog-to-digital converter A method for operating a single slope analog-to-digital converter (ADC) includes providing a ramp generator to provide at least one voltage-ramp segment; applying delta-sigma modulation to the voltage-ramp generator to generate a delta-sigma modulated voltage ramp; ...	03/15/2011
7834411	CMOS pixel sensor with depleted photocollectors and a depleted common node An active pixel sensor in a p-type semiconductor body includes an n-type common node formed below a pinning region. A plurality of n-type blue detectors more lightly doped than the common node are disposed below pinning regions and are spaced apart from the common n...	11/16/2010
7796172	Method and apparatus for eliminating image artifacts due to defective imager columns and rows In a readout bus architecture having a first column, a readout means is coupled to a photodetector and configured to transfer charge from the photodetector. A select means is coupled to the photodetector and is configured to transfer charge from the photodetector. A...	09/14/2010
7683958	Camera exposure indication interface Systems and methods of providing spatially dependent image exposure information to a user of a digital camera. The described approach is applicable to determination of image exposure quality in a digital camera system. In these applications an image is displayed in ...	03/23/2010
7683953	Intra-pixel fixed-pattern-noise cancellation circuit and method A pixel sensor comprises a first reset transistor having a drain coupled to a first potential, a gate coupled to a first reset line, and a source. A second reset transistor has a drain coupled to the first reset transistor source, a gate coupled to a second reset li...	03/23/2010
7602430	High-gain multicolor pixel sensor with reset noise cancellation An active CMOS pixel sensor includes a red photodiode and a green photodiode coupled to sense nodes. Blue photodiodes are coupled to a blue sense node through select transistors. A blue reset transistor is coupled between a supply node and the blue sense node. A sou...	10/13/2009
7339216	Vertical color filter sensor group array with full-resolution top layer and lower-resolution lower layer An array of vertical color filter (VCF) sensor groups, optionally including or coupled to circuitry for converting photogenerated carriers produced in the sensors to electrical signals, and methods for reading out any embodiment of the array. The array has a top lay...	03/04/2008
7166880	Vertical color filter sensor group with carrier-collection elements of different size and method for fabricating such a sensor group A vertical color filter sensor group formed on a substrate (preferably a semiconductor substrate) and including at least two vertically stacked, photosensitive sensors, and an array of such sensor groups. In some embodiments, a carrier-collection element of at least...	01/23/2007
7164444	Vertical color filter detector group with highlight detector A vertical color filter detector group with highlight detector for generating data for a picture element. In one embodiment, the detector group includes three photodiodes each having its own spectral sensitivity and saturation exposure level and a highlight diode ha...	01/16/2007
7132724	Complete-charge-transfer vertical color filter detector A vertical-color-filter detector disposed in a semiconductor structure comprises a complete-charge-transfer detector comprising semiconductor material doped to a first conductivity type and has a horizontal portion disposed at a first depth in the semiconductor stru...	11/07/2006
7130463	Zoomed histogram display for a digital camera An apparatus and a method are provided to allow a portion of a captured image to be evaluated with a digital camera. A display device of the digital camera can display the captured image. A specific area of interest of the captured image can be defined on the displa...	10/31/2006
7110028	Electronic shutter using buried layers and active pixel sensor and array employing same An electronic shutter switching transistor for a CMOS electronic is formed in a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type. The transistor comprises a pair of spaced apart doped regions of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type dis...	09/19/2006
6998660	Vertical color filter sensor group array that emulates a pattern of single-layer sensors with efficient use of each sensor group's sensors An array of vertical color filter (VCF) sensor groups, each VCF sensor group including at least two vertically stacked, photosensitive sensors. Preferably, the array is fabricated, or the readout circuitry is configured (or has a state in which it is configured), to...	02/14/2006
6965102	Large dynamic range, low-leakage vertical color pixel sensor A low-leakage, high-dynamic range active pixel sensor is formed on a p-type semiconductor substrate. A photodiode cathode n-type region is disposed within the semiconductor substrate forming a pn junction with the semiconductor substrate. An n-well is disposed in th...	11/15/2005
6960757	Simplified wiring schemes for vertical color filter pixel sensors Vertical-color-filter pixel sensors having simplified wiring and reduced transistor counts are disclosed. In an embodiment, a single line is used for reference voltage, pixel reset voltage, and column-output signals in a VCF pixel sensor. In another embodiment, row-...	11/01/2005
6958194	Imager with improved sensitivity An imaging cell reduces recombination losses and increases sensitivity by forming a low resistance lateral path with a silicon germanium layer of a conductivity type that is sandwiched between silicon layers of the same conductivity type. The silicon germanium layer...	10/25/2005
6958862	Use of a lenslet array with a vertically stacked pixel array An improved optical imaging system includes a vertically stacked pixel array and a lenslet array for capturing images while minimizing the focal length. The vertically stacked pixel array is configured to operate as an image sensor. The lenslet array is configure to...	10/25/2005
6940551	Active pixel sensor with noise cancellation A CMOS active pixel sensor with noise reduction employs a photodetector. A reset switch is coupled between a reset potential line and the photodetector and is controlled by a reset line. An amplifier is coupled to the photodetector. A kTC noise reducing circuit is d...	09/06/2005
6937025	Method and circuit employing current sensing to read a sensor A current sensing method and circuit for reading out a sensor cell, and a sensing apparatus comprising an array of sensor cells arranged along column lines and a current sensing readout circuit coupled to each column line. The sensor cell is configured to assert a s...	08/30/2005
6934050	Method for storing and retrieving data from an imaging array of vertical-color-filter detector groups A method for storing a full Red, Green, Blue (RGB) data set. A full RGB data set is three-color image data captured with an imager array formed on a semiconductor substrate and comprising a plurality of vertical-color-filter detector groups. Each of the vertical col...	08/23/2005
6930336	Vertical-color-filter detector group with trench isolation A vertical-color-filter detector group comprises a semiconductor body including a plurality of alternating silicon layers of first and second conductivity types, the second conductivity type being opposite that of the first conductivity type, formed over a substrate...	08/16/2005
6924167	Method of forming a bandgap tuned vertical color imager cell A combination of materials is used to form the photodiodes of a vertical color imager cell. The materials used to form the photodiodes have different band gaps that allow the photon absorption rates of the photodiodes to be adjusted. By adjusting the photon absorpti...	08/02/2005
6914314	Vertical color filter sensor group including semiconductor other than crystalline silicon and method for fabricating same A vertical color filter sensor group formed on a substrate (preferably a semiconductor substrate) and including at least two vertically stacked, photosensitive sensors, each having a different spectral response. At least one of the sensors includes at least one laye...	07/05/2005
6897429	Managing power consumption by sampling circuit current sources An image sensor includes a plurality of pixel sensors arranged in at least one row and a plurality of columns. Each pixel sensor includes a photosensor to generate a photosensor output signal nominally indicative of an intensity of light incident on the photosensor....	05/24/2005
6894265	Vertical color filter sensor group and semiconductor integrated circuit fabrication method for fabricating same A vertical color filter sensor group, formed on a substrate (preferably a semiconductor substrate) by a semiconductor integrated circuit fabrication process, and including at least two vertically stacked, photosensitive sensors. Other aspects of the invention are ar...	05/17/2005
6882367	High-sensitivity storage pixel sensor having auto-exposure detection A storage pixel sensor disposed on a semiconductor substrate comprises a photodiode having a first terminal coupled to a first potential and a second terminal. A barrier transistor has a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the photodiode, a second termi...	04/19/2005
6864557	Vertical color filter detector group and array A vertical color detector group according to the present invention is formed on a semiconductor substrate and includes layers for collecting photons of different wavelength bands. The color detector group can be programmed to perform dynamic switching between sub-sa...	03/08/2005
6853404	Electronic view camera for tripod mounting An electronic view camera integrates a camera head assembly and laptop computer into a tripod mountable unified structure. The rigid frame, that unifies the camera head and computer, accommodates a choice of laptop type computers from a variety of different manufact...	02/08/2005
6841816	Vertical color filter sensor group with non-sensor filter and method for fabricating such a sensor group A vertical color filter sensor group formed on a substrate (preferably a semiconductor substrate) and including at least two vertically stacked, photosensitive sensors. In preferred embodiments, the sensor group includes at least one filter positioned relative to th...	01/11/2005
6833871	Exposure control in electronic cameras by detecting overflow from active pixels A method for controlling the exposure of an active pixel array electronic still camera includes the steps of: integrating photocurrent in each pixel during an integration time period; collecting overflow charge from all pixels in the array during the integration tim...	12/21/2004
6809768	Double slope pixel sensor and array A double-slope MOS active pixel sensor disposed on a semiconductor substrate has a first light-to-output-voltage transfer gain up to a first charge accumulation threshold, has a second light-to-output-voltage transfer gain lower than the first light-to-output-voltag...	10/26/2004
6798586	Corrector optic compensating spherical and coma aberrations generated by a prism A corrector optic is provided, for use in a camera system that includes a thick prism in front of the focal plane. The corrector optic includes preferably two lenses to be aligned on the optical axis of the camera system. When coupled within the camera system, the c...	09/28/2004
6794627	Aggregation of active pixel sensor signals An image sensor includes a plurality of active pixel sensors arranged in an array. Each active pixel sensor includes a photosensor that generates a sensor signal nominally indicative of an intensity of light incident on the photosensor and a follower-type amplifier ...	09/21/2004
6760070	High-sensitivity storage pixel sensor array having auto-exposure detection An integrated active pixel sensor array arranged in a plurality of rows and columns comprises a saturation level line coupled to a source of saturation level control voltage, a global current-summing node. A plurality of active pixel sensors is disposed in the array...	07/06/2004
6750489	Isolated high voltage PMOS transistor An isolated high voltage p-type DMOS transistor comprises a layer of p-type semiconductor material in which a first n-well is disposed. A first annular p-type region is disposed in the first n-well. A first annular shallow trench isolation region is spaced apart fro...	06/15/2004
6741283	Intra-pixel frame storage element, array, and electronic shutter method suitable for electronic still camera applications A storage pixel sensor disposed on a semiconductor substrate comprises a capacitive storage element having a first terminal connected to a fixed potential and a second terminal. A photodiode has an anode connected to a first potential and a cathode. A semiconductor ...	05/25/2004
6731397	Method for storing and retrieving digital image data from an imaging array A method for storing digital information from an image sensor comprises the steps of providing an image sensor producing three-color output data at each of a plurality of pixel locations; providing a digital storage device coupled to the image sensor; sensing three-...	05/04/2004

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Assignee: Foveon, Inc.