Patent US5210434A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5210434A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Photoelectric converter with scanning circuit
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1992-04-24
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Granted: 1993-05-11
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Expires: 2012-04-24
Abstract
Abstract A photoelectric converter comprising a photosensor element, a typical example of the photosensor element comprising: a transistor including an n or n + collector region an n - region disposed contiguous to the collector region, a p base region disposed contiguous to the n - region, an n + emitter region disposed contiguous to the base region, and a first electrode connected to the emitter region; and a storage capacitor constituted by the base region, an electrically insulating region disposed contiguous to the base region, and a second electrode connected to the electrically insulating region; Whereby the base region is held in a floating state. A photogenerated charge is stored in the base region by controlling the potential of the base region and an electric signal corresponding to the charge stored in the base region is subsequently output from the first electrode.
Inventors
- 👤 Tadahiro Ohmi
- 👤 Nobuyoshi Tanaka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 02:14
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F30/00; H10F30/20; H10F30/21; H10F30/24; H10F30/245; H10F39/00; H10F39/10; H10F39/12; H10F39/197
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A photoelectric conversion system, comprising: a plurality of cells each comprising a transistor including a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type and second and third semiconductor regions of a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type, the first semiconductor region being adapted to accumulate photo-generated carriers, a plurality of output lines each connected to the second semiconductor region of the transistor and having a capacitive load, an output circuit, a selection line for reading out signals from the plurality of cells, control means for supplying a selection signal to the selection line to operate the transistors of the plurality of cells, thus non-destructively reading out signals based on the accumulated photo-generated carriers from the transistors in parallel to the capacitive loads, and a scanning circuit electrically connected to the output lines for sequentially supplying the signals read out to the capacitive loads to the output circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A photoelectric conversion system, comprising: a plurality of cells each comprising a transistor including a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type and second and third semiconductor regions of a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type, the first semiconductor region being adapted to accumulate photo-generated carriers, a plurality of output lines each connected to the second semiconductor region of the transistor and having a capacitive load, an output circuit, a selection line for reading out signals from the plurality of cells, control means for supplying a selection signal to the selection line to operate the transistors of the plurality of cells, thus non-destructively reading out signals based on the accumulated photo-generated carriers from the transistors in parallel to the capacitive loads, and a scanning circuit electrically connected to the output lines for sequentially supplying the signals read out to the capacitive loads to the output circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said capacitive load comprises a parasitic capacitance of the output line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said scanning circuit comprises switching elements each provided for one of the output lines and a shift register for sequentially turning on the switching elements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system according to claim 3, wherein each of said switching elements comprises a transistor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said output circuit includes a common output line and an amplifier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said transistor comprises a bipolar transistor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said selection line is capacitively coupled to the first semiconductor regions of the transistors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
A system according to claim 1, constituting a solid state image pickup device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
A system according to claim 1, constituting an image input device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
A system according to claim 1, constituting an automatic focusing system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
175 words
A photoelectric conversion system, comprising: a plurality of cells arranged in a matrix of m rows and n columns, each cell comprising a transistor including a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type, and second and third semiconductor regions of a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type, the first semiconductor region adapted to accumulate photo-generated carriers which provide a signal to be read out non-destructively, an output circuit, a plurality of output lines, each commonly connected to a column of the cells and having a capacitive load, a plurality of selection lines, each commonly connected to a row of the cells, a selection circuit for supplying a selection signal to a selected one of the selection liens to operate a plurality of the cell transistors connected to the selected selection line, thus non-destructively reading out signals based on the accumulated photo-generated carriers from the cell transistors in parallel to the capacitive loads, and a scanning circuit for sequentially supplying the signals read out to the capacitive loads to the output circuit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
175 words
A photoelectric conversion system, comprising: a plurality of cells arranged in a matrix of m rows and n columns, each cell comprising a transistor including a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type, and second and third semiconductor regions of a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type, the first semiconductor region adapted to accumulate photo-generated carriers which provide a signal to be read out non-destructively, an output circuit, a plurality of output lines, each commonly connected to a column of the cells and having a capacitive load, a plurality of selection lines, each commonly connected to a row of the cells, a selection circuit for supplying a selection signal to a selected one of the selection liens to operate a plurality of the cell transistors connected to the selected selection line, thus non-destructively reading out signals based on the accumulated photo-generated carriers from the cell transistors in parallel to the capacitive loads, and a scanning circuit for sequentially supplying the signals read out to the capacitive loads to the output circuit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-05-10 | 1996-11-09 | 1997-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-05-10 | 2000-11-09 | 2001-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-05-10 | 2004-11-09 | 2005-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |