| US 7,592,577 B1 | ||
| Self-triggering CMOS imaging array utilizing guard region structures as light detectors | ||
| XinQiao Liu, Mountain View, Calif. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Fairchild Imaging, Inc., Milpitas, Calif. (US) | ||
| Filed on Apr. 28, 2008, as Appl. No. 12/111,016. | ||
| Int. Cl. H01L 27/00 (2006.01); H01L 31/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 250—208.1 [250/214.1; 250/370.09; 348/308; 257/297] | 9 Claims |
| 1. A device comprising:
an array of pixel sensors;
CMOS circuitry separate from said array of pixel sensors;
a guard region separating said CMOS circuitry from said array of pixel sensors, said guard region being positioned such that
said guard region is exposed to light when said array of pixel sensors is exposed to light; and
a current detector that measures the current flowing from said guard region to a power rail when said guard region is biased
to a predetermined potential and generates a start trigger signal when said current exceeds a threshold value.
|