Optical sensor device including amplifier circuit and feedback resistor

• US 8,461,509 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2011
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Koyama, Jun, Osada, Takeshi, Matsuzaki, Takanori, Nishi, Kazuo, Maruyama, Junya
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, QUE TAN
• Application Number:
  US13/271,300
• Publication Number:
  US 20120025064A1
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 250/214.R, 250/214.LA, 250/214.A, 250/208.1, 327512-515, 327/530, 327/538, 327/539, 330/54, 330/92, 330/133, 330/59, 330/129, 330/136, 455/127.3, 455/126
• US Class Current: 250/214.R
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/12 the substrate being other than a semiconductor body, e.g. an insulating body
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14609 Pixel-elements with integrated switching, control, storage or amplification elements scanning details of imagers (circuitry of solid-state image sensors H04N25/00); circuitry of imagers H04N25/70
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14692 Thin film technologies, e.g. amorphous, poly, micro- or nanocrystalline silicon

Abstract

In an optical sensor device employing an amorphous silicon photodiode, an external amplifier IC and the like are required due to low current capacity of the sensor element in order to improve the load driving capacity. It to increase in cost and mounting space of the optical sensor device. In addition, noise may easily superimpose since the photodiode and the amplifier IC are connected to each other over a printed circuit board. According to the invention, an amorphous silicon photodiode and an amplifier configured by a thin film transistor are formed integrally over a substrate so that the load driving capacity is improved while reducing cost and mounting space. Superimposing noise can also be reduced.

Claims

1. An optical sensor device comprising:

an optical sensor element;

an amplifier circuit comprising a transistor; and

a feedback resistor,

wherein a first electrode of the optical sensor element is electrically connected to a first input terminal of the amplifier circuit and a first terminal of the feedback resistor,

wherein a second terminal of the feedback resistor is electrically connected to an output terminal of the amplifier circuit,

wherein a second input terminal of the amplifier circuit is electrically connected to an second electrode of the optical sensor element, and

wherein the optical sensor element is provided over the transistor with an insulating film interposed therebetween.

2. The optical sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the optical sensor element and the amplifier circuit are formed over a substrate.

3. The optical sensor device according to claim 2, wherein the substrate is a plastic substrate.

4. The optical sensor device according to claim 2, wherein the substrate is a glass substrate.

5. The optical sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the optical sensor element comprises amorphous silicon.

6. The optical sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the optical sensor element is a photodiode.

7. The optical sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the optical sensor element comprises polysilicon.

8. The optical sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the amplifier circuit comprises a thin film transistor.

9. The optical sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the amplifier circuit is an operational amplifier.

10. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a display portion; and

the optical sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the optical sensor device is operationally connected to the display portion.

11. The electronic apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the electronic apparatus is one selected from the group consisting of a video camera, a head mounted display, a game machine, a car navigation system, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, and a television.

12. An optical sensor device comprising:

an optical sensor element;

an amplifier circuit;

a feedback resistor;

a first level shift circuit; and

a second level shift circuit,

wherein a first electrode of the optical sensor element is electrically connected to a first input terminal of the amplifier circuit through the first level shift circuit,

wherein the first electrode of the optical sensor element is electrically connected to a first terminal of the feedback resistor,

wherein a second terminal of the feedback resistor is electrically connected to an output terminal of the amplifier circuit, and

wherein a second input terminal of the amplifier circuit is electrically connected to a second electrode of the optical sensor element through the second level shift circuit.

13. The optical sensor device according to claim 12, wherein the optical sensor element and the amplifier circuit are formed over a substrate.

14. The optical sensor device according to claim 13, wherein the substrate is a plastic substrate.

15. The optical sensor device according to claim 13, wherein the substrate is a glass substrate.

16. The optical sensor device according to claim 12, wherein the optical sensor element comprises amorphous silicon.

17. The optical sensor device according to claim 12, wherein the optical sensor element is a photodiode.

18. The optical sensor device according to claim 12, wherein the optical sensor element comprises polysilicon.

19. The optical sensor device according to claim 12, wherein the amplifier circuit comprises a thin film transistor.

20. The optical sensor device according to claim 12, wherein the amplifier circuit is an operational amplifier.

21. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a display portion; and

the optical sensor device according to claim 12, wherein the optical sensor device is operationally connected to the display portion.

22. The electronic apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the electronic apparatus is one selected from the group consisting of a video camera, a head mounted display, a game machine, a car navigation system, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, and a television.

23. An optical sensor device comprising:

an optical sensor element;

an amplifier circuit;

a feedback resistor;

a first level shift circuit; and

a second level shift circuit,

wherein a first electrode of the optical sensor element is electrically connected to a first input terminal of the amplifier circuit through the first level shift circuit,

wherein the first electrode of the optical sensor element is electrically connected to a first terminal of the feedback resistor,

wherein a second terminal of the feedback resistor is electrically connected to an output terminal of the amplifier circuit,

wherein a second input terminal of the amplifier circuit is electrically connected to an second electrode of the optical sensor element through the second level shift circuit,

wherein the first level shift circuit comprises a first transistor and a first constant current source, and

wherein the second level shift circuit comprises a second transistor and a second constant current source.

24. The optical sensor device according to claim 23, wherein the optical sensor element and the amplifier circuit are formed over a substrate.

25. The optical sensor device according to claim 24, wherein the substrate is a plastic substrate.

26. The optical sensor device according to claim 24, wherein the substrate is a glass substrate.

27. The optical sensor device according to claim 23, wherein the optical sensor element comprises amorphous silicon.

28. The optical sensor device according to claim 23, wherein the optical sensor element is a photodiode.

29. The optical sensor device according to claim 23, wherein the optical sensor element comprises polysilicon.

30. The optical sensor device according to claim 23, wherein the amplifier circuit comprises a thin film transistor.

31. The optical sensor device according to claim 23, wherein the amplifier circuit is an operational amplifier.

32. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a display portion; and

the optical sensor device according to claim 23, wherein the optical sensor device is operationally connected to the display portion.

33. The electronic apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the electronic apparatus is one selected from the group consisting of a video camera, a head mounted display, a game machine, a car navigation system, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, and a television.