1. A computer implemented system for facilitating secure dialog between a card holder and a card provider via a network, comprising:
a card provider server including a database of information having a plurality of card holder accounts data, the account data including at least a card holder status, the card provider server configured to manipulate the database;
a computer network;
a remote card holder interface for providing card holder access to the network;
a card provider virtual agent for communicating with the card holder interface and the card provider server to facilitate authorization of transactions; and
a merchant processing system for communicating with the card holder interface and the card provider server, the merchant processing system for receiving a transaction request from the card holder interface, sending a transaction authorization request to the card provider server, and receiving a transaction authorization notice from the card provider server, the transaction authorization notice comprising an approval notice or a denial notice from the card provider server,
wherein, in response to a denial notice from the card provider server, the merchant processing system provides a notification, in accordance with the transaction authorization notice, to the card holder interface, and the notification includes a linking means configured to enable the card holder to establish communication with the virtual agent through the card holder interface regarding the denied transaction request by selecting the linking means, which selection transmits information relating to the customer and the denied transaction to the virtual agent.
2. A computer implemented system for ensuring secure dialog between a card holder and a card provider via a network according to claim 1, wherein the linking means is provided to a card holder message account for receiving messages via a network, wherein the card holder message account is provided notification of the authorization notice in accordance with the authorization notice received from the card provider server.
3. A computer implemented system for ensuring secured dialog between a card holder and a card provider via a network according to claim 1, wherein the virtual agent sends a transaction approval code to the card provider server, the transaction approval code for establishing a transaction approval status for a transaction based on the card holder status.
4. A computer implemented system for ensuring secured dialog between a card holder and a card provider via a network according to claim 1, wherein the virtual agent provides the card holder approval status to the card holder interface.
5. A computer implemented system for ensuring secure dialog between a card holder and a card provider via a network according to claim 1, wherein the linking means provides means for ensuring authorized use of a card holder account by the card holder interface during the communications between the card holder interface and the virtual agent.
6. A computer implemented system for ensuring secure dialog between a card holder and a card provider via a network according to claim 1, wherein the virtual agent ensures authorized use of a card holder account by the card holder interface during the communications between the card holder interface and the virtual agent.
7. A computer implemented system for ensuring secured dialog between a card holder and a card provider via a network according to claim 3, wherein the transaction authorization notice includes an approval notice.
8. A computer implemented system for ensuring secured dialog between a card holder and a card provider via a network according to claim 1, wherein the virtual agent sends a transaction denial code to the card provider server, the transaction denial code for establishing a transaction denial status for the card holder status.
9. A computer implemented method for facilitating secure dialog between a card holder and a card provider via a network, comprising:
accepting a transaction request from a card holder interface at a merchant transaction processing system via a network;
requesting a card provider server to provide a transaction authorization of the transaction request;
receiving a transaction authorization notice from the card provider server in response to the transaction authorization request, wherein the transaction authorization notice comprises an approval notice or a denial notice;
sending to the card holder interface, in response to a denial notice, a notification in accordance with the transaction authorization notice, the notification including a means for enabling the card holder to establish communication with the virtual agent via the network regarding the denied transaction request by selecting the linking means, which selection transmits information relating to the customer and the denied transaction to the virtual agent.
10. A method according to claim 9 further including the step of allowing authorized account access during communication between the card holder interface and the virtual agent.
11. A method according to claim 9 further including the step of allowing authorized account access prior to the communication between the card holder interface and the virtual agent.
12. A method according to claim 9, wherein the means for enabling the card holder to establish communication with the card provider virtual agent via the network is received at a network based message account accessible by the card holder interface.
13. A computer implemented method of facilitating approval of a transaction using a secured dialog system allowing communication between a card holder and a card provider via a network, comprising:
receiving a first transaction request at a merchant transaction processing system via a network;
requesting from a card provider server a transaction authorization of the first transaction request;
receiving a transaction authorization notice from the card provider server in response to the first transaction authorization request;
providing, to a card holder interface, the transaction authorization notice, wherein the transaction authorization notice comprises an approval notice or a denial notice;
providing to the card holder interface, in response to a denial notice, a means for enabling the card holder to establish communication with a card provider virtual agent via the network, regarding the denied transaction request by selecting the linking means, which selection transmits information relating to the customer and the denied transaction to the virtual agent, the virtual agent configured to provide a transaction authorization code to the card provider server;
receiving the transaction authorization code at the card provider server, the transaction code establishing a transaction approval status or a transaction denial status for a card holder account;
receiving a second transaction request from the merchant transaction processing system re-requesting a transaction authorization notice from the card provider server; and
approving the transaction request, and forwarding a transaction request approval notice from the card provider server.
14. A method according to claim 13 further including the step of facilitating authorized account access during communication between the card holder interface and the virtual agent.
15. A method according to claim 13 further including the step of facilitating authorized account access prior to the communication between the card holder interface and the virtual agent.
16. A method according to claim 13 further comprising the step of providing the means for communicating between the card holder interface and a card provider virtual agent via the network to the card holder interface during a transaction request process.
17. A method according to claim 9 further comprising the step of providing the means for enabling the card holder to establish communication with the card provider virtual agent via the network to a network based message account accessible by the card holder interface.
18. A method according to claim 9, further comprising receiving a transaction authorization code from the virtual agent at the card provider server in response to the communication between the card holder interface and the virtual agent, the transaction authorization code establishing a transaction approval status or a transaction denial status for a card holder account.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An imaging pixel, comprising:
a substrate;
a first layer of a first doping type in the substrate;
a second layer of a second doping type in the substrate, wherein the first and second layers form a p-n junction and the second layer is directly beneath the first layer;
a third layer of the second doping type in the substrate, wherein the third layer is directly beneath the second layer; and
a counter-doping implant region in the substrate, wherein the counter-doping implant region has a first portion that extends into the second layer and a second portion that extends into the third layer.
2. The imaging pixel defined in claim 1 wherein the first layer of the first doping type comprises a p-type layer.
3. The imaging pixel defined in claim 2 wherein the second layer of the second doping type comprises an n-type layer.
4. The imaging pixel defined in claim 3 wherein the counter-doping implant region comprises a p-type implant region.
5. The imaging pixel defined in claim 4 wherein the n-type layer has a first dopant concentration, wherein the p-type implant region has a second dopant concentration, and wherein the second dopant concentration is less than the first dopant concentration.
6. The imaging pixel defined in claim 5 wherein the p-type implant region is surrounded above, below and on at least two sides by the second layer and the third layer.
7. The imaging pixel defined in claim 6 wherein the third layer of the second doping type has a concentration of n-type dopants that is less than the first dopant concentration.
8. The imaging pixel defined in claim 7 wherein the concentration of n-type dopants in the third layer is less than the second dopant concentration of the p-type implant region.
9. The imaging pixel defined in claim 8 further comprising a p-well in the substrate, wherein the p-type implant region contacts the p-well.
10. A photodiode, comprising:
a substrate;
first and second layers that form a first p-n junction in the substrate;
a third layer in the substrate; and
an implant region of a single doping type in the substrate, wherein the implant region has a first portion that extends into the second layer and a second portion that extends into the third layer and forms a second p-n junction with the third layer in the substrate.
11. The photodiode defined in claim 10 wherein the first layer is doped with p-type dopants, wherein the second layer is doped with n-type dopants, and wherein the implant region is doped with p-type dopants.
12. The photodiode defined in claim 11 wherein the second layer is doped with a first concentration of the n-type dopants, wherein the implant region is doped with a second concentration of the p-type dopants, and wherein the second concentration is less than the first concentration.
13. The photodiode defined in claim 12 wherein the third layer in the substrate is doped with n-type dopants.
14. The photodiode defined in claim 13 wherein the third layer is doped with a third concentration of the n-type dopants that is less than the second concentration of the p-type dopants of the implant region.
15. A system, comprising:
a central processing unit;
memory;
input-output circuitry; and
an imaging device, wherein the imaging device comprises:
a pixel array formed in a substrate; and
a lens that focuses an image on the pixel array, wherein the pixel array includes at least one photodiode comprising:
a p-n junction in the substrate; and
an implant region of a single doping type that only partially overlaps with a portion of the p-n junction and counter-dopes the overlapped portion of the p-n junction.
16. The system defined in claim 15 wherein the p-n junction in the substrate comprises:
a p-type region; and
an n-type region, wherein the implant region partially overlaps with the portion of the n-type region.
17. The system defined in claim 16 wherein the implant region is implanted with p-type dopants.
18. The system defined in claim 17 wherein the implant region has a first dopant concentration, wherein the n-type region has a second dopant concentration that is greater than the first dopant concentration.
19. The system defined in claim 18 wherein the photodiode further comprises:
an n-type layer in the substrate, wherein the implant region partially overlaps with the n-type layer in the substrate.
20. The system defined in claim 19 wherein the n-type layer in the substrate has a third dopant concentration that is less than the first dopant concentration.