# US 2018/0324375 A1 · Imaging device

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- Number: US 2018/0324375 A1
- Document ID: US20180324375A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/036,644
- Filed: 2018-07-16
- Published: 2018-11-08
- Earliest claimed: 2016-01-22
- Assignees: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Yasuo MIYAKE
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180324375A1

## CPC

- H04N 25/76: Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors
- H04N 25/626: Reduction of noise due to residual charges remaining after image readout, e.g. to remove ghost images or afterimages
- H04N 25/78: Readout circuits for addressed sensors, e.g. output amplifiers or A/D converters
- H10F 39/811: {Interconnections}
- H10K 39/32: Organic image sensors
- Y02E 10/549: Organic PV cells
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION
- H10K: ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

An imaging device including a pixel which includes a photoelectric converter having a first electrode, a second electrode, and a photoelectric conversion layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, the first photoelectric converter generating signal charge; a charge storage region coupled to the first electrode, the charge storage region accumulating the signal charge; and a transistor which outputs a signal according to the signal charge accumulated in the charge storage region. The imaging device further including first voltage supply circuitry for supplying a first voltage that is positive and a second voltage that is less than the first voltage, the first voltage supply circuitry supplies the first voltage to the second electrode in a first period when the charge storage region accumulates the signal charge, and the first voltage supply circuitry supplies the second voltage to the second electrode in a second period different from the first period.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An imaging device comprising:
a pixel including:
a photoelectric converter including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a photoelectric conversion layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, the first photoelectric converter generating signal charge,
a charge storage region coupled to the first electrode, the charge storage region accumulating the signal charge, and
a transistor having a gate coupled to the charge storage region, the transistor outputting a signal according to an amount of the signal charge accumulated in the charge storage region; and
first voltage supply circuitry configured to supply a first voltage that is positive and a second voltage that is less than the first voltage, wherein
the first voltage supply circuitry supplies the first voltage to the second electrode in a first period when the charge storage region accumulates the signal charge, and
the first voltage supply circuitry supplies the second voltage to the second electrode in a second period different from the first period.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising:
second voltage supply circuitry configured to supply a third voltage for initializing the signal charge accumulated in the charge storage region, wherein
the third voltage is less than the first voltage, and
the third voltage is equal to or greater than the second voltage.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a first controller that causes the first voltage supply circuitry to supply the first voltage and the second voltage.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The imaging device according to claim 2, further comprising:
a first controller that causes the first voltage supply circuitry to supply the first voltage and the second voltage, and
a second controller that causes the second voltage supply circuitry to supply the third voltage.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the photoelectric conversion layer includes an organic semiconductor material.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein
the first period and the second period are included in a frame period, and
the second period divides the first period into two separate periods.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the second voltage is positive.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the second voltage is zero or negative.

### Claim 9

An imaging device comprising:
a pixel including:
a photoelectric converter including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a photoelectric conversion layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, the first photoelectric converter generating signal charge,
a charge storage region coupled to the first electrode, the charge storage region accumulating the signal charge, and
a transistor having a gate coupled to the charge storage region, the transistor outputting a signal according to an amount of the signal charge accumulated in the charge storage region; and
first voltage supply circuitry configured to supply a first voltage that is negative and a second voltage that is greater than the first voltage, wherein
the first voltage supply circuitry supplies the first voltage to the second electrode in a first period when the charge storage region accumulates the signal charge, and
the first voltage supply circuitry supplies the second voltage to the second electrode in a second period different from the first period.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The imaging device according to claim 9, further comprising:
second voltage supply circuitry configured to supply a third voltage for initializing the signal charge accumulated in the charge storage region, wherein
the third voltage is greater than the first voltage, and
the third voltage is equal to or less than the second voltage.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The imaging device according to claim 9, further comprising:
a first controller that causes the first voltage supply circuitry to supply the first voltage and the second voltage.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The imaging device according to claim 10, further comprising:
a first controller that causes the first voltage supply circuitry to supply the first voltage and the second voltage, and
a second controller that causes the second voltage supply circuitry to supply the third voltage.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The imaging device according to claim 9, wherein the photoelectric conversion layer includes an organic semiconductor material.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The imaging device according to claim 9, wherein
the first period and the second period are included in a frame period, and
the second period divides the first period into two separate periods.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The imaging device according to claim 9, wherein the second voltage is negative.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The imaging device according to claim 9, wherein the second voltage is zero or positive.

### Claim 17

An imaging device comprising:
a pixel including:
a first electrode,
a second electrode facing the first electrode,
a photoelectric conversion layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, the photoelectric conversion layer generating signal charge, and
a first signal detection circuit coupled to the first electrode, the first signal detection circuit detecting the signal charge; and
voltage supply circuitry, wherein
the voltage supply circuitry supplies a negative voltage to the second electrode in a first period when the pixel accumulates the signal charge, and
the voltage supply circuitry supplies a zero or positive voltage to the second electrode in a third period included in a second period other than the first period.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The imaging device according to claim 17, comprising a controller that causes the voltage supply circuitry to supply the first voltage and the second voltage.