Shared Capacitive Element for Photoelectric Conversion Circuit Area Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing photoelectric conversion apparatuses require a large circuit area due to the one-to-one relationship between capacitive elements and photoelectric conversion units, leading to inefficiencies in noise reduction and sensitivity to incident light.
Innovation Solution
A photoelectric conversion apparatus with a shared capacitive element and amplification transistor for multiple photoelectric conversion units, utilizing a blocking layer, insulating layer, and a capacitive element connected to a node that controls potential differences between electrodes to enhance sensitivity and reduce noise by selectively applying potentials to the second electrode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a capacitive element is provided for each photoelectric conversion unit, then signal charges can be accumulated independently, but the circuit area becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple capacitive elements into a shared capacitive element that is commonly used by multiple photoelectric conversion units. This allows signal charges from multiple units to be accumulated in a single capacitive element, significantly reducing the circuit area while maintaining the functionality of independent signal charge accumulation for each photoelectric conversion unit.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple photoelectric conversion units share a common amplification unit, then the circuit area is reduced, but signal processing efficiency may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having multiple photoelectric conversion units transfer their signal charges to a shared capacitive element before amplification. This preliminary charge transfer and accumulation step allows the subsequent amplification process to handle multiple signals efficiently in sequence, maintaining signal processing efficiency while reducing circuit area through shared amplification resources.
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 configuration reduces the circuit area and improves sensitivity to incident light while minimizing noise in the optical signal, allowing for efficient signal accumulation and amplification.
Implementation Method 1
a photoelectric conversion layer 205 which accumulates signal charges and disposed between the first and second electrodes
Implementation Method 2
a capacitive element 12b having a first node and a second node, the first node being connected to the second electrodes of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units and the amplification unit and the second node selectively receiving each one of a plurality of potentials having different values
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2D
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A photoelectric conversion apparatus (10) including a plurality of photoelectric conversion units (101a, 101b) each of which includes a first electrode (201), a second electrode (209), a photoelectric conversion layer (205) which accumulates signal charges and which is disposed between the first and second electrodes, and an insulating layer (207) disposed between the photoelectric conversion layer and the second electrode, an amplification unit (16a) configured to receive optical signals and output signals each based on one of the optical signals, each of the optical signals being based on one of the signal charges, each of the signal charges being accumulated in one of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units, and a capacitive element (12b) having a first node and a second node, the first node being connected to the second electrodes of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units and the amplification unit and the second node selectively receiving each one of a plurality of potentials having different values.