CCD Image Sensor with Variable Reset Operation

CCD Image Sensor with Variable Reset Operation

The reset operation of a CCD image sensor was improved using charge trapping of a MOS structure to realize a loe voltage driving. A DC bias generating circuit was added to the reset structure which sets reference voltage and holds the signal charge to be detected. The generated DC bias is added to the reset pulse to give an optimized voltage margin to the reset operation, and is controlled by adjustment of the threshold voltage of a MOS transistor in the circuit. By the pulse-type stress voltage applied to the gate, the electrons and holes were injected to the gate dielectrics, and the threshold voltage could be adjusted ranging from 0.2V to 5.5V, which is suitable for controlling the incomplete reset operation due to the process variation. The charges trapped in the silicon nitride lead to the positive and negative shift of the threshold voltage, and this phenomenon is explained by Poole-Frenkel conduction and Fowler-Nordheim conduction. A CCD image sensor with $492(H){\;}{\times}{\;}510(V)$ pixels adopting this structure showed complete reset operation with the driving voltage of 3.0V. The resolution chart taken with the image sensor shows no image flow to the illumination of 30 lux, even in the driving voltage of 3.0V.