Solid-state imaging apparatus

摘要

A solid-state imaging apparatus allows precise observation and analysis of ultra-high-speed phenomena at a frame rate more than 100 Mega frames per second, which has been targeted in advanced science and engineering. The solid-state imaging apparatus comprises pixels arranged in M columns and N rows. Each pixel includes a first layer for photoelectric conversion and a second layer having m charge collection devices, where m is equal to or greater than 3, for collecting and storing charges generated light incident on a substantially whole area of the pixel, and a readout device for reading out the charges, where m charge collection devices are locally placed in an area around a center of the pixel. The second layer further includes a second storage device for storing the charges collected and stored by each of the collection devices.

主权项

1. An imaging apparatus comprising:
a semiconductor device; a focusing unit for focusing an incident electromagnetic wave or an incident charged particle on the semiconductor device; a controller for controlling the semiconductor device; and a signal processing unit for processing a signal output from the semiconductor device, wherein the semiconductor device includes an array of photo-sensitive units arranged in M columns and N rows, where M and N are integers equal to or greater than two, and each of the photo-sensitive units includes a conversion device for converting the incident electromagnetic wave or the incident charged particle to J electric charges, wherein J is an integer equal to or greater than zero, and m sub-units, where m is an integer equal to or greater than three, each of the m sub-units includes at least one collection device for sequentially and selectively collecting the electric charges and storing the collected electric charges as a charge packet, and a transfer device for transferring the charge packet or a signal resulting from converting the charge packet to an outside of the sub-unit, and the at least one collection device of each of the m sub-units is placed substantially along a circle of which a center is located at a central area of the photo-sensitive unit.