IP Library Granted Patent US 8,618,492
Granted Patent B2
US 8,618,492 · App. 13/137,209 · Granted Dec 31, 2013

Radiation image pickup device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,618,492
App. No.
13/137,209
Granted
Dec 31, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A radiation image pickup device includes: an image pickup section having a plurality of pixels and generating an electric signal according to incident radiation, the plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion element and one or a plurality of transistors of a predetermined amplifier circuit; and a correction section subjecting signal data of the electric signal obtained in the image pickup section to predetermined correction process. The correction section makes a comparison between measurement data obtained by measuring an input-output characteristic of the amplifier circuit in each of the plurality of pixels and initial data on the input-output characteristic, and performs the correction process by the pixel individually, by using a result of the comparison.

Claims (20)

1. A radiation image pickup device comprising:

an image pickup section having a plurality of pixels and generating an electric signal according to incident radiation, each of the plurality of pixels including a photoelectric conversion element and one or a plurality of transistors of a predetermined amplifier circuit; and

a correction section configured to subject signal data from the electric signal obtained from the image pickup section to a predetermined correction process,

wherein the correction section makes an individual comparison for each of the plurality of pixels between measurement data obtained by measuring an input-output characteristic of the amplifier circuit and initial data on the input-output characteristic of the amplifier circuit, and performs the correction process individually for each of the plurality of pixels, based on the individual comparison for each of the plurality of pixels.

2. The radiation image pickup device according to claim 1 , wherein the correction section performs

generation of predetermined correction data by the pixel, based on the result of the comparison, and

the correction process by using the correction data.

3. The radiation image pickup device according to claim 2 , wherein the correction section performs

determination of an offset amount of the input-output characteristic between the measurement data and the initial data, as the correction data, and

offset correction as the correction process, by using the offset amount.

4. The radiation image pickup device according to claim 3 , wherein the correction section performs

determination of a gain error of the input-output characteristic between the measurement data and the initial data, as the correction data, and

gain correction as the correction process, by using the gain error.

5. The radiation image pickup device according to claim 4 , wherein the correction section performs

determination of a linearity error of the input-output characteristic between the measurement data and the initial data, as the correction data, and

linearity correction as the correction process, by using the linearity error.

6. The radiation image pickup device according to claim 1 , wherein the measurement data is obtained by measuring an output voltage from the amplifier circuit, while gradually changing a reset voltage used in resetting an input voltage from the photoelectric conversion element to the amplifier circuit.

7. The radiation image pickup device according to claim 6 , wherein the measurement data is obtained by measuring the input-output characteristic, within a period without entering the radiation in the image pickup section.

8. The radiation image pickup device according to claim 7 , wherein the measurement data is obtained by measuring the output voltage, after a lapse of a predetermined exposure period starting upon completion of a period of applying the reset voltage.

9. The radiation image pickup device according to claim 1 , wherein the radiation is X-rays.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 19, 2016
From: SONY CORPORATION
To: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 040419/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 28, 2011
From: SENDA, MICHIRU; TANAKA, TSUTOMU; HARADA, TSUTOMU
To: SONY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026739/0196 →