System and method for sub-column parallel digitizers for hybrid stacked image sensor using vertical interconnects

1. An imaging sensor comprising:

a plurality of substrates;

a pixel array comprising pixels formed into a plurality of pixel columns, wherein each of said plurality of pixel columns is divided into a plurality of pixel sub-columns that are independent and distinct, wherein each pixel sub-column comprises a plurality of pixels, wherein each pixel sub-column has a pixel sub-column bus;

a plurality of supporting circuits formed into a plurality of supporting circuit columns, wherein each of said plurality of supporting circuit columns is divided into a plurality of circuit sub-columns that are independent and distinct, wherein each circuit sub-column has a circuit bus, wherein one pixel sub-column bus corresponds with one circuit bus;

wherein a first substrate of the plurality of substrates comprises the pixel array;

wherein the plurality of supporting circuits is disposed on a second substrate that is disposed remotely relative to said first substrate;

wherein each of said plurality of circuit sub-columns is electrically connected to, and in electrical communication with, a corresponding pixel sub-column of said pixel array; and

wherein said electrical communication is provided by an interconnect for each pixel sub-column bus and corresponding circuit bus disposed between said first substrate and said second substrate, such that each of the pixel sub-columns is read independently.

2. The imaging sensor of claim 1 , wherein each pixel sub-column bus and each circuit bus are superimposed, such that each pixel sub-column bus and each circuit bus are substantially aligned; and

wherein the interconnect is located anywhere along the superimposed pixel sub-column bus and circuit bus.

3. The imaging sensor of claim 2 , wherein the electrical connection between one pixel sub-column bus and one circuit bus is accomplished by a plurality of interconnects.

4. The imaging sensor of claim 1 , wherein said imaging sensor is backside illuminated.

5. The imaging sensor of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of substrates further comprise a plurality of subsequent supporting substrates.

6. The imaging sensor of claim 1 , wherein each pixel sub-column is electronically isolated from other pixel sub-columns.

7. The imaging sensor of claim 1 , wherein said second substrate comprises support circuits dedicated and corresponding to each pixel sub-column of the pixel array.

8. The imaging sensor of claim 1 , wherein said pixel sub-columns are electrically configured to be read at substantially the same time.

9. A method of accessing data on an imaging sensor comprising:

electronically connecting pixels in a pixel array located on a first substrate to support circuits on a second substrate;

wherein said pixel array is organized into pixel columns;

wherein each of said pixel columns is divided into a plurality of pixel sub-columns that are independent and distinct, wherein each pixel sub-column comprises a plurality of pixels, wherein each pixel sub-column has a pixel sub-column bus;

reading the plurality of pixel sub-columns starting with a first pixel in each sub-column and sequentially reading pixel data from each of the pixels until the last pixel in the sub-column is read;

transmitting said pixel data for each pixel sub-column through an interconnect to a corresponding circuit sub-column located on the second substrate, wherein the second substrate comprises a plurality of circuit columns, wherein each of said plurality of circuit columns is divided into a plurality of circuit sub-columns that are independent and distinct, wherein each circuit sub-column has a circuit bus, wherein one pixel sub-column bus corresponds with one circuit bus;

wherein the data from each pixel sub-column is processed by the circuit sub-column corresponding with each of said pixel sub-column,

processing said pixel data into an image.

10. The method of accessing data on an imaging sensor of claim 9 , further comprising reading pixel data from each pixel sub-column simultaneously.

11. The method of accessing data on an imaging sensor of claim 9 , further comprising transmitting said pixel data to a support circuit that corresponds to a plurality of pixel sub-columns from within the same pixel column.

12. An imaging sensor comprising:

a plurality of substrates comprising at least a first substrate and a second substrate;

a pixel array located on the first substrate and comprising a plurality of pixel columns, wherein each of the plurality of pixel columns is defined as a plurality of pixels in length enough to cover the dimension of the array;

wherein each of said pixel columns is divided into a plurality of pixel sub-columns, wherein each pixel sub-column comprises a plurality of pixels, such that each pixel sub-column is electrically isolated from other pixel sub-columns;

a plurality of supporting circuits located on the second substrate and comprising a plurality of circuit columns, wherein the plurality of circuit columns is divided into a plurality of circuit sub-columns that are independent and distinct where one circuit sub-column corresponds with one pixel sub-column, wherein each of the plurality of circuit sub-columns is defined as having an area and size that corresponds with an area and size of a corresponding pixel sub-column;

a plurality of buses, wherein there is one pixel sub-column bus per at least one pixel sub-column residing on the first substrate and one circuit column bus per at least one circuit sub-column residing on said second substrate;

wherein at least a portion of each of the pixel sub-column buses is superimposed with at least a portion of each of the corresponding circuit column buses and at least one interconnect providing electrical communication between one pixel sub-column bus and one corresponding circuit column bus; and

wherein said at least one interconnect is located anywhere along the superimposition of the pixel sub-column bus and the corresponding circuit column bus.

13. The imaging sensor of claim 12 , further comprising a plurality interconnects disposed between said substrates and wherein said plurality of interconnects are spaced relative to one another at a distance that is greater than a pixel pitch of said pixel array.

14. The imaging sensor of claim 12 , wherein the first substrate and second substrate are in alignment.

15. The imaging sensor of claim 12 , wherein an area of one of said pixel sub-columns on said first substrate is substantially equal to an area of one of said corresponding circuit sub-columns on said second substrate.

16. The imaging sensor of claim 12 , wherein said second substrate is substantially the same size as said first substrate.

17. The imaging sensor of claim 12 , wherein an area of one of said pixel sub-columns on said first substrate is larger than an area of one of said corresponding circuit sub-columns on said second substrate.

18. The imaging sensor of claim 12 , wherein an area of one of said pixel sub-columns on said first substrate is smaller than an area of one of said corresponding circuit sub-columns on said second substrate.

19. The imaging sensor of claim 12 , wherein an aspect ratio of one of said pixel sub-columns is substantially similar to an aspect ratio of one of said circuit sub-columns.

20. The imaging sensor of claim 12 , wherein a plurality of interconnects connect a pixel sub-column bus to a corresponding circuit column bus.

21. The imaging sensor of claim 12 , wherein an aspect ratio of one of said pixel sub-columns is different than an aspect ratio of one of said circuit sub-columns.

22. The imaging sensor of claim 12 , wherein the aspect ratio of at least one of said circuit sub-columns is “N” pixels wide and 1/“M” pixels in length of the aspect ratio of one of said pixel sub-columns.

23. The imaging sensor of claim 12 , wherein the aspect ratio of at least one of said circuit sub-columns is two times wider than and one-half the length of the aspect ratio of one of said pixel sub-columns.

24. The imaging sensor of claim 12 , wherein the aspect ratio of at least one of said circuit sub-columns is four times wider than and one-fourth the length of the aspect ratio of one of said pixel sub-columns.

25. The imaging sensor of claim 12 , wherein the aspect ratio of at least one of said circuit sub-columns is eight times wider than and one-eighth the length of the aspect ratio of one of said pixel sub-columns.

26. The method of accessing data on an imaging sensor of claim 9 , further comprising transmitting said pixel data from one of the plurality of pixel sub-columns to a support circuit having a support circuit area and size that is the same as the pixel sub-column area and size.

27. An imaging sensor comprising:

a plurality of substrates comprising a first substrate and a second, supporting substrate;

a pixel array comprising pixels formed into pixel columns, wherein each of the pixel columns is divided into a plurality of pixel sub-columns that are independent and distinct, wherein each pixel sub-column comprises a plurality of pixels, wherein each pixel sub-column has a corresponding pixel sub-column bus;

a plurality of supporting circuits formed into a plurality of supporting circuit columns, wherein each of the supporting circuit columns is divided into a plurality of circuit sub-columns that are independent and distinct, wherein each circuit sub-column has a corresponding circuit bus, wherein one pixel sub-column bus corresponds with one circuit bus;

wherein the first substrate comprises the pixel array and the pixel sub-column buses;

wherein the second, supporting substrate is disposed remotely relative to the first substrate and comprises the plurality of supporting circuits and the circuit buses;

wherein each of the circuit sub-columns is electrically connected to, and in electrical communication with, a corresponding pixel sub-column of the pixel array; and

wherein the electrical communication is provided by a single interconnect for each pixel sub-column bus and corresponding circuit bus disposed between the first substrate and the second, supporting substrate such that each of the pixel sub-columns is read independently.