IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,074,179
Granted Patent B2
US 12,074,179 · App. 17/781,152 · Granted Aug 27, 2024

Imaging device and electronic device

Inventors: Seiichi Yoneda (Kanagawa, JP); Toshiki Hamada (Kanagawa, JP); Yuki Okamoto (Kanagawa, JP); Shunpei Yamazaki (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
H01L27/14612H01L27/14636H04N25/75H04N25/77
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,074,179
App. No.
17/781,152
Granted
Aug 27, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

An imaging device with an arithmetic function in which the circuit size is reduced is provided. The imaging device includes a plurality of pixel blocks. Each of the pixel blocks includes N (N is an integer greater than or equal to 1) first circuits, N second circuits, and a third circuit. Each of the first circuits includes a photoelectric conversion device, and the photoelectric conversion device has a function of converting incident light into an electrical signal and has a function of outputting a first signal that is obtained by binarizing the electrical signal to the second circuit. Each of the second circuits has a function of outputting a second signal that is obtained by multiplying the first signal by a weight coefficient to a third circuit. When the N second signals are output to a wiring electrically connected to the third circuit, addition is performed. The first circuit includes a transistor, and an OS transistor is preferably used as the transistor.

Claims (56)

1. An imaging device comprising a plurality of pixel blocks, wherein each of the plurality of pixel blocks comprises N first circuits, N second circuits, a third circuit, and a wiring electrically connected to the third circuit,

wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 1,

wherein each of the N first circuits comprises a photoelectric conversion device,

wherein the photoelectric conversion device is configured to convert incident light into an electrical signal,

wherein the K-th first circuit is configured to output a first signal that is obtained by binarizing the electrical signal to the K-th second circuit via a first transistor provided in the K-th first circuit,

wherein K is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to N,

wherein each of the N second circuits is configured to generate a second signal by multiplying the first signal by a weight coefficient and output the second signal to the wiring,

wherein the N second signals are added by being output to the wiring,

wherein one of a source and a drain of the first transistor is electrically connected to a first terminal of a fourth circuit provided in the K-th second circuit, and

wherein the other of the source and the drain of the first transistor is electrically connected to a first switch provided in the K-th second circuit.

2. The imaging device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the K-th first circuit is stacked over the K-th second circuit, and

wherein a second terminal of the fourth circuit provided in the K-th second circuit is electrically connected to one electrode of a capacitor provided in the K-th second circuit via the first switch provided in the K-th second circuit.

3. The imaging device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the N first circuits are stacked over the N second circuits and the third circuit.

4. The imaging device according to claim 1 ,

wherein each of the first circuits comprises a second transistor, and

wherein the second transistor comprises a metal oxide in a channel formation region.

5. An imaging device comprising a plurality of pixel blocks,

wherein each of the plurality of pixel blocks comprises N first circuits, N second circuits, a third circuit, and a wiring electrically connected to the third circuit,

wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 1,

wherein each of the N first circuits comprises a photoelectric conversion device, a first transistor, a second transistor, and a third transistor,

wherein the photoelectric conversion device is configured to convert incident light into an electrical signal,

wherein the K-th first circuit is configured to output a first signal to the K-th second circuit,

wherein K is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to N,

wherein the photoelectric conversion device is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of the first transistor,

wherein the other of the source and the drain of the first transistor is electrically connected to a gate of the second transistor,

wherein one of a source and a drain of the second transistor is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of the third transistor,

wherein the other of the source and the drain of the third transistor is electrically connected to the second circuit,

wherein each of the N second circuits is configured to generate a second signal by multiplying the first signal by a weight coefficient and output the second signal to the wiring, and

wherein the N second signals are added by being output to the wiring.

6. The imaging device according to claim 5 ,

wherein the K-th first circuit is stacked over the K-th second circuit.

7. The imaging device according to claim 5 ,

wherein the N first circuits are stacked over the N second circuits and the third circuit.

8. The imaging device according to claim 5 ,

wherein at least one of the first transistor, the second transistor, and the third transistor comprises a metal oxide in a channel formation region.

9. An imaging device comprising a plurality of pixel blocks,

wherein each of the plurality of pixel blocks comprises N first circuits, N second circuits, a third circuit, and a wiring electrically connected to the third circuit,

wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 1,

wherein each of the N first circuits comprises a photoelectric conversion device, a first transistor, a second transistor, and a third transistor,

wherein the photoelectric conversion device is configured to convert incident light into an electrical signal,

wherein the K-th first circuit is electrically connected to the K-th second circuit,

wherein K is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to N,

wherein the photoelectric conversion device is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of the first transistor,

wherein the other of the source and the drain of the first transistor is electrically connected to a gate of the second transistor,

wherein one of a source and a drain of the second transistor is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of the third transistor,

wherein the other of the source and the drain of the third transistor is electrically connected to the second circuit,

wherein each of the N second circuits is electrically connected to the wiring, and

wherein each of the N second circuits comprises an XNOR circuit and a capacitor.

10. The imaging device according to claim 9 ,

wherein the K-th first circuit is stacked over the K-th second circuit.

11. The imaging device according to claim 9 ,

wherein the N first circuits are stacked over the N second circuits and the third circuit.

12. The imaging device according to claim 9 ,

wherein at least one of the first transistor, the second transistor, and the third transistor comprises a metal oxide in a channel formation region.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 31, 2022
From: YONEDA, SEIICHI; HAMADA, TOSHIKI; OKAMOTO, YUKI; YAMAZAKI, SHUNPEI
To: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 060055/0799 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2019-238757 · Dec 27, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220415941A1 · Dec 29, 2022