US 11,924,564 B2
Image sensor controlling a conversion gain, imaging device having the same, and method of operating the same
Jungbin Yun, Hwaseong-si (KR); Hwanwoong Kim, Namyangju-si (KR); Eunsub Shim, Hwaseong-si (KR); Kyungho Lee, Suwon-si (KR); and Hongsuk Lee, Seoul (KR)
Assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., Suwon-si (KR)
Filed by SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., Suwon-si (KR)
Filed on Apr. 1, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/711,809.
Application 17/711,809 is a continuation of application No. 16/997,234, filed on Aug. 19, 2020, granted, now 11,310,447.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2019-0144199 (KR), filed on Nov. 12, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0224849 A1, Jul. 14, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04N 25/59 (2023.01); H01L 27/146 (2006.01); H04N 25/42 (2023.01); H04N 25/709 (2023.01); H04N 25/76 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 25/59 (2023.01) [H04N 25/42 (2023.01); H04N 25/709 (2023.01); H04N 25/76 (2023.01); H01L 27/14603 (2013.01); H01L 27/14621 (2013.01); H01L 27/14645 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image sensor comprising:
a first pixel configured to include a first floating diffusion region and a second floating diffusion region;
a second pixel configured to include a first floating diffusion region, a second floating diffusion region, and a third floating diffusion region;
a third pixel configured to include a first floating diffusion region, a second floating diffusion region, and a third floating diffusion region; and
a fourth pixel configured to include a first floating diffusion region and a second floating diffusion region,
wherein the second floating diffusion region of the first pixel and the second floating diffusion region of the second pixel are directly connected by a first metal line without an intermediate transistor, the third floating diffusion region of the second pixel and the third floating diffusion region of the third pixel are directly connected by a second metal line without an intermediate transistor, and the second floating diffusion region of the third pixel and the second floating diffusion region of the fourth pixel are directly connected by a third metal line without an intermediate transistor.