1. A method of conducting a wagering game, the method comprising:
performing the following operations on a computer via a processor:
receiving a wager from a player on a player chosen outcome, the wager paying according to a first paytable;
conducting a wagering game with a first game state;
progressing the first game state into a second game state based on a random determination;
determining from the player that the player wishes to change from the second game state back into the first game state in exchange to activate a second paytable for the wager;
reverting the game from the second game state back to the first game state without receiving an additional wager from the player;
completing the game to determine whether the wager wins or loses; and
if the wager is determined to win, then paying the wager according to a second paytable,
wherein if the player did not choose to change from the second game state back to the first game state, then if the wager is determined to win, then the wager is paid using the first paytable.
2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the wager in the second game state has a higher expected value than the first game state.
3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the wager in the first game state has a higher expected value than the second game state.
4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein an expected value of the wager in the second game state using the first paytable is equal to the wager in the first game state using the second paytable.
5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein an expected value of the wager in the first game state using the second paytable is equal to an expected value of the wager in the second game state using the first paytable, but for a house advantage factored into the second paytable.
6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second paytable applies only to the wager but not a new wager placed after the reverting operation.
7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the determining comprises offering the player a pop up screen displaying the opportunity to revert to the first game state in exchange for applying the second paytable to the wager.
8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the determining comprises displaying the second paytable to the player.
9. An electronic gaming apparatus to conduct a wagering game, the apparatus comprising:
a computer, programmed to perform the following operations:
receive a wager from a player on a player chosen outcome, the wager paying according to a first paytable:
conduct a wagering game with a first game state;
progress the first game state into a second game state based on a random determination;
determine from the player that the player wishes to change from the second game state back into the first game state in exchange to activate a second paytable for the wager;
revert the game from the second game state back to the first game state without receiving an additional wager from the player;
complete the game to determine whether the wager wins or loses; and
if the wager is determined to win, then pay the wager according to a second paytable,
wherein if the player did not choose to change from the second game state back to the first game state, then if the wager is determined to win, then the wager is paid using the first paytable; and an output device.
10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the wager in the second game state has a higher expected value than the first game state.
11. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the wager in the first game state has a higher expected value than the second game state.
12. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein an expected value of the wager in the second game state using the first paytable is equal to the wager in the first game state using the second paytable.
13. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein an expected value of the wager in the first game state using the second paytable is equal to an expected value of the wager in the second game state using the first paytable, but for a house advantage factored into the second paytable.
14. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the second paytable applies only to the wager but not a new wager placed after the revert operation.
15. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the determine comprises, offer the player a pop up screen displaying the opportunity to revert to the first game state in exchange for applying the second paytable to the wager.
16. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the determine comprises, display the second paytable to the player.
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 imager pixel, comprising:
a silicon-on-insulator substrate comprising a lower substrate portion, a buried oxide over the lower substrate portion, and a silicon layer over the buried oxide;
a photodiode in the lower substrate portion, wherein the pixel has an area dimension with respect to the substrate, and the photodiode substantially spans the entire pixel area dimension;
a dual contact comprising a first contact plug to the photodiode and a second contact plug extending to the lower substrate portion adjacent the photodiode; and
a conductive strap connecting the first contact plug with the second contact plug.
2. The imager pixel of claim 1, wherein the photodiode spans at least 95% of the pixel area dimension.
3. The imager pixel of claim 1, wherein the dual contact extends through the buried oxide layer and the silicon layer over the buried oxide layer.
4. The imager pixel of claim 3, wherein the second contact plug extends through an isolation region to reach the lower substrate.
5. The imager pixel of claim 4, wherein the first contact plug extends through a sourcedrain region of a pixel transistor.
6. The imager pixel of claim 3, wherein the substrate has a p-type conductivity region around the dual contact.
7. The imager pixel of claim 1, wherein the buried oxide is rich in at least one of boron, fluorine, and deuterium.
8. The imager pixel of claim 1, wherein the lower substrate portion is an n-on-n+ epitaxial material.
9. The imager pixel of claim 8, wherein a lower substrate portion is a graded n+ epi layer.
10. The imager pixel of claim 1, wherein the photodiode is configured to sense light impacting the lower substrate portion on a side thereof opposite the buried oxide and silicon layer.
11. The imager pixel of claim 1, further comprising at least one second photodiode, wherein each of the photodiode and the second photodiode comprises a respective charge collection region, the respective charge collection regions being positioned at respective depths within the substrate relative to a light source such that the photodiode senses a first color of light and the second photodiode senses a second color of light.
12. The imager pixel of claim 1, further comprising at least one second photodiode and at least one third photodiode, wherein each of the photodiode, the second photodiode, and the third photodiode each comprises a respective charge collection region, the respective charge collection regions being positioned at respective depths within the substrate relative to a light source such that the photodiode senses a first color of light, the second photodiode senses a second color of light, and the third photodiode senses a third color of light.
13. A CMOS imager, comprising:
a silicon-on-insulator substrate comprising a lower substrate portion, a buried oxide over the lower substrate portion, and a silicon layer over the buried oxide;
an isolation region in the silicon layer, the isolation region defining a pixel area;
a pinned photodiode in the lower substrate portion;
a pixel circuit comprising a plurality of transistors supported by the silicon layer;
a dual contact from a transfer transistor to a charge collection region of the photodiode, the dual contact having a first contact penetrating the lower substrate portion to the charge collection region and a second contact penetrating the isolation region and lower substrate portion adjacent the photodiode; and
a conductive strap connecting the first contact and the second contact of the dual contact.
14. The CMOS imager of claim 13, wherein the first contact extends through a sourcedrain region of the transfer transistor and the buried oxide to the charge collection region.
15. The CMOS imager of claim 13, wherein the buried oxide is rich in at least one of boron, fluorine, and deuterium.
16. The CMOS imager of claim 13, wherein the photodiode is configured to sense light impacting the lower substrate portion on a side of the lower substrate portion opposite the buried oxide and silicon layer.
17. A processor system, comprising:
an imager coupled to a processor, the imager comprising an array of pixels, each pixel comprising:
a silicon-on-insulator substrate comprising a lower substrate portion, a buried oxide over the lower substrate portion, and a silicon layer over the buried oxide; and
a pinned photodiode in the lower substrate portion, wherein the pixel has an area dimension with respect to the substrate and the photodiode substantially spans the entire pixel area dimension;
a first contact through the silicon layer and buried oxide to the pinned photodiode;
a second contact through the silicon layer and buried oxide to the lower substrate portion outside the pinned photodiode; and
a conductive strap connecting the first contact with the second contact.
18. The processor system of claim 17, further comprising a dual contact to the photodiode, wherein a first contact plug extends to the photodiode and a second contact plug extends to a region of the substrate adjacent the photodiode.
19. The processor system of claim 17, further comprising a shallow trench isolation region around the pixel.
20. The processor system of claim 17, further comprising a diffused isolation region around the pixel.