The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 05, 2019
Filed:
Feb. 02, 2018
Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd., Atsugi-shi, Kanagawa-ken, JP;
Takuro Ohmaru, Kasuya, JP;
Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd., Kanagawa-ken, JP;
Abstract
An imaging device whose dynamic range is broadened is provided. The imaging device includes a pixel including a first photoelectric conversion element and a first circuit including a second photoelectric conversion element. The first circuit switches the operation mode of the pixel to a normal imaging mode or a wide dynamic range mode and switches the operation region of the first photoelectric conversion element to a normal region or an avalanche region in accordance with the illuminance of light with which the second photoelectric conversion element is irradiated. When the illuminance of light with which the first photoelectric conversion element is irradiated is increased, the increase rate of a writing current flowing to the pixel is higher in the avalanche region than in the normal region. However, in the wide dynamic range mode, the increase rate of current can be lowered, and thus the dynamic range can be broadened.