Photoelectric conversion device and photoelectric conversion method

2:

• The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1, wherein
• the pattern of each of the photoelectric conversion units includes first and second sections being spaced away from each other, and
• the second section includes a leading end facing the first section, and is configured to emit the electron in response to incidence of the electromagnetic wave when a lower electric potential than an electric potential of the first section is applied to the second section.

3:

• The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 2, wherein
• the second section of each of the photoelectric conversion units includes a linear part extending toward the first section, and
• the linear parts of at least two photoelectric conversion units among the plurality of photoelectric conversion units have mutually different lengths.

4:

• The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 2, wherein
• in two photoelectric conversion units among the plurality of photoelectric conversion units, the first or second section of one photoelectric conversion unit is electrically connected to the first or second section of the other photoelectric conversion unit.

5:

• The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 2, further comprising a potential control unit configured to control electric potentials applied to the first and second sections in each of the photoelectric conversion units.

7:

• The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 6, wherein
• the potential control unit is configured to apply a higher electric potential than the electric potential applied to the first section of the first photoelectric conversion unit to the second section of the first photoelectric conversion unit in a case of applying a lower electric potential than the electric potential applied to the first section of the second photoelectric conversion unit to the second section of the second photoelectric conversion unit.

8:

• The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 5, wherein
• the potential control unit is configured to apply a lower electric potential than the electric potential applied to the first section to the second section with regard to at least two photoelectric conversion units among the photoelectric conversion units.

9:

• The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1, wherein
• the pattern of each of the photoelectric conversion units has an equivalent electric potential.

10:

• The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1, wherein
• the pattern of each of the photoelectric conversion units is electrically connected to each other.

11:

• The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1, wherein
• the pattern of each of the photoelectric conversion units includes a linear part, and
• the linear parts of at least two photoelectric conversion units among the plurality of photoelectric conversion units have mutually different lengths.

12:

• The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1, further comprising a housing configured to be airtightly sealed and have a window transmitting the electromagnetic wave, wherein
• the electron emitter is disposed within the housing.

15:

• The photoelectric conversion method according to claim 14, wherein
• electric potentials applied to a first photoelectric conversion unit and a second photoelectric conversion unit which are included in the plurality of photoelectric conversion units are controlled in such a manner that an electric potential difference between an electric potential applied to the first section of the first photoelectric conversion unit and an electric potential applied to the second section of the first photoelectric conversion unit is different from an electric potential difference between an electric potential applied to the first section of the second photoelectric conversion unit and an electric potential applied to the second section of the second photoelectric conversion unit.

16:

• The photoelectric conversion method according to claim 14, wherein
• a higher electric potential than an electric potential applied to the first section of the first photoelectric conversion unit is applied to the second section of the first photoelectric conversion unit in a case where a lower electric potential than an electric potential applied to the first section of the second photoelectric conversion unit is applied to the second section of the second photoelectric conversion unit, and
• a higher electric potential than the electric potential applied to the first section of the second photoelectric conversion unit is applied to the second section of the second photoelectric conversion unit in a case where a lower electric potential than the electric potential applied to the first section of the first photoelectric conversion unit is applied to the second section of the first photoelectric conversion unit.

17:

• The photoelectric conversion method according to claim 14, wherein
• in at least two photoelectric conversion units among the plurality of photoelectric conversion units, a lower electric potential than the electric potential applied to the first section is applied to the second section.

18:

• The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 9, wherein
• the pattern of each of the photoelectric conversion units includes a linear part, and
• the linear parts of at least two photoelectric conversion units among the plurality of photoelectric conversion units have mutually different lengths.

19:

• The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 10, wherein
• the pattern of each of the photoelectric conversion units includes a linear part, and
• the linear parts of at least two photoelectric conversion units among the plurality of photoelectric conversion units have mutually different lengths.