公开(公告)号：US11991462B2

公开(公告)日：2024-05-21

申请号：US17708871

申请日：2022-03-30

Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.

Inventor： Masashi Murakami ,  Kazuko Nishimura ,  Yasuo Miyake ,  Yasunori Inoue

IPC: H04N25/57 ,  H01L27/146

CPC classification number: H04N25/57 ,  H01L27/14612

Abstract: An imaging device including a pixel that includes: a photoelectric converter that converts light into a charge; a charge accumulation region to which the charge is input; and an amplifier transistor that includes a gate electrically connected to the charge accumulation region. The amplifier transistor being configured to output a signal that corresponds to a potential of the charge accumulation region. The imaging device further including a detection circuit that is configured to detect a level of the signal from the amplifier transistor, wherein a sensitivity of the pixel is caused to be increased, in a case where the level detected by the detection circuit is greater than a first threshold value.

公开(公告)号：US11025832B2

公开(公告)日：2021-06-01

申请号：US16782411

申请日：2020-02-05

Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.

Inventor： Yoshiaki Satou ,  Yasuo Miyake ,  Yasunori Inoue ,  Tokuhiko Tamaki

IPC: H04N5/235 ,  H04N5/355 ,  H04N5/353 ,  H04N5/374 ,  G03B7/08 ,  H01L27/146 ,  H04N9/04 ,  H04N5/369 ,  H04N5/232 ,  H04N5/262

Abstract: An imaging device includes a pixel including a photoelectric converter, where the pixel captures first data in a first exposure period and captures second data in a second exposure period different from the first exposure period, the first exposure period and the second exposure period being included in a frame period. A sensitivity of the photoelectric converter in the first exposure period is different from a sensitivity of the photoelectric converter in the second exposure period, and the imaging device generates multiple-exposure image data including at least the first data and the second data.

公开(公告)号：US10998380B2

公开(公告)日：2021-05-04

申请号：US16188327

申请日：2018-11-13

Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.

Inventor： Manabu Nakata ,  Masumi Izuchi ,  Shinichi Machida ,  Yasunori Inoue

IPC: H04N5/33 ,  H01L27/30 ,  H04N5/374 ,  H04N9/04 ,  H04N5/369 ,  H04N9/07 ,  H01L27/28 ,  H01L51/00 ,  H01L51/42

Abstract: An imaging device includes at least one unit pixel cell including a photoelectric converter and a voltage application circuit. The photoelectric converter includes a first electrode, a light-transmitting second electrode, a first photoelectric conversion layer containing a first material and a second photoelectric conversion layer containing a second material. The impedance of the first photoelectric conversion layer is larger than the impedance of the second photoelectric conversion layer. The voltage application circuit applies a first voltage or a second voltage having a larger absolute value than the first voltage selectively between the first electrode and the second electrode.

公开(公告)号：US11711932B2

公开(公告)日：2023-07-25

申请号：US17313563

申请日：2021-05-06

Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.

Inventor： Masaya Hirade ,  Manabu Nakata ,  Katsuya Nozawa ,  Yasunori Inoue

IPC: H01L51/44 ,  H10K30/82 ,  H10K30/30 ,  H10K39/32 ,  H10K71/13 ,  H10K71/16 ,  H10K71/20

CPC classification number: H10K30/82 ,  H10K30/353 ,  H10K39/32 ,  H10K71/135 ,  H10K71/164 ,  H10K71/231

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a photoelectric conversion element includes providing a base structure including a semiconductor substrate having a principal surface, a first electrode located on or above the principal surface, second electrodes which are located on or above the principal surface and which are one- or two-dimensionally arranged, and a photoelectric conversion film covering at least the second electrodes; forming a mask layer on the photoelectric conversion film, the mask layer being conductive and including a covering section covering a portion of the photoelectric conversion film that overlaps the second electrodes in plan view; and partially removing the photoelectric conversion film by immersing the base structure and the mask layer in an etchant.

公开(公告)号：US11070752B2

公开(公告)日：2021-07-20

申请号：US15867986

申请日：2018-01-11

Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.

Inventor： Kazuko Nishimura ,  Sanshiro Shishido ,  Hidenari Kanehara ,  Takayoshi Yamada ,  Masashi Murakami ,  Yasunori Inoue

IPC: H04N5/355 ,  H01L27/146 ,  H04N5/363 ,  H04N5/378 ,  H01L29/423 ,  H04N5/225 ,  H04N5/235 ,  H04N5/335

Abstract: An imaging device includes: a first imaging cell including a first photoelectric converter that generates a first signal by photoelectric conversion, and a first signal processing circuit that is electrically connected to the first photoelectric converter and detects the first signal; and a second imaging cell including a second photoelectric converter that generates a second signal by photoelectric conversion, and a second signal processing circuit that is electrically connected to the second photoelectric converter and detects the second signal. Sensitivity of the first imaging cell is higher than sensitivity of the second imaging cell. The first signal processing circuit has a circuit configuration different from the second signal processing circuit. An operation frequency of the first signal processing circuit is different from an operation frequency of the second signal processing circuit.

公开(公告)号：US11031568B2

公开(公告)日：2021-06-08

申请号：US16274154

申请日：2019-02-12

Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.

Inventor： Masaya Hirade ,  Manabu Nakata ,  Katsuya Nozawa ,  Yasunori Inoue

IPC: H01L51/44 ,  H01L51/42 ,  H01L27/30 ,  H01L51/00

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a photoelectric conversion element includes providing a base structure including a semiconductor substrate having a principal surface, a first electrode located on or above the principal surface, second electrodes which are located on or above the principal surface and which are one- or two-dimensionally arranged, and a photoelectric conversion film covering at least the second electrodes; forming a mask layer on the photoelectric conversion film, the mask layer being conductive and including a covering section covering a portion of the photoelectric conversion film that overlaps the second electrodes in plan view; and partially removing the photoelectric conversion film by immersing the base structure and the mask layer in an etchant.

公开(公告)号：US10734421B2

公开(公告)日：2020-08-04

申请号：US16257607

申请日：2019-01-25

Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.

Inventor： Masashi Murakami ,  Kazuko Nishimura ,  Yasuo Miyake ,  Yasunori Inoue

IPC: H01L27/146 ,  H04N5/3745 ,  H01L27/142 ,  H01L31/14 ,  H04N5/374 ,  H04N5/355

Abstract: An imaging device including: a photoelectric converter including first and second electrodes and a photoelectric conversion layer therebetween; a voltage supplier; an output circuit for outputting a signal corresponding to the potential of the second electrode; and a detector for detecting the signal level. The change rate of the conversion efficiency of the photoelectric converter with respect to a bias voltage applied between the electrodes when the bias voltage is in a first range is greater than that when the bias voltage is in a second range higher than the first range. The voltage supplier, when the detected level is a first threshold or higher, causes the potential difference between the electrodes to be a first difference, and, when the detected level is lower than a second threshold that is the first threshold or lower, causes the potential difference to be a second difference greater than the first difference.

公开(公告)号：US10594948B2

公开(公告)日：2020-03-17

申请号：US15497193

申请日：2017-04-25

Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.

Inventor： Yoshiaki Satou ,  Yasuo Miyake ,  Yasunori Inoue ,  Tokuhiko Tamaki

IPC: H04N5/235 ,  H04N9/04 ,  H04N5/355 ,  H04N5/374 ,  H04N5/353 ,  H01L27/146 ,  H04N5/262 ,  G03B7/08

Abstract: An imaging device includes a unit pixel cell. The unit pixel cell captures first data in a first exposure period and captures second data in a second exposure period different from the first exposure period, the first exposure period and the second exposure period being included in a frame period. A sensitivity per unit time of the unit pixel cell in the first exposure period is different from a sensitivity per unit time of the unit pixel cell in the second exposure period. The imaging device outputs multiple-exposure image data including at least the first data and the second data.

公开(公告)号：US12021109B2

公开(公告)日：2024-06-25

申请号：US18300928

申请日：2023-04-14

Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.

Inventor： Masashi Murakami ,  Kazuko Nishimura ,  Yasuo Miyake ,  Yasunori Inoue

IPC: H01L27/146 ,  H01L27/142 ,  H01L31/14 ,  H10K39/32 ,  H04N25/571 ,  H04N25/76 ,  H04N25/77 ,  H10K30/80 ,  H10K50/80

CPC classification number: H01L27/14665 ,  H01L27/142 ,  H01L27/14601 ,  H01L27/14609 ,  H01L27/1461 ,  H01L31/143 ,  H10K39/32 ,  H04N25/571 ,  H04N25/76 ,  H04N25/77 ,  H10K30/80 ,  H10K50/80

Abstract: A camera system including a photoelectric convertor including a first and second electrode, and a photoelectric conversion layer; and a correction circuit correcting a signal corresponding to a potential change of the second electrode. The photoelectric convertor has a photoelectric conversion characteristic in which rate of change of the photoelectric conversion efficiency with respect to a first bias voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode when the first bias voltage is in a first voltage range, is greater than the rate of change with respect to a second bias voltage when the second bias voltage is in a second voltage range that is higher than the first voltage range, and a bias voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode exists in the first voltage range, and the correction circuit corrects the signal so that variation of an output regarding an amount of incident light becomes linear.

公开(公告)号：US11722784B2

公开(公告)日：2023-08-08

申请号：US17834558

申请日：2022-06-07

Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.

Inventor： Yoshiaki Satou ,  Yasuo Miyake ,  Yasunori Inoue ,  Tokuhiko Tamaki

IPC: H04N23/743 ,  H04N25/53 ,  H04N25/534 ,  H04N25/57 ,  H04N25/587 ,  H04N25/59 ,  H04N25/70 ,  H04N25/76 ,  H01L27/146 ,  H04N5/262 ,  H04N23/62 ,  H04N23/10 ,  H04N23/73 ,  G03B7/08 ,  H04N23/63

CPC classification number: H04N23/743 ,  G03B7/08 ,  H04N23/10 ,  H04N23/73 ,  H04N25/53 ,  H04N25/534 ,  H04N25/57 ,  H04N25/587 ,  H04N25/59 ,  H04N25/70 ,  H04N25/76 ,  H01L27/14632 ,  H04N5/2621 ,  H04N23/631

Abstract: An imaging device including pixels and processing circuitry, where the pixels capture a first image in a first exposure period within a frame period and capture a second image in a second exposure period within the frame period to generate multiple-exposure image data that include the first image and the second image in a multiplexed state, the second exposure period being different from the first exposure period, the second image being different from the first image in brightness or color, and the processing circuitry detects an image of a moving subject from the multiple-exposure image data.