IP Library Granted Patent US 8,779,348
Granted Patent B2
US 8,779,348 · App. 12/407,108 · Granted Jul 15, 2014

Semiconductor device comprising photodiode and transistor circuit

Inventors: Yoshifumi Tanada (Kanagawa, JP); Hajime Kimura (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,779,348
App. No.
12/407,108
Granted
Jul 15, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Objects are to suppress reduction in current output from a photoelectric conversion device and to prevent ESD from occurring in the photoelectric conversion device without greatly increasing the number of steps for manufacturing the photoelectric conversion device. The photoelectric conversion device includes a photodiode generating current by light irradiation; an amplifier circuit including at least one MOS transistor for amplifying the current; and at least one diode which is connected in series with the photodiode in a path of the current generated in the photodiode or a path of the current amplified by at least one MOS transistor so that a bias direction of the diode is opposite to that of the photodiode. Each of the photodiode and the diode includes a stack of a plurality of semiconductor films.

Claims (30)

1. A semiconductor device comprising:

a photodiode configured to generate a first current by irradiation with a light;

a circuit configured to generate a second current by supply of the first current;

a first diode directly connected with the photodiode so that a bias direction of the first diode is the same as that of the photodiode;

a second diode directly connected with the photodiode so that a bias direction of the second diode is the opposite to that of the photodiode; and

a conductive film over the first diode,

wherein a first terminal of the first diode is directly connected with a first terminal of the photodiode,

wherein a first terminal of the second diode is directly connected with the first terminal of the photodiode,

wherein a second terminal of the photodiode is directly connected with a first terminal of the circuit,

wherein a second terminal of the first diode is directly connected with a second terminal of the circuit,

wherein a second terminal of the second diode is directly connected with a third terminal of the circuit, and

wherein the circuit comprises a first transistor and a second transistor, and a gate of the first transistor, a gate of the second transistor and the second terminal of the photodiode are directly connected to each other.

2. A semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein the first diode is a photodiode.

3. A semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the photodiode and the first diode includes a stack of a plurality of semiconductor films.

4. A semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive film shields light.

5. A semiconductor device comprising:

a photodiode configured to generate a first current by irradiation with a light;

an amplifier circuit including at least one transistor, the amplifier circuit configured to generate a second current by amplifying the first current;

a first diode directly connected with the photodiode so that a bias direction of the first diode is the same as that of the photodiode;

a second diode directly connected with the photodiode so that a bias direction of the second diode is the opposite to that of the photodiode; and

a conductive film over the first diode,

wherein a first terminal of the first diode is directly connected with a first terminal of the photodiode,

wherein a first terminal of the second diode is directly connected with the first terminal of the photodiode,

wherein a second terminal of the photodiode is directly connected with a first terminal of the amplifier circuit,

wherein a second terminal of the first diode is connected with a second terminal of the amplifier circuit,

wherein a second terminal of the second diode is connected with a third terminal of the amplifier circuit, and

wherein the amplifier circuit comprises a first transistor and a second transistor, and a gate of the first transistor, a gate of the second transistor and the second terminal of the photodiode are directly connected to each other.

6. A semiconductor device according to claim 5 , wherein the first diode is a photodiode.

7. A semiconductor device according to claim 5 , wherein each of the photodiode and the first diode includes a stack of a plurality of semiconductor films.

8. A semiconductor device according to claim 5 , wherein the conductive film shields light.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2009
From: TANADA, YOSHIFUMI; KIMURA, HAJIME
To: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 022419/0668 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2008-072811 · Mar 21, 2008 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090236496A1 · Sep 24, 2009