# US 12,225,310 B2 · Imaging device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,225,310 B2 - Document ID: US12225310B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/505,019 - Filed: 2023-11-08 - Published: 2024-03-07 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2014-10-08 - Assignees: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Tokuhiko Tamaki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12225310B2 ## CPC - H10F 39/8063: {Microlenses} - H04N 23/54: Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils - H04N 23/55: Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof - H04N 25/585: with pixels having different sensitivities within the sensor, e.g. fast or slow pixels or pixels having different sizes - H04N 25/65: applied to reset noise, e.g. KTC noise related to CMOS structures by techniques other than CDS - H04N 25/702: SSIS architectures characterised by non-identical, non-equidistant or non-planar pixel layout - H04N 25/75: Circuitry for providing, modifying or processing image signals from the pixel array - H04N 25/78: Readout circuits for addressed sensors, e.g. output amplifiers or A/D converters - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An image pickup module including an imaging device which includes: a first photoelectric converter that converts incident light into first signal charges; a first node into which the first signal charges are input; a second photoelectric converter that converts incident light into second signal charges; and a second node into which the second signal charges are input. The image pickup module further including a signal processing circuit that processes an output signal from the imaging device, where an area of the second photoelectric converter is greater than an area of the first photoelectric converter in a plan view, and capacitance of the first node is greater than capacitance of the second node. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image pickup module comprising: an imaging device including: a first photoelectric converter that converts incident light into first signal charges; a first node into which the first signal charges are input; a second photoelectric converter that converts incident light into second signal charges; and a second node into which the second signal charges are input; and a signal processing circuit that processes an output signal from the imaging device, wherein an area of the second photoelectric converter is greater than an area of the first photoelectric converter in a plan view, and capacitance of the first node is greater than capacitance of the second node. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image pickup module according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device further includes a first microlens and a second microlens, the first microlens being located on an incident light side of the first photoelectric converter, the second microlens being located on an incident light side of the second photoelectric converter, and the first microlens has a first condensing area, and the second microlens has a second condensing area greater than the first condensing area. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image pickup module according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device further includes a first microlens, the first microlens being located on an incident light side of the first photoelectric converter, and no microlens is located on an incident light side of the second photoelectric converter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image pickup module according to claim 1, wherein the first photoelectric converter is adjacent to the second photoelectric converter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The image pickup module according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device further includes a first pixel including a first cell and a second cell, the first cell including the first photoelectric converter and the first node, the second cell including the second photoelectric converter and the second node. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The image pickup module according to claim 5, wherein a number of saturation charges of the first cell is greater than a number of saturation charges of the second cell. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The image pickup module according to claim 1, wherein a number of saturation charges of the first node is greater than a number of saturation charges of the second node. ### Claim 8 An image pickup module comprising: an imaging device including: a first photoelectric converter that converts incident light into first signal charges; a first node into which the first signal charges are input; a capacitive element connected to the first node; and a second photoelectric converter that converts incident light into second signal charges; and a signal processing circuit that processes an output signal from the imaging device, wherein an area of the second photoelectric converter is greater than an area of the first photoelectric converter in a plan view. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The image pickup module according to claim 8, wherein the imaging device further includes a first microlens and a second microlens, the first microlens being located on an incident light side of the first photoelectric converter, the second microlens being located on an incident light side of the second photoelectric converter, and the first microlens has a first condensing area, and the second microlens has a second condensing area greater than the first condensing area. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The image pickup module according to claim 8, wherein the imaging device further includes a first microlens, the first microlens being located on an incident light side of the first photoelectric converter, and no microlens is located on an incident light side of the second photoelectric converter. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The image pickup module according to claim 8, wherein the first photoelectric converter is adjacent to the second photoelectric converter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The image pickup module according to claim 8, wherein the imaging device further includes a first pixel including a first cell and a second cell, the first cell including the first photoelectric converter, the first node, and the capacitive element, the second cell including the second photoelectric converter. ### Claim 13 An image pickup module comprising: an imaging device including: a first photoelectric converter that converts incident light into first signal charges; a first node into which the first signal charges are input; a capacitive element connected to the first node; and a second photoelectric converter that converts incident light into second signal charges; and a signal processing circuit that processes an output signal from the imaging device, wherein at least a portion of the capacitive element does not overlap with the first photoelectric converter in a plan view. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The image pickup module according to claim 13, wherein the first photoelectric converter is adjacent to the second photoelectric converter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The image pickup module according to claim 13, wherein the capacitive element includes a first electrode, a second electrode facing the first electrode, and an insulator located between the first electrode and the second electrode, either the first electrode or the second electrode being coupled to the first photoelectric converter. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The image pickup module according to claim 13, wherein an area of the second photoelectric converter is greater than an area of the first photoelectric converter in a plan view. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The image pickup module according to claim 13, wherein the imaging device further includes a first microlens and a second microlens, the first microlens being located on an incident light side of the first photoelectric converter, the second microlens being located on an incident light side of the second photoelectric converter, and the first microlens has a first condensing area, and the second microlens has a second condensing area greater than the first condensing area. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The image pickup module according to claim 13, wherein the capacitive element overlaps with at least one of the second photoelectric converter or a portion between the first photoelectric converter and the second photoelectric converter in the plan view. ### Claim 19 (depends on 8) A camera comprising an image pickup module according to claim 8. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) A camera comprising an image pickup module according to claim 13.