IP Library Granted Patent US 8,610,696
Granted Patent B2
US 8,610,696 · App. 13/020,829 · Granted Dec 17, 2013

Semiconductor device and display device including the same

Inventor: Yoshiyuki Kurokawa (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
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 8,610,696
App. No.
13/020,829
Granted
Dec 17, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A semiconductor circuit including: an A/D converter circuit which converts an inputted first signal into a second signal. The A/D converter circuit includes a comparator circuit which compares a voltage of the first signal and a reference voltage; an A/D conversion controller circuit which outputs a digital signal in accordance with comparison results given by the comparator circuit, as a fourth signal and which outputs, in accordance with the third signal, a digital signal corresponding to the first signal, as the second signal; and a D/A converter which converts an inputted fourth signal into an analog signal and which outputs the analog signal as the reference signal. The comparator circuit includes a transistor having a first gate and a second gate. The first signal is inputted to the first gate, the reference signal is inputted to the second gate.

Claims (69)

1. A semiconductor device comprising:

an A/D converter circuit comprising:

a comparator circuit including a transistor having a first gate, a second gate, and a semiconductor layer interposed between the first gate and the second gate;

an A/D conversion controller circuit; and

a D/A converter,

wherein one of a source and a drain of the transistor is electrically connected to an input terminal of the A/D conversion controller circuit,

wherein a first terminal of the A/D conversion controller circuit is electrically connected to an input terminal of the D/A converter,

wherein an output terminal of the D/A converter is electrically connected to the second gate of the transistor, and

wherein the first gate of the transistor is an input terminal of the A/D converter circuit.

2. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the semiconductor layer is an oxide semiconductor layer.

3. The semiconductor device according to claim 2 ,

wherein a carrier concentration of the oxide semiconductor layer is less than 1 ×10 14 /cm 3 .

4. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 ,

wherein a second terminal of the A/D conversion controller circuit is an output terminal of the A/D converter circuit.

5. A display device including the semiconductor device according to claim 1 , a pixel circuit, and a driver circuit for controlling the pixel circuit.

6. A semiconductor device comprising:

a photoelectric conversion circuit; and

an A/D converter circuit comprising:

a comparator circuit including a transistor having a first gate, a second gate, and a semiconductor layer interposed between the first gate and the second gate;

an A/D conversion controller circuit; and

a D/A converter,

wherein one of a source and a drain of the transistor is electrically connected to an input terminal of the A/D conversion controller circuit,

wherein a first terminal of the A/D conversion controller circuit is electrically connected to an input terminal of the D/A converter,

wherein an output terminal of the D/A converter is electrically connected to the second gate of the transistor, and

wherein the first gate of the transistor is electrically connected to the photoelectric conversion circuit.

7. The semiconductor device according to claim 6 ,

wherein the semiconductor layer is an oxide semiconductor layer.

8. The semiconductor device according to claim 7 ,

wherein a carrier concentration of the oxide semiconductor layer is less than 1 ×10 14 /cm 3 .

9. The semiconductor device according to claim 6 ,

wherein a second terminal of the A/D conversion controller circuit is an output terminal of the A/D converter circuit.

10. A display device including the semiconductor device according to claim 6 , a pixel circuit, and a driver circuit for controlling the pixel circuit.

11. The display device according to claim 10 ,

wherein the pixel circuit and the photoelectric conversion circuit are included in a display portion.

12. A semiconductor device comprising:

an A/D converter circuit comprising:

a comparator circuit including a transistor having a first gate, a second gate, and a semiconductor layer interposed between the first gate and the second gate;

an A/D conversion controller circuit; and

a D/A converter,

wherein the comparator circuit is configured to compare a voltage of a first signal inputted to the first gate of the transistor and a threshold voltage of the transistor and to output a second signal corresponding to comparison results to the A/D conversion controller circuit,

wherein the A/D conversion controller circuit is configured to output a third signal corresponding to the second signal to the D/A converter, and

wherein the D/A converter is configured to convert the third signal into an analog signal and to output the analog signal to the second gate of the transistor so as to change the threshold voltage of the transistor.

13. The semiconductor device according to claim 12 ,

wherein the semiconductor layer is an oxide semiconductor layer.

14. The semiconductor device according to claim 13 ,

wherein a carrier concentration of the oxide semiconductor layer is less than 1 ×10 14 /cm 3 .

15. The semiconductor device according to claim 12 ,

wherein the A/D conversion controller circuit is configured to output a digital signal having a digital value corresponding to the first signal.

16. A display device including the semiconductor device according to claim 12 , a pixel circuit, and a driver circuit for controlling the pixel circuit.

17. A semiconductor device comprising:

a photoelectric conversion circuit; and

an A/D converter circuit comprising:

a comparator circuit including a transistor having a first gate, a second gate, and a semiconductor layer interposed between the first gate and the second gate;

an A/D conversion controller circuit; and

a D/A converter,

wherein the photoelectric conversion circuit is configured to output a first signal to the first gate of the transistor,

wherein the comparator circuit is configured to compare a voltage of the first signal inputted to the first gate of the transistor and a threshold voltage of the transistor and to output a second signal corresponding to comparison results to the A/D conversion controller circuit,

wherein the A/D conversion controller circuit is configured to output a third signal corresponding to the second signal to the D/A converter, and

wherein the D/A converter is configured to convert the third signal into an analog signal and to output the analog signal to the second gate of the transistor so as to change the threshold voltage of the transistor.

18. The semiconductor device according to claim 17 ,

wherein the semiconductor layer is an oxide semiconductor layer.

19. The semiconductor device according to claim 18 ,

wherein a carrier concentration of the oxide semiconductor layer is less than 1 ×10 14 /cm 3 .

20. The semiconductor device according to claim 17 ,

wherein the A/D conversion controller circuit is configured to output a digital signal having a digital value corresponding to the first signal.

21. A display device including the semiconductor device according to claim 17 , a pixel circuit, and a driver circuit for controlling the pixel circuit.

22. The display device according to claim 21 ,

wherein the pixel circuit and the photoelectric conversion circuit are included in a display portion.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 4, 2011
From: KUROKAWA, YOSHIYUKI
To: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 025743/0486 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2010-029010 · Feb 12, 2010 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110199351A1 · Aug 18, 2011