IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,967,501
Granted Patent B2
US 9,967,501 · App. 14/857,699 · Granted May 8, 2018

Imaging device

Inventor: Tokuhiko Tamaki (Osaka, JP)
Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
H04N5/378H04N5/2253H04N5/2254H04N5/35563H04N5/3696
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,967,501
App. No.
14/857,699
Granted
May 8, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

An imaging device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a first image pickup cell comprising a first photoelectric converter that converts incident light into a first charge, a first charge detection circuit that is electrically connected to the first photoelectric converter and detects the first charge, and a first capacitive element one end of which is electrically connected to the first photoelectric converter, the first capacitive element storing at least a part of the first charge; and a second image pickup cell comprising a second photoelectric converter that converts incident light into a second charge, and a second charge detection circuit that is electrically connected to the second photoelectric converter and detects the second charge.

Claims (77)

1. An imaging device, comprising:

a first image pickup cell comprising

a first photoelectric converter that converts incident light into a first charge,

a first charge detection circuit that is electrically connected to the first photoelectric converter and detects the first charge, and

a first capacitive element one end of which is electrically connected to the first photoelectric converter, the first capacitive element storing at least a part of the first charge; and

a second image pickup cell comprising

a second photoelectric converter that converts incident light into a second charge, and

a second charge detection circuit that is electrically connected to the second photoelectric converter and detects the second charge, wherein

the first image pickup cell and the second image pickup cell directly adjoin each other, and

the first capacitive element at least partially overlaps, in a plan view, with the second photoelectric converter.

2. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein

the first image pickup cell further comprises a first microlens located on an incident light side of the first photoelectric converter,

the second image pickup cell further comprises a second microlens located on the incident light side of the second photoelectric converter, and

the first microlens has a first condensing area, the second microlens having a second condensing area larger than the first condensing area.

3. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein

the first image pickup cell and the second image pickup cell adjoin each other,

the first image pickup cell and the second image pickup cell further comprise a microlens located on an incident light side of the first photoelectric converter and the second photoelectric converter, and

the second photoelectric converter is located in a region where light is condensed by the microlens.

4. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein

the first capacitive element comprises a lower electrode, an upper electrode facing the lower electrode, and an insulator located between the lower electrode and the upper electrode, either one of the lower electrode and the upper electrode being electrically connected to the first photoelectric converter.

5. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein

the second image pickup cell further comprises a second capacitive element one end of which is electrically connected to the second photoelectric converter, and

the first capacitive element has a first capacitance, the second capacitive element having a second capacitance smaller than the first capacitance.

6. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein

in the plan view, the first charge detection circuit has a first area, the second charge detection circuit having a second area larger than the first area.

7. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein a second storage time when the second image pickup cell stores the second charge is longer than a first storage time when the first image pickup cell stores the first charge.

8. The imaging device according to claim 7 , wherein

the first charge detection circuit detects the first charge at least twice without resetting the first charge, during one frame period.

9. The imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein

the first photoelectric converter comprises a first pixel electrode electrically connected to the first charge detection circuit, and a first photoelectric conversion region being in contact with the first pixel electrode, and

the second photoelectric converter comprises a second pixel electrode electrically connected to the second charge detection circuit, and a second photoelectric conversion region being in contact with the second pixel electrode.

10. The imaging device according to claim 9 , wherein

the first pixel electrode has a first planar shape, the second pixel electrode having a second planer shape different from the first planar shape.

11. The imaging device according to claim 9 , wherein

the first pixel electrode has a first area, the second pixel electrode having a second area different from the first area.

12. An imaging device comprising:

a first image pickup cell comprising

a first photoelectric converter that converts incident light into a first charge,

a first storage capacitance that is electrically connected to the first photoelectric converter, the first storage capacitance storing the first charge, and

a first charge detection circuit that is electrically connected to the first storage capacitance and detects the first charge stored in the first storage capacitance; and

a second image pickup cell comprising

a second photoelectric converter that converts incident light into a second charge,

a second storage capacitance that is electrically connected to the second photoelectric converter, the second storage capacitance storing the second charge, and

a second charge detection circuit that is electrically connected to the second storage capacitance and detects the second charge stored in the second storage capacitance, wherein

the second storage capacitance has a second capacitance, the first storage capacitance having a first capacitance larger than the second capacitance,

the first photoelectric converter has a first area, the second photoelectric converter having a second area greater than the first area,

a number of charges generated in the second pickup cell is greater than a number of charges generated in the first pickup cell when the first and second image pickup cells receive incident light, and

a number of saturation electrons of the first image pickup cell is greater than a number of saturation electrons of the second image pickup cell.

13. The imaging device according to claim 12 , wherein

the first photoelectric converter includes a first pixel electrode electrically connected to the first storage capacitance, a first electrode facing the first pixel electrode, and a first photoelectric conversion region sandwiched between the first pixel electrode and the first electrode,

the second photoelectric converter includes a second pixel electrode electrically connected to the second storage capacitance, a second electrode facing the second pixel electrode, and a second photoelectric conversion region sandwiched between the second pixel electrode and the second electrode, and

the first pixel electrode has a third area, the second pixel electrode having a fourth area larger than the third area.

14. The imaging device according to claim 12 , wherein

the first image pickup cell and the second image pickup cell adjoin each other,

the first image pickup cell and the second image pickup cell further comprise a microlens located on an incident light side of the first photoelectric converter and the second photoelectric converter, and

the second photoelectric converter is located on an optical axis of the microlens.

15. The imaging device according to claim 12 , wherein

the first storage capacitance includes a first capacitive element.

16. The imaging device according to claim 15 , wherein

the second storage capacitance includes a second capacitive element.

17. An imaging device, comprising:

a first image pickup cell comprising

a first photoelectric converter that converts incident light into a first charge,

a first charge detection circuit that is electrically connected to the first photoelectric converter and detects the first charge, and

a first capacitive element one end of which is electrically connected to the first photoelectric converter, the first capacitive element storing at least a part of the first charge; and

a second image pickup cell comprising

a second photoelectric converter that converts incident light into a second charge, and

a second charge detection circuit that is electrically connected to the second photoelectric converter and detects the second charge, wherein

the first photoelectric converter has a first area, the second photoelectric converter having a second area greater than the first area,

a number of charges generated in the second pickup cell is greater than a number of charges generated in the first pickup cell when the first and second image pickup cells receive incident light, and

a number of saturation electrons of the first image pickup cell is greater than a number of saturation electrons of the second image pickup cell.

18. The imaging device according to claim 17 , wherein

the first photoelectric converter includes a first pixel electrode electrically connected to the first charge detection circuit, a first electrode facing the first pixel electrode, and a first photoelectric conversion region sandwiched between the first pixel electrode and the first electrode,

the second photoelectric converter includes a second pixel electrode electrically connected to the second charge detection circuit, a second electrode facing the second pixel electrode, and a second photoelectric conversion region sandwiched between the second pixel electrode and the second electrode, and

the first pixel electrode has a third area, the second pixel electrode having a fourth area larger than the third area.

19. The imaging device according to claim 17 , wherein in a plan view, the first charge detection circuit has a third area, the second charge detection circuit having a fourth area larger than the third area.

20. The imaging device according to claim 17 , wherein a second storage time when the second image pickup cell stores the second charge is longer than a first storage time when the first image pickup cell stores the first charge.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 4, 2015
From: TAMAKI, TOKUHIKO
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 036721/0877 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2014-207305 · Oct 8, 2014 · national
JP 2015-165895 · Aug 25, 2015 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160105622A1 · Apr 14, 2016