COLOR ACTIVE PIXEL SENSOR WITH ELECTRONIC SHUTTER, WHICH IS ANTI-BLOOMING AND OF LOW CROSS-TALK

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a new APS device pixel architecture and an operation method. SOLUTION: An active pixel sensor architecture comprises a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of pixels in which microlens and lightshields are provided. Each pixel comprises: a photodetector region upon which incident light will form photoelectrons to be collected as a signal charge; a means for transferring the signal charge from the photodetector region to a charge storage region which is covered by a light shield; and a sense node which is an input to an amplifier. The sense node is operatively connected to the signal storage region. The pixel architecture facilitates symmetrical design of pixels which allows for incorporation of light shield and microlens technology into the design. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT