Photoelectric conversion device, electromagnetic wave detection device, photoelectric conversion method and electromagnetic wave detection method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12567553-B2
Application number	US-202218682305-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 5, 2022
Priority date	Aug 10, 2021
Publication date	Mar 3, 2026
Grant date	Mar 3, 2026

Abstract

In a photoelectric conversion device, the meta-surface includes a first antenna portion, a first bias portion, a second antenna portion, and a second bias portion. The first antenna portion extends in a first direction and emits an electron in response to incidence of the electromagnetic wave. The first bias portion faces the first antenna portion and is configured to generate an electric field having a component in the first direction between the first bias portion and the first antenna portion. The second antenna portion extends in a second direction intersecting the first direction and emits an electron in response to incidence of the electromagnetic wave. The second bias portion faces the second antenna portion and is configured to generate an electric field having a component in the second direction between the second bias portion and the second antenna portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A photoelectric conversion device comprising:
an electron emitter including a meta-surface emitting an electron in response to incidence of an electromagnetic wave, wherein the meta-surface includes a first antenna portion extending in a first direction and emitting an electron in response to incidence of the electromagnetic wave, a first bias portion facing the first antenna portion and configured to generate an electric field having a component in the first direction between the first bias portion and the first antenna portion, a second antenna portion extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction and emitting an electron in response to incidence of the electromagnetic wave, and a second bias portion facing the second antenna portion and configured to generate an electric field having a component in the second direction between the second bias portion and the second antenna portion, wherein the first antenna portion includes first and second leading ends which are disposed at mutually different positions in the first direction, the first bias portion includes a first portion facing the first leading end and configured to generate an electric field having a component in the first direction between the first portion and the first leading end, and a second portion facing the second leading end and configured to generate an electric field having a component in the first direction between the second portion and the second leading end, the second antenna portion includes third and fourth leading ends which are disposed at mutually different positions in the second direction the second bias portion includes a third portion facing the third leading end and configured to generate an electric field having a component in the second direction between the third portion and the third leading end, and a fourth portion facing the fourth leading end and configured to generate an electric field having a component in the second direction between the fourth portion and the fourth leading end, in the first direction, the second portion, the second leading end, the first leading end, and the first portion are disposed in this order, and in the second direction, the fourth portion, the fourth leading end, the third leading end, and the third portion are disposed in this order.

2 . The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1 further comprising:
a potential control unit configured to control electric potentials applied to the meta-surface, wherein
the potential control unit, by controlling the electric potentials applied to the meta-surface,
switches between a first state where a component of an electric field from the first bias portion toward the first antenna portion in the first direction is positive, and a second state where a component of an electric field from the first bias portion toward the first antenna portion in the first direction is negative, and
switches between a third state where a component of an electric field from the second bias portion toward the second antenna portion in the second direction is positive, and a fourth state where a component of an electric field from the second bias portion toward the second antenna portion in the second direction is negative.

3 . An electromagnetic wave detection device comprising:
the photoelectric conversion device according to claim 2 ; a detection unit configured to detect an electron emitted from the electron emitter; and a computing unit configured to compute polarization information of an electromagnetic wave based on a result of detection of the detection unit in the first state, a result of detection of the detection unit in the second state, a result of detection of the detection unit in the third state, and a result of detection of the detection unit in the fourth state.

4 . The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 3 further comprising:
a housing configured to be airtightly sealed and have a window unit transmitting an electromagnetic wave therethrough, wherein
the electron emitter is disposed within the housing.

5 . The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1 further comprising:
a potential control unit configured to control electric potentials applied to the meta-surface, wherein
the potential control unit, by controlling the electric potentials applied to the meta-surface,
switches between a first state where a component of an electric field from the first leading end toward the first portion in the first direction is positive, a component of an electric field from the second portion toward the second leading end in the first direction is positive, a component of an electric field from the third leading end toward the third portion in the second direction is positive, and a component of an electric field from the fourth leading end toward the fourth portion in the second direction is negative, and
a second state where a component of an electric field from the first portion toward the first leading end in the first direction is negative, a component of an electric field from the second leading end toward the second portion in the first direction is negative, a component of an electric field from the third leading end toward the third portion in the second direction is positive, and a component of an electric field from the fourth leading end toward the fourth portion in the second direction is negative, and
switches between a third state where a component of an electric field from the first leading end toward the first portion in the first direction is positive, a component of an electric field from the second leading end toward the second portion in the first direction is negative, a component of an electric field from the third leading end toward the third portion in the second direction is positive, and a component of an electric field from the fourth portion toward the fourth leading end in the second direction is positive, and
a fourth state where a component of an electric field from the first leading end toward the first portion in the first direction is positive, a component of an electric field from the second leading end toward the second portion in the first direction is negative, a component of an electric field from the third portion toward the third leading end in the second direction is negative, and a component of an electric field from the fourth leading end toward the fourth portion in the second direction is negative.

6 . An electromagnetic wave detection device comprising:
the photoelectric conversion device according to claim 5 ; a detection unit configured to detect an electron emitted from the electron emitter; and a computing unit configured to compute polarization information of an electromagnetic wave based on a result of detection of the detection unit in the first state, a result of detection of the detection unit in the second state, a result of detection of the detection unit in the third state, and a result of detection of the detection unit in the fourth state.

7 . The electromagnetic wave detection device according to claim 6 , wherein the photoelectric conversion device further comprises:
a housing configured to be airtightly sealed and have a window unit transmitting an electromagnetic wave therethrough, wherein the electron emitter is disposed within the housing.

8 . The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1 further comprising:
a potential control unit configured to control electric potentials applied to the meta-surface, wherein
the potential control unit, by controlling the electric potentials applied to the meta-surface,
switches between a first state where an electric potential applied to the first portion is lower than a

Assignees

• Hamamatsu Photonics Kk
• Univ Danmarks Tekniske

Inventors

• Kawai Naoya
• YOSHIARA Hideaki
• Lange Simon Lehnskov
• Jepsen Peter Uhd

Classifications

• H01J40/14

  Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the tube and not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• H01J40/06

  Photo-emissive cathodes · CPC title

• H01J43/08

  Cathode arrangements (construction of photo cathodes H01J40/06, H01J40/16, H01J47/00, H01J49/08) · CPC title

• H01J31/26 Primary

  Image pick-up tubes having an input of visible light and electric output (tubes without defined electron beams and having a light ray scanning photo-emissive screen H01J40/20) · CPC title

• H01J43/06 Primary

  Electrode arrangements · CPC title