Global Shutter Image Sensor Fine Pitch Circuitry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Global shutter image sensors offer higher quality images but require larger circuit components, increasing pixel pitch and reducing optical resolution, while rolling shutter sensors suffer from artifacts in high-speed imaging, such as geometric deformation and wobble effects.
Innovation Solution
An image sensor combining global shutter circuitry for high luminance pixels and rolling shutter circuitry for low luminance pixels, with a fine pixel pitch of less than 2 micrometers, allowing for enhanced imaging characteristics and reduced semiconductor area, thereby mitigating visual artifacts and achieving high optical performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If global shutter circuitry is used for all pixels, then image quality is improved, but pixel pitch increases and optical resolution decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing global shutter circuitry only for high luminance pixels (e.g., green pixels in RGB sensors) while using rolling shutter circuitry for low luminance pixels. This selective approach maintains high image quality where it matters most (luminance channels) while reducing overall pixel pitch and increasing optical resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the pixel array into different types based on luminance requirements. High luminance pixels use global shutter circuitry to capture high-quality images without artifacts, while low luminance pixels use compact rolling shutter circuitry. This segmentation allows the sensor to achieve fine pitch while maintaining overall image quality.
2Reliability
If global shutter circuitry is used for all pixels, then visual artifacts are reduced, but semiconductor area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies global shutter circuitry locally only to high luminance pixels where visual artifact reduction provides the most benefit, while using rolling shutter circuitry for low luminance pixels where the artifact impact is less critical. This reduces total semiconductor area while maintaining visual quality.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the sensor into high luminance and low luminance pixel regions with different shutter circuitry types, the patent reduces overall semiconductor area consumption while maintaining visual artifact reduction in the most important channels.
3Length of stationary object
If rolling shutter circuitry is used, then pixel pitch is reduced, but visual artifacts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent mitigates visual artifacts by applying global shutter circuitry to high luminance pixels which are most sensitive to artifacts, while accepting rolling shutter artifacts in low luminance pixels where the impact is less noticeable. This local quality approach reduces overall visual artifacts while maintaining fine pitch.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the limitation of rolling shutter circuitry into a benefit by strategically placing it only in low luminance pixels where artifacts are less problematic, while using global shutter in high luminance pixels to eliminate artifacts where they matter most. This transforms a potential harm into an optimized solution.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The combined image sensor achieves improved optical performance with smaller pixel pitch and higher resolution than conventional global shutter sensors, providing high-quality, low-noise image capture with reduced visual artifacts.
Implementation Method 1
an array of photodiodes configured to generate electrical information representative of the image in response to the image being focused at the array of photodiodes
Data Source
AI summary
An image sensor having global shutter circuitry and an extremely fine pixel pitch. Disclosed image sensors combine global shutter circuitry with rolling shutter circuitry for respective subsets of sensor pixels to marry imaging benefits of global shutter circuitry with relatively small circuit overhead of rolling shutter circuitry. Such image sensors can achieve improved optical performance with smaller pixel pitch and optical resolution than existing global shutter image sensors.