Electrode trace structure, image sensor system

Abstract

An electrode wiring structure and an image sensor system, the electrode wiring structure comprising: M electrode lines and N groups of signal connection units, M and N are positive integers. The M electrode lines extend along a first direction. The mth group of signal connection units comprises: M signal terminals and M signal connection lines, 1≤m≤N. The M electrode lines and the M signal connection lines correspond one by one, the M signal terminals are connected to the M electrode lines through the M signal connection lines at M connection points, the M signal connection lines extend along a second direction, and the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. In the mth group of signal connection units, the M signal terminals comprise: at least one transfer gate control signal terminal. The connection point corresponding to the transfer gate control signal terminal is located in the middle of the electrode line.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of circuits, and more particularly to an electrode wiring structure and an image sensor system. Background Technology

[0002] ECCD image sensors combine CCD and CMOS technologies. Image signals are converted into electrons via the photoelectric effect and then conducted stage by stage through the CCD electrodes. At the final stage of the CCD electrodes, the electrons are transmitted to the FD node via the transmission transistor (TX). Finally, the signal at the FD node is quantized and read out through a source follower, similar to that of a conventional CMOS image sensor.

[0003] When electrons travel between the CCD electrodes and the TX transmission tube, the operating signals of each CCD electrode and the TX transmission tube need to be synchronized to ensure that the electrons travel in the designed direction. Please refer to [reference needed]. Figure 1 This diagram illustrates the forward electron transport. The image sensor includes a transmission tube TX_down and n CCD electrodes. After the image signal is converted into electrons via the photoelectric effect, it is transmitted from the first CCD electrode PH1 to the second CCD electrode PH2, from the second CCD electrode PH2 to the third CCD electrode PH3, from the third CCD electrode PH3 to the fourth CCD electrode PH4, from the fourth CCD electrode PH4 to the fifth CCD electrode PH5, and so on, from the (n-1)th CCD electrode PHn-1 to the nth CCD electrode PHn. Then, the nth CCD electrode PHn transmits the electrons to the transmission tube TX_down, which conducts them to the FD node. In this case, the electrode engaging with the transmission tube TX_down is the nth CCD electrode PHn.

[0004] Please refer to Figure 2 This diagram illustrates the reverse electron transfer process. The image sensor includes a transmission tube TX_up and n CCD electrodes. After the image signal is converted into electrons via the photoelectric effect, it is transferred from the nth CCD electrode PHn to the (n-1)th CCD electrode PHn-1, from the (n-1)th CCD electrode PHn-1 to the (n-2)th CCD electrode PHn-2, from the (n-2)th CCD electrode PHn-2 to the (n-3)th CCD electrode PHn-3, from the (n-3)th CCD electrode PHn-3 to the (n-4)th CCD electrode PHn-4… from the second CCD electrode PH2 to the first CCD electrode PH1. Then, from the first CCD electrode PH1, the electrons are transferred to the transmission tube TX_up, which conducts the electrons to the FD node. In this case, the electrode engaging with the transmission tube TX_up is the first CCD electrode PH1. During the operation of the image sensor, [the following steps can be taken]. Figure 1 and Figure 2Choose one of the two methods shown for electronic transmission.

[0005] Due to varying loads, the CCD electrode signals and the transmission tube operating signals experience RC delays along the traces, which can worsen phase engagement of pixels located far from the drive signal input. In ultra-high-speed line frequency applications, the line period, which is also the CCD electrode period or the transmission tube TX period, is extremely short, resulting in a correspondingly shorter phase engagement time. The RC delay's deterioration of the phase will severely impact electron transfer.

[0006] ECCD electrodes are very long, reaching hundreds of thousands of micrometers. To drive the electrodes, signals in traditional low-speed ECCD electrode wiring layouts are accessed from one or both sides of the electrode, arranged as follows: Figure 3 As shown. The electrodes include: CCD electrodes PH1 to PHn, and control electrodes for the transmission tubes TX_up and TX_down.

[0007] However, when the pixel array is large, the electrode signals inside the pixel array need to undergo a long trace RC delay, making it impossible to transmit high-speed electrode signals. Furthermore, the phase of the electrode signals is severely degraded due to RC mismatch.

[0008] To overcome the drawbacks of dual-side access, in high-speed applications with large arrays, electrode signals are typically accessed sequentially along the vertical direction of the array, and repeated multiple times, with the driving distance of each group decreasing, such as... Figure 4 As shown. However, when there are many electrode stages, the distance occupied by a group of signals is also very long, so there is also a certain phase degradation between the transmission tubes TX_up and TX_down at the edge of the array and the CCD electrodes that mesh with them. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The problem addressed by this invention is that the RC delay in existing electrode trace structures can severely affect electron transport due to phase degradation.

[0010] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention provides an electrode trace structure, comprising: M electrode lines and N groups of signal connection units, where M and N are both positive integers. The M electrode lines extend along a first direction. The m-th group of signal connection units includes: M signal terminals and M signal connection lines, 1 ≤ m ≤ N. The M electrode lines correspond one-to-one with the M signal connection lines. The M signal terminals are connected to the M electrode lines at M connection points via the M signal connection lines. The M signal connection lines extend along a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction. In the m-th group of signal connection units, the M signal terminals include at least one transmission gate control signal terminal. The connection point corresponding to the transmission gate control signal terminal is located in the middle of its respective electrode line.

[0011] Optionally, in the second direction, the M signal connection terminals are located on one side of the M electrode lines.

[0012] Optionally, the M signal connection terminals are arranged along the first direction.

[0013] Optionally, in the m-th group of signal connection units, the M signal terminals further include: multiple electrode driving signal terminals; the multiple electrode driving signal terminals are located on the first side of the transmission gate control signal terminal and the second side of the transmission gate control signal terminal.

[0014] Optionally, the multiple connection points corresponding to the multiple electrode driving ends are arranged in an orderly manner, and the multiple signal connection lines connected to the multiple electrode driving ends do not overlap with each other.

[0015] Optionally, the ordered paths include: a first path, a second path, and a third path arranged in sequence. The first path is along a third direction, from the first side of the transmission gate control signal terminal to the first edge of the m-th group of signal connection units, where the third direction is opposite to or the same as the first direction. The second path is along a fourth direction, from the first edge of the m-th group of signal connection units to the second edge of the m-th group of signal connection units, where the fourth direction is opposite to the third direction. The third path is along the third direction, from the second edge of the m-th group of signal connection units to the second side of the transmission gate control signal terminal.

[0016] Optionally, the ordered paths include: a fourth path and a fifth path arranged in sequence; the fourth path is: along a third direction, from the first side of the transmission gate control signal terminal to the first edge of the m-th group of signal connection units, the third direction being opposite to or the same as the first direction; the fifth path is: along a fourth direction, from the first edge of the m-th group of signal connection units to the second side of the transmission gate control signal terminal, the fourth direction being opposite to the third direction.

[0017] The present invention also provides an image sensor system, comprising: a pixel unit and the above-described electrode wiring structure, wherein the pixel unit is connected to the electrode wiring.

[0018] The present invention also provides an image sensor system, comprising: a pixel unit and the above-described electrode wiring structure, wherein the pixel unit comprises: an electrode and a transmission tube; an electrode line corresponding to the electrode driving signal terminal is connected to the electrode in the pixel unit, and an electrode line corresponding to the transmission gate control signal terminal is connected to the transmission tube in the pixel unit.

[0019] Optionally, the image sensor system further includes: a driving unit; the driving unit is adapted to apply a first driving signal to the electrode driving signal terminal and apply a second driving signal to the transmission gate control signal terminal; wherein the first driving signal is adapted to drive the electrode in the pixel unit, and the second driving signal is adapted to drive the transmission tube in the pixel unit.

[0020] Compared with the prior art, the technical solution of the present invention has the following advantages:

[0021] Compared with the existing electrode routing layout, the connection point corresponding to the transmission gate control signal terminal of the present invention is located in the middle of its electrode line. In this way, the phase deterioration between the transmission gate control signal terminal and the electrode drive signal terminal that engages with the transmission gate control signal terminal is improved due to the shortening of the transmission distance. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the forward electron transport;

[0023] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of electron reverse transmission;

[0024] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the existing low-speed ECCD electrode routing layout;

[0025] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the existing high-speed ECCD electrode routing layout;

[0026] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the electrode wiring structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0028] like Figure 5 As shown, an embodiment of the present invention provides an electrode trace structure, including: M electrode lines and N sets of signal connection units, where M and N are both positive integers.

[0029] All M electrode lines extend along a first direction. The m-th group of signal connection units includes: M signal terminals and M signal connection lines, where 1 ≤ m ≤ N.

[0030] The M electrode lines correspond one-to-one with the M signal connection lines, and the M signal terminals are connected to the M electrode lines at M connection points via the M signal connection lines. The M signal connection lines extend along a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction.

[0031] In the m-th group of signal connection units, the M signal terminals include: at least one transmission gate control signal terminal; the connection point corresponding to the transmission gate control signal terminal is located in the middle of its electrode line.

[0032] Specifically, the M electrode wires include: the 1st electrode wire, the 2nd electrode wire, the 3rd electrode wire, the 4th electrode wire, the 5th electrode wire, the 6th electrode wire, ... the M-5th electrode wire, the M-4th electrode wire, the M-3rd electrode wire, the M-2nd electrode wire, the M-1st electrode wire, and the Mth electrode wire.

[0033] The M signal terminals include: transmission gate control signal terminals TX_up and TX_down, and electrode drive signal terminals PH1, PH2, PH3, PH4, PH5... electrode drive signal terminals Phi, Phi+1, PHi+2, PHi+3, PHi+4, PHi+5... electrode drive signal terminals Phj, Phj+1, and PHj+2. Electrode drive signal terminals PHj+3, PHj+4, PHj+5, PHj+6, PHj+7..., Phk, Phk+1, PHk+2, PHk+3, PHk+4, PHk5..., PHn-4, PHn-3, PHn-2, PHn-1, and PHn.

[0034] Each signal terminal corresponds to a connection point on the electrode line. The connection points for the transmission gate control signal terminals TX_up and TX_down are located in the middle of their respective electrode lines, i.e., not at the edge.

[0035] and Figure 4 Compared to the existing electrode routing layout shown, in this embodiment, the connection point corresponding to the transmission gate control signal terminal is located in the middle of its electrode line. As a result, the phase deterioration between the transmission gate control signal terminal and the electrode drive signal terminal that engages with the transmission gate control signal terminal is improved due to the shortened transmission distance.

[0036] Continue to refer to Figure 5 In the second direction, all M signal connection terminals are located on one side of the M electrode lines. The M signal connection terminals are arranged along the first direction.

[0037] The electrode drive signal terminals are located on the first side and the second side of the transmission gate control signal terminals. Specifically, electrode drive signal terminals PH1, PH2, PH3, PH4, PH5... electrode drive signal terminals Phi, Phi+1, PHi+2, PHi+3, PHi+4, PHi+5... electrode drive signal terminals Phj, Phj+1, PHj+2, and PHj+3 are located on the first side (left side) of the transmission gate control signal terminals TX_up and TX_down. Electrode drive signal terminals PHj+4, PHj+5, PHj+6, PHj+7..., PHk, PHk+1, PHk+2, PHk+3, PHk+4, PHk5..., PHn-4, PHn-3, PHn-2, PHn-1, and PHn are located on the second side (right side) of the transmission gate control signal terminals TX_up and TX_down.

[0038] The multiple connection points corresponding to the multiple electrode driving ends are arranged in an orderly manner, and the multiple signal connection lines connected to the multiple electrode driving ends do not overlap with each other.

[0039] As one possible approach, the ordered paths include: a first path, a second path, and a third path arranged in sequence.

[0040] The first path is: along a third direction, from the first side of the transmission gate control signal terminal to the first edge of the m-th group of signal connection units, wherein the third direction is opposite to or the same as the first direction; the second path is: along a fourth direction, from the first edge of the m-th group of signal connection units to the second edge of the m-th group of signal connection units, wherein the fourth direction is opposite to the third direction; the third path is: along the third direction, from the second edge of the m-th group of signal connection units to the second side of the transmission gate control signal terminal.

[0041] Assume the third direction is opposite to the first direction. Following the first path, starting from the connection point corresponding to the first side (left side) of the transmission gate control signal terminal TX_up and the transmission gate control signal terminal TX_down, along the third direction, the connection points corresponding to the electrode drive signal terminals PH1, PH2, PH3, PH4, PH5, ... Phi, Phi+1, PHi+2, PHi+3 are arranged sequentially to the first edge of the m-th group of signal connection units.

[0042] Then, following the second path, starting from the first edge of the m-th group of signal connection units, along the fourth direction, the connection points corresponding to the electrode driving signal terminals PHi+4, PHi+5, ..., Phj, Phj+1, PHj+2, PHj+3, PHj+4, PHj+5, PHj+6, PHj+7, ..., Phk, Phk+1, PHk+2, and PHk+3 are sequentially arranged to the second edge of the m-th group of signal connection units.

[0043] Next, following the third path, starting from the second edge of the m-th group of signal connection units, along the third direction, the connection points corresponding to the electrode drive signal terminals PHk+4, PHk5, ..., PHn-4, PHn-3, PHn-2, PHn-1, and PHn are sequentially arranged to the second (right) side connection points of the transmission gate control signal terminals TX_up and TX_down. It is worth noting that the signal connection lines corresponding to all signal terminals do not overlap.

[0044] Optionally, the ordered paths may include: a fourth path and a fifth path arranged in sequence.

[0045] The fourth path is: along a third direction, from the first side of the transmission gate control signal terminal to the first edge of the m-th group of signal connection units, wherein the third direction is opposite to or the same as the first direction. The fifth path is: along a fourth direction, from the first edge of the m-th group of signal connection units to the second side of the transmission gate control signal terminal, wherein the fourth direction is opposite to the third direction.

[0046] The specific implementation methods of the fourth and fifth paths can be referred to the examples of the first, second and third paths described above, and will not be repeated here.

[0047] As can be seen from the above description, this embodiment proposes a novel layout scheme. Within a group of signal connection units, the connection points corresponding to the transmission gate control signal terminal and the electrode drive signal terminal that engages with the transmission gate control signal terminal are first placed in the middle of the electrode lines. Then, they are arranged to one side according to the increasing or decreasing electrode number. After reaching one edge of the signal connection unit, they are folded back and arranged to the other edge. Then, they are folded back again until they return to the middle position. The signal connection lines corresponding to the back-and-forth connection points are interspersed with each other. In this way, at the edges, the phase deterioration between the transmission gate control signal terminal and the electrode drive signal terminal that engages with the transmission gate control signal terminal is improved due to the shortened transmission distance.

[0048] While the present invention has been disclosed above, it is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can make various modifications and alterations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention; therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope defined in the claims.

Claims

1. An electrode trace structure, characterized in that, include: M electrode lines and N signal connection units, where M and N are both positive integers; The M electrode wires extend along a first direction; The m-th group of signal connection units includes: M signal terminals and M signal connection lines, where 1 ≤ m ≤ N; The M electrode lines correspond one-to-one with the M signal connection lines. The M signal terminals are connected to the M electrode lines at M connection points through the M signal connection lines. The M signal connection lines extend along a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction. In the m-th group of signal connection units, the M signal terminals include: at least one transmission gate control signal terminal; The connection point corresponding to the transmission gate control signal terminal is located in the middle of its electrode line.

2. The electrode trace structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In the second direction, the M signal terminals are located on one side of the M electrode lines.

3. The electrode trace structure as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The M signal terminals are arranged along the first direction.

4. The electrode trace structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In the m-th group of signal connection units, the M signal terminals further include: multiple electrode drive signal terminals; The plurality of electrode drive signal terminals are located on the first side and the second side of the transmission gate control signal terminal.

5. The electrode trace structure as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The multiple connection points corresponding to the multiple electrode drive signal terminals are arranged in an orderly manner, and the multiple signal connection lines connected to the multiple electrode drive signal terminals do not overlap with each other.

6. The electrode trace structure as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The ordered paths include: the first path, the second path, and the third path arranged in sequence; The first path is: along a third direction, from the first side of the transmission gate control signal terminal to the first edge of the m-th group of signal connection units, wherein the third direction is opposite to or the same as the first direction; The second path is: along the fourth direction, from the first edge of the m-th group of signal connection units to the second edge of the m-th group of signal connection units, wherein the fourth direction is opposite to the third direction; The third path is: along the third direction, from the second edge of the m-th group of signal connection units to the second side of the transmission gate control signal terminal.

7. The electrode trace structure as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The ordered paths include: the fourth path and the fifth path in sequential order; The fourth path is: along a third direction, from the first side of the transmission gate control signal terminal to the first edge of the m-th group of signal connection units, wherein the third direction is opposite to or the same as the first direction; The fifth path is: along the fourth direction, from the first edge of the m-th group of signal connection units to the second side of the transmission gate control signal terminal, wherein the fourth direction is opposite to the third direction.

8. An image sensor system, characterized in that, include: The pixel unit and the electrode wiring structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the pixel unit is connected to the electrode line.

9. An image sensor system, characterized in that, include: The pixel unit and the electrode wiring structure according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the pixel unit comprises: an electrode and a transmission tube; The electrode line corresponding to the electrode driving signal terminal is connected to the electrode in the pixel unit, and the electrode line corresponding to the transmission gate control signal terminal is connected to the transmission tube in the pixel unit.

10. The image sensor system as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that, Also includes: Drive unit; The driving unit is adapted to apply a first driving signal to the electrode driving signal terminal and apply a second driving signal to the transmission gate control signal terminal. Wherein, the first driving signal is adapted to drive the electrode in the pixel unit, and the second driving signal is adapted to drive the transmission tube in the pixel unit.

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