Imaging Device Charge Holding Segmentation for Signal Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging devices waste signal electric charges as they are discharged between exposure periods, leading to inefficiency in acquiring optimal images regardless of incident light quantity.
Innovation Solution
The imaging device employs a configuration with multiple charge holding portions to overlap and manage charge holding periods, ensuring that electric charges generated during different exposure periods are efficiently held and combined, reducing waste and enhancing signal utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If electric charges generated at the photoelectric conversion portion in a space between exposure periods are discharged, then the imaging device can manage charge accumulation, but the discharged electric charges become wasteful and cannot be used as signal electric charges
Solution Approach 1:
The pixel is divided into multiple charge holding portions (first charge holding portion and second charge holding portion) that can independently hold electric charges from different exposure periods. This segmentation allows charges from the space between exposure periods to be preserved in one portion while charges from actual exposure periods are held in another portion, preventing waste and enabling efficient signal utilization.
2Productivity
If multiple charge holding portions are used to hold electric charges from different exposure periods, then signal electric charges can be efficiently utilized, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple charge holding portions are merged within a single pixel structure, sharing common photoelectric conversion portions and control circuits. This combining approach allows efficient charge management from multiple exposure periods while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity through resource sharing and integration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for the acquisition of high-quality images with improved signal efficiency by preventing the discharge of electric charges between exposure periods, thereby optimizing the use of photoelectric conversion signals.
Implementation Method 1
each pixel including a photoelectric conversion portion
Data Source
AI summary
An image device. While holding electric charges generated at a photoelectric conversion portion in a first period, a first charge holding portion holds electric charges generated at the photoelectric conversion portion in a second period which is a period that does not succeed the first period and which is different in length from the first period, and a second charge holding portion holds electric charges generated at the photoelectric conversion portion in a third period which is a period that does not overlap the first period and the second period.