Image pickup device, spatial information detecting apparatus using the same device and method for taking out received-light output from the same device
US8264577B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 28, 2008 |
| Grant date | Sep 11, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 21, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10F39/80
Abstract
A compact image pickup device with high sensitivity is provided, which is suitable for a spatial information detecting apparatus. The image pickup device has a plurality of image pickup units arranged on a semiconductor substrate. Each of the image pickup units has a light receiving array of photoelectric conversion elements for generating electric charges corresponding to a received-light amount, a transfer array of charge transfer elements, an accumulation array of charge accumulation elements each having a greater charge storage capacity than a saturation charge amount of the photoelectric conversion element, and a charge-amount adjusting portion configured to determine an amount of undesired electric charges to be separated from the electric charges generated by each of the photoelectric conversion elements. The transfer array and the light receiving array are arranged in a line in a vertical direction. The accumulation array is disposed adjacent to the transfer array in a horizontal direction.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.