US 11,991,467 B2
Split-readout image sensor
Jiaju Ma, Monrovia, CA (US); and Saleh Masoodian, Monrovia, CA (US)
Assigned to Gigajot Technology, Inc., Glendale, CA (US)
Filed by Gigajot Technology, Inc., Glendale, CA (US)
Filed on Mar. 24, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/190,023.
Application 18/190,023 is a continuation of application No. 17/716,176, filed on Apr. 8, 2022, granted, now 11,632,514.
Application 17/716,176 is a continuation of application No. 16/871,720, filed on May 11, 2020, granted, now 11,330,218, issued on May 10, 2022.
Application 16/871,720 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/802,518, filed on Feb. 26, 2020, abandoned.
Application 16/802,518 is a continuation of application No. 16/548,251, filed on Aug. 22, 2019, granted, now 10,616,523, issued on Apr. 7, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/721,183, filed on Aug. 22, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0239592 A1, Jul. 27, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04N 5/335 (2011.01); H04N 25/57 (2023.01); H04N 25/75 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 25/75 (2023.01) [H04N 25/57 (2023.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An integrated-circuit image sensor, comprising:
a photodetection element to accumulate photocharge;
first and second floating diffusion nodes switchably coupled to the photodetection element via first and second transfer gates, respectively; and
readout control circuitry to:
switch on the first transfer gate to enable transfer of a first portion of the photocharge from the photodetection element to the first floating diffusion node; and
selectively switch on the second transfer gate, based on evaluation of the amount of the first portion of the photocharge transferred to the first floating diffusion node, to enable transfer of a second portion of the photocharge from the photodetection element to the second floating diffusion node.