Detection device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025151423-A1
Application number	US-202519014644-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 9, 2025
Priority date	Jul 11, 2022
Publication date	May 8, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

According to an aspect, a detection device includes: a photodiode provided on a substrate; a light source disposed so as to face the photodiode; and a liquid crystal panel disposed between the photodiode and the light source in a direction orthogonal to the substrate. The liquid crystal panel includes a plurality of pixels. In plan view, the photodiode has a size larger than a size of each of the pixels, and the photodiode is disposed in a position overlapping the pixels. The liquid crystal panel is configured to bring at least one of the pixels overlapping the photodiode into a transmitting state and bring another of the pixels into a non-transmitting state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A detection device comprising:
a photodiode provided on a substrate; a light source disposed so as to face the photodiode; and a liquid crystal panel disposed between the photodiode and the light source in a direction orthogonal to the substrate, wherein the liquid crystal panel comprises a plurality of pixels, in plan view, the photodiode has a size larger than a size of each of the pixels, and the photodiode is disposed in a position overlapping the pixels, and the liquid crystal panel is configured to bring at least one of the pixels overlapping the photodiode into a transmitting state and bring another of the pixels into a non-transmitting state.

2 . The detection device according to claim 1 , comprising a plurality of the photodiodes arranged on the substrate.

3 . The detection device according to claim 2 , wherein
the liquid crystal panel is configured to control the pixels such that the pixels in the transmitting state and the pixels in the non-transmitting state in a first direction are alternately arranged, and an arrangement pitch in the first direction of the pixels in the transmitting state is equal or larger than an arrangement pitch in the first direction of the photodiodes.

4 . The detection device according to claim 1 , wherein
the liquid crystal panel is configured to sequentially scan the pixel in the transmitting state among the pixels overlapping the photodiode in each of detection periods, and the photodiode is configured to sequentially output a detection signal corresponding to light transmitted through the pixel in the transmitting state in each of the detection periods.

5 . The detection device according to claim 4 , comprising a combined image generation circuit configured to generate one combined image by combining images in a plurality of the detection periods based on a plurality of the detection signals output in each of the detection periods and information on the pixel in the transmitting state in each of the detection periods.

6 . The detection device according to claim 2 , wherein
at least one of the pixels is disposed overlapping a boundary between adjacent two of the photodiodes, and the detection device comprises:
a storage circuit configured to store a distribution of detection sensitivity of the photodiodes; and
an adjustment value generation circuit configured to calculate, based on the distribution of detection sensitivity, an adjustment value for gradations of an image acquired by the photodiodes.

7 . The detection device according to claim 6 , wherein the adjustment value generation circuit is configured to generate the adjustment value to increase the gradations of the acquired image in a region where the one of the pixels is disposed overlapping the boundary between the adjacent two of the photodiodes.

8 . The detection device according to claim 2 , wherein an arrangement pitch in a first direction of the photodiodes is an integer multiple of an arrangement pitch in the first direction of the pixels.

9 . The detection device according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid crystal panel is configured to emit monochrome light toward the photodiode.

10 . The detection device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the pixels of the liquid crystal panel comprises a first sub-pixel comprising a first-color color filter, a second sub-pixel comprising a second-color color filter, and a third sub-pixel comprising a third-color color filter.

11 . The detection device according to claim 10 , wherein
the liquid crystal panel is configured to:
have a first period, a second period, and a third period arranged in a time-division manner; and
bring the first sub-pixel into the transmitting state during the first period, the second sub-pixel into the transmitting state during the second period, and the third sub-pixel into the transmitting state during the third period.

12 . The detection device according to claim 10 , wherein the liquid crystal panel is configured to simultaneously bring the first sub-pixel, the second sub-pixel, and the third sub-pixel into the transmitting state.

13 . The detection device according to claim 1 , wherein the light source is configured to emit parallel light toward the liquid crystal panel.

Assignees

• Japan Display Inc

Inventors

• Fujisawa Akihiko
• Ito Kaoru
• Seino Shiori

Classifications

• H04N25/44

  by partially reading an SSIS array · CPC title

• H10F39/8053

  Colour filters · CPC title

• H10F39/806

  Optical elements or arrangements associated with the image sensors · CPC title

• H10F39/8037 Primary

  the integrated elements comprising a transistor · CPC title

• H04N25/75

  Circuitry for providing, modifying or processing image signals from the pixel array · CPC title