Depth pixel having multi-tap structure and time-of-flight sensor including the same

• Main Authors: Kim, Youngchan, Jin, Younggu, Oh, Youngsun
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 11.04.2023
• Subjects: ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION ORRERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; MEASURING; PHYSICS; RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; TESTING

A depth pixel of a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor includes a common photogate disposed in a center region of the depth pixel, a plurality of floating diffusion regions disposed in a peripheral region surrounding the center region, a plurality of demodulation transfer gates disposed in the peripheral region, and a plurality of overflow gates disposed in the peripheral region. The demodulation transfer gates transfer a photo charge collected by the common photogate to the plurality of floating diffusion regions. The demodulation transfer gates are symmetric with respect to each of a horizontal line and a vertical line that pass through a center of the depth pixel and are substantially perpendicular to each other. The overflow gates drain the photo charge collected by the common photogate, and are symmetric with respect to each of the horizontal line and the vertical line.