Photoelectric converter having a light receiving portion with an improved readout gate
a technology of photoelectric converter and light receiving portion, which is applied in the field of photoelectric converter, can solve the problems of reducing affecting the operation of the converter, and becoming difficult to read out charges into the vertical ccd, so as to reduce the power consumption, reduce the charge readout voltage, and facilitate the reading
Inactive Publication Date: 2008-07-01
SONY CORP
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AI Technical Summary
Benefits of technology
[0014]The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and its object is to provide a photoelectric converter such as an imaging apparatus which smoothly reads out charges without influencing the charge capacity and charge transfers of a charge transfer portion and can reduce power consumption by reducing a readout voltage.
[0016]Thus making a gate width wider at a light receiving portion side than at a charge transfer portion side helps to enlarge an area of an electric field applied to the gate in an area to admit charges from the light receiving portion (accordingly, the electric field of the gate area can be intensified), with the result that charges can be easily read, and if a readout capacity is the same, a charge readout voltage can be reduced to reduce power consumption. Yet, since such an effect can be achieved without changing a gate width at the charge transfer portion side, no influence is exerted on the charge capacity and charge transfers of the charge transfer portion and other characteristics also do not deteriorate.
Problems solved by technology
For this reason, it is becoming difficult to read out charges into a vertical CCD, which is a charge transfer portion, from a photodiode comprising a light receiving portion (pixel portion) via a gate portion.
Consequently, the charge capacity of the vertical CCD portion is liable to become small or charges are liable to be unsuccessfully transferred.
Method used
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[0024]The present invention is preferably constructed as an imaging apparatus in which the light receiving portion has pixels comprising photodiodes and the like, and the charge transfer portion comprises charge coupled devices.
[0025]As to the shape of the gate portion, although there are no special limitations thereon, preferably, the gate width is narrower from the light receiving portion toward the transfer portion straightly, curvedly, or gradually.
[0026]Furthermore, preferably, the gate portion comprises a first gate portion the gate width of which is narrower from the light receiving portion toward the transfer portion, and a second gate portion provided with an identical gate width from the first gate portion further toward the charge transfer portion.
[0027]Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically based on an embodiment of the present invention applied to a CCD imaging apparatus.
[0028]FIGS. 1A and 1B show main portions of a CCD imaging apparatus;...
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A photoelectric converter with improved charge transfer efficiency from a light receiving portion. The photoelectric converter includes a light receiving portion having an output end and a gate portion having a first side and a second side that both define a readout gate width for the light receiving portion, where the first side of the gate portion confronts the output end of the light receiving portion. The photoelectric converter also includes a charge transfer portion formed to confront the second side of the gate portion, where the readout gate width of said gate portion is wider at the first side confronting said light receiving portion than at the second side confronting said charge transfer portion.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION DATA[0001]The present application claims priority to Japanese Application No. P10-345559 filed Dec. 4, 1998 which application is incorporated herein by reference to the extent permitted by law.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to a photoelectric converter such as an imaging apparatus employing photoelectric conversion devices such as photodiodes.[0004]2. Description of Related Art[0005]An imaging apparatus has a number of pixels formed in an imaging area (a light receiving portion) thereof receive light signals from a subject, photoelectrically converts the light signals into signal charges, transfers the converted electric signals, thereby imaging the subject.[0006]FIG. 7 shows a CCD imaging apparatus as an example of an imaging apparatus.[0007]Light incident on a photodiode 1 is photoelectrically converted into a signal charge, the signal charge is read out to a vertical CCD portion 3 via a readout gat...
Claims
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IPC IPC(8): H01L31/00H01L27/00H01L27/148H01L29/768H04N25/00
CPCH01L27/14812H01L27/148
Inventor KITAYAMA, SATOSHINIGAWARA, KAZUSHIGESASAKI, TSUYOSHI
Owner SONY CORP