# US 12,120,445 B2 · Imaging device and imaging method for obtaining a high-sensitivity image > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,120,445 B2 - Document ID: US12120445B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/516,508 - Filed: 2023-11-21 - Published: 2024-03-14 - Granted: 2024-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2018-09-14 - Assignees: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Yasuo Miyake; Yusuke Okada; Takeyoshi Tokuhara; Yoshiaki Satou - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12120445B2 ## CPC - H04N 25/589: with different integration times, e.g. short and long exposures - H04N 25/531: by controlling rolling shutters in CMOS SSIS - H04N 25/533: by using differing integration times for different sensor regions - H04N 25/78: Readout circuits for addressed sensors, e.g. output amplifiers or A/D converters - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An imaging device 100 includes a pixel array PA. A first period, a third period, and a second period appear in this order in a first frame. During the first period, pixel signal readout is performed on a first row in the pixel array PA. During the second period, pixel signal readout is performed on a second row in the pixel array PA. Each of the first period and the second period is a high-sensitivity exposure period. The third period is a low-sensitivity exposure period. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An imaging device comprising: a photoelectric converter having sensitivity that changes according to a voltage applied to the photoelectric converter; and voltage supply circuitry that alternately supplies a first voltage and a second voltage to the photoelectric converter, the second voltage being different from the first voltage, wherein in a first frame period, a length of a first period from a first point in time at which the first voltage is switched to the second voltage until a second point in time at which the first voltage is switched to the second voltage subsequently to the first point in time differs from a length of a second period from the second point in time until a third point in time at which the first voltage is switched to the second voltage subsequently to the second point in time. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein a length of a third period from a fourth point in time at which the second voltage is switched to the first voltage subsequently to the first point in time until the second point in time differs from a length of a fourth period from a fifth point in time at which the second voltage is switched to the first voltage subsequently to the second point in time until the third point in time. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the sensitivity of the photoelectric converter when the first voltage is applied is higher than the sensitivity of the photoelectric converter when the second voltage is applied. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising a transistor including a gate coupled to the photoelectric converter, wherein the transistor outputs a signal corresponding to a potential of the gate in a period in which the first voltage is applied to the photoelectric converter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising a transistor including a gate coupled to the photoelectric converter, wherein the transistor outputs a signal corresponding to a potential of the gate in a period in which the second voltage is applied to the photoelectric converter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The imaging device according to claim 4, wherein the photoelectric converter is one of a plurality of photoelectric converters arranged in a matrix, a plurality of transistors corresponding to the plurality of photoelectric converters sequentially output, in units of row, signals corresponding to a plurality of rows in respective periods, each of the signals being a signal corresponding to a potential of a gate of a corresponding one of the plurality of transistors, each of the periods being a period in which the first voltage is supplied to a corresponding one of the plurality of photoelectric converters, and the plurality of transistors cyclically output the signals corresponding to the plurality of rows. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The imaging device according to claim 5, wherein the photoelectric converter is one of a plurality of photoelectric converters arranged in a matrix, a plurality of transistors corresponding to the plurality of photoelectric converters sequentially output, in units of row, signals corresponding to a plurality of rows in respective periods, each of the signals being a signal corresponding to a potential of a gate of a corresponding one of the plurality of transistors, each of the periods being a period in which the second voltage is supplied to a corresponding one of the plurality of photoelectric converters, and the plurality of transistors cyclically output the signals corresponding to the plurality of rows. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the photoelectric converter includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a photoelectric conversion layer sandwiched between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the voltage supply circuitry alternately supplies the first voltage and the second voltage to the first electrode of the photoelectric converter.