US 9,871,985 B2 · Solid-state image pickup device and electronic apparatus including a solid-state image pickup device having high and low sensitivity pixels

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a solid-state image pickup device and an electronic apparatus capable of generating highly-accurate image pickup signals having a large dynamic range. Pixels each include a high-sensitivity pixel and a low-sensitivity pixel having a lower sensitivity than the high-sensitivity pixel. A control gate controls a potential of a photoelectric conversion device of the low-sensitivity pixel. The present disclosure is applicable to, for example, a CMOS image sensor that includes both the high-sensitivity pixel and the low-sensitivity pixel having a lower sensitivity than the high-sensitivity pixel and controls a potential of the photoelectric conversion device of the low-sensitivity pixel.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A solid-state image pickup device, comprising:

a plurality of pixels, wherein each pixel includes a high-sensitivity pixel and a low-sensitivity pixel having a lower sensitivity than the high-sensitivity pixel;
a low-sensitivity pixel control gate configured to control a potential of a photoelectric conversion device of the low-sensitivity pixel;
and
a high-sensitivity pixel control gate configured to control a potential of a photoelectric conversion device of the high-sensitivity pixel,
wherein the high-sensitivity pixel control gate is set to a low level when charges are accumulated in the photoelectric conversion device of the high-sensitivity pixel and when the charges are transferred.

2 more elements

A solid-state image pickup device, comprising:

a plurality of pixels, wherein each pixel in the plurality of pixels includes a high-sensitivity pixel and a low-sensitivity pixel having a lower sensitivity than the high-sensitivity pixel;
a low-sensitivity pixel control gate configured to control a potential of a photoelectric conversion device of the low-sensitivity pixel;
a high-sensitivity pixel control gate configured to control a potential of a photoelectric conversion device of the high-sensitivity pixel,
wherein the high-sensitivity pixel control gate is set to a low level when charges are accumulated in the photoelectric conversion device of the high-sensitivity pixel and when the charges are transferred;
and
a potential deep section of a photoelectric conversion device of the low-sensitivity pixel extending in a horizontal direction outside a photoelectric conversion device of the high-sensitivity pixel.

3 more elements

A solid-state image pickup device, comprising:

a plurality of pixels, each including a high-sensitivity pixel and a low-sensitivity pixel having a lower sensitivity than the high-sensitivity pixel;
a low-sensitivity pixel control gate configured to control a potential of a photoelectric conversion device of the low-sensitivity pixel,
a high-sensitivity pixel control gate configured to control a potential of a photoelectric conversion device of the high-sensitivity pixel,
wherein the high-sensitivity pixel control gate is set to a low level when charges are accumulated in the photoelectric conversion device of the high-sensitivity pixel and when the charges are transferred, and
an electric field of the photoelectric conversion device of the low-sensitivity pixel being stronger than that of the photoelectric conversion device of the high-sensitivity pixel.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Solid-state image pickup device and electronic apparatus including a solid-state image pickup device having high and low sensitivity pixels

Life of this patent

Solid-state image pickup device and electronic apparatus including a solid-state image pickup device having high and low sensitivity pixels

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18