IP Library Granted Patent US 8,859,978
Granted Patent B2
US 8,859,978 · App. 14/072,114 · Granted Oct 14, 2014

Radiation image pickup device

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,859,978
App. No.
14/072,114
Granted
Oct 14, 2014
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 (73)

1. A photo-electronic conversion device comprising:

an image pickup section including a plurality of pixels and configured to generate an electric signal according to incident light, the image pickup section including a photoelectric conversion element and an amplifier circuit; and

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

wherein the correction section makes a comparison for the plurality of pixels between measurement data obtained by measuring a characteristic of the amplifier circuit and a reference data on the characteristic of the amplifier circuit, and performs the correction process based on the comparison for the plurality of pixels,

wherein the correction section makes an individual comparison for each of the plurality of pixels, and performs the correction process individually for each of the plurality of pixels.

2. The photo-electronic conversion device according to claim 1 , wherein the correction section performs

generation of correction data for at least one of the plurality of pixels based on the result of the comparison, and

the correction process by using the correction data.

3. The photo-electronic conversion device according to claim 2 , wherein the correction section performs

determination of an offset amount of the characteristic between the measurement data and the reference data, as the correction data, and

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

4. The photo-electronic conversion device according to claim 3 , wherein the correction section performs

determination of a gain error of the characteristic between the measurement data and the reference data, as the correction data, and

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

5. The photo-electronic conversion device according to claim 4 , wherein the correction section performs

determination of a linearity error of the characteristic between the measurement data and the reference data, as the correction data, and

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

6. The photo-electronic conversion 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 photo-electronic conversion device according to claim 6 , wherein the measurement data is obtained by measuring the characteristic, within a period without entering the light in the image pickup section.

8. The photo-electronic conversion 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 photo-electronic conversion device according to claim 1 , wherein the light is X-rays.

10. A photo-electronic conversion device comprising:

a generation section including at least one circuit, the generation section being configured to generate an electric signal according to incident light,

a correction section configured to subject signal data from the electric signal from the generation section to a correction process,

wherein the correction section makes a comparison between measurement data obtained by measuring a characteristic of the circuit and a reference data on the characteristic of the circuit, and performs the correction process based on the comparison, and

wherein the correction section makes an individual comparison for each of a plurality of pixels, and performs the correction process individually for each of the plurality of pixels.

11. The photo-electronic conversion device according to claim 10 , wherein the correction section performs

generation of correction data for at least one of the plurality of pixels based on the result of the comparison, and

the correction process by using the correction data.

12. A radiation image pickup device comprising:

an image pickup section including a plurality of pixels and configured to generate an electric signal according to incident radiation, which includes a photoelectric conversion element and at least one circuit; and

a correction section subjecting signal data of the electric signal obtained in the image pickup section to a correction process,

wherein the correction section makes a comparison between measurement data obtained by measuring a characteristic of the circuit and a reference data on the characteristic of the circuit, and performs the correction process by using a result of the comparison, and

wherein the correction section makes an individual comparison for each of the plurality of pixels, and performs the correction process individually for each of the plurality of pixels.

13. A photo-electronic conversion apparatus comprising:

a system control section;

an image pickup section including a plurality of pixels and configured to generate an electric signal according to incident light, the image pickup section including a wavelength conversion element, a photoelectric conversion element and an amplifier circuit; and

a correction section configured to subject signal data from the electric signal from the image pickup section to a correction process based on an information from the system control section;

wherein the correction section makes a comparison for the plurality of pixels between measurement data obtained by measuring a characteristic of the amplifier circuit and a reference data on the characteristic of the amplifier circuit, and performs the correction process based on the comparison for the plurality of pixels, and

wherein the correction section makes an individual comparison for each of the plurality of pixels, and performs the correction process individually for each of the plurality of pixels.

14. A photo-electronic conversion apparatus comprising:

a system control section;

a generation section configured to generate an electric signal according to incident light;

a correction section configured to subject signal data from the electric signal from the generation section to a correction process based on an information from the system control section,

wherein the correction section makes a comparison between measurement data obtained by measuring a characteristic of a circuit comprised in the generation section and a reference data on the characteristic of the circuit, and performs the correction process based on the comparison, and

wherein the correction section makes an individual comparison for each of a plurality of pixels, and performs the correction process individually for each of the plurality of pixels.

15. A radiation image pickup apparatus comprising:

a system control section;

an image pickup section including a plurality of pixels and configured to generate an electric signal according to incident radiation, the image pickup section including a wavelength conversion element, a photoelectric conversion element and at least one circuit; and

a correction section subjecting signal data of the electric signal obtained in the image pickup section to a correction process based on an information from the system control section,

wherein the correction section makes a comparison between measurement data obtained by measuring a characteristic of the circuit and a reference data on the characteristic of the circuit, and performs the correction process by using a result of the comparison, and

wherein the correction section makes an individual comparison for each of the plurality of pixels, and performs the correction process individually for each of the plurality of pixels.

16. A photo-electronic conversion system comprising:

a light generator;

a system control section;

an image pickup section including a plurality of pixels and configured to generate an electric signal according to incident light from the light generator, the image pickup section including a wavelength conversion element, a photoelectric conversion element and an amplifier circuit; and

a correction section configured to subject signal data from the electric signal from the image pickup section to a correction process based on an information from the system control section;

wherein the correction section makes a comparison for the plurality of pixels between measurement data obtained by measuring a characteristic of the amplifier circuit and a reference data on the characteristic of the amplifier circuit, and performs the correction process based on the comparison for the plurality of pixels, and

wherein the correction section makes an individual comparison for each of the plurality of pixels, and performs the correction process individually for each of the plurality of pixels.

17. A photo-electronic conversion system comprising:

a light generator;

a system control section;

a generation section configured to generate an electric signal according to incident light from the light generator;

a correction section configured to subject signal data from the electric signal from the generation section to a correction process based on an information from the system control section,

wherein the correction section makes a comparison between measurement data obtained by measuring a characteristic of a circuit comprised in the generation section and a reference data on the characteristic of the circuit, and performs the correction process based on the comparison, and

wherein the correction section makes an individual comparison for each of a plurality of pixels, and performs the correction process individually for each of the plurality of pixels.

18. A photo-electronic conversion system comprising:

a light generator;

a system control section;

an image pickup section including a plurality of pixels and configured to generate an electric signal according to incident radiation from the light generator, the image pickup section including a wavelength conversion element, a photoelectric conversion element and at least one circuit; and

a correction section subjecting signal data of the electric signal obtained in the image pickup section to a correction process based on an information from the system control section,

wherein the correction section makes a comparison between measurement data obtained by measuring a characteristic of the circuit and a reference data on the characteristic of the circuit, and performs the correction process by using a result of the comparison, and

wherein the correction section makes an individual comparison for each of the plurality of pixels, and performs the correction process individually for each of the plurality of pixels.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 19, 2016
From: SONY CORPORATION
To: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 040419/0001 →