Device and method of photoelectrically converting light into electrical signal

Abstract: A photoelectric transducer device controls a potential of a control electrode region of a semiconductor transistor through a capacitor to perform a storage operation for storing carriers generated upon light excitation of the control electrode region, a read operation for reading a signal from a main electrode region of the semiconductor transistor, the signal being controlled by a storage voltage generated by storage of the carriers, and a refresh operation for electrically neutralizing the carriers stored in the control electrode region. A semiconductor region having the same conductivity type as that of the main electrode region and having an impurity concentration lower than that of the main electrode region is formed in the control electrode region independently of the main electrode region. A photoelectric transducer device including a semiconductor region. Two main electrodes and a control electrode are formed between the main electrodes. A capacitor is provided for controlling a potential of the control electrode in a floating state. The photoelectric transducer device is adapted to control the potential of the control electrode in the floating state through the capacitor to store carriers generated by electromagnetic waves incident on the semiconductor region. Control means is provided for controlling the potential of the control electrode through the capacitor to electrically neutralize the carriers and means for injecting carriers into the control electrode immediately prior to electrical neutralization of the carriers by the control means is provided.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device and method of photoelectrically converting light into an electrical signal wherein a potential at a control electrode region of a semiconductor transistor is controlled through a capacitor to store carriers excited with light in the control electrode region, thereby controlling an output from the semiconductor transistor. Related Background Art Fig. 1A is a plan view of a photoelectric transducer device described in EP-A-0 132 076, Fig. 1B is a sectional view of the device taken along the line I - I thereof, and Fig. 1C is a diagram of an equivalent circuit thereof. Referring to Figs. 1A to 1C, photoelectric transducer cells are arranged on an n-type silicon substrate 101. The photoelectric transducer cells are electrically insulated by an element isolation region 102 made of SiO 2 , Si 3 N 4 or polysilicon. Each photoelectric transducer cell has the following construction. A p-type impurity is doped to form a p-type region 104 on an n -type region 103 having a low impurity concentration formed by an epitaxial technique or the like. An n + -type region 105 is formed in the p-type region 104 by impurity diffusion or ion implantation. The p- and n + -type regions 104 and 105 serve as the base and emitter of each bipolar transistor. An oxide film 106 is formed on the n - -type region 103. A capacitor electrode 107 having a predetermined area is formed on the oxide film 106. The capacitor electrode 107 opposes the p-type region 104, with the oxide film 106 interposed therebetween, thereby constituting a capacitor C ox . Upon application of a pulse voltage to the capacitor electrode 107, the potential of the p-type region 104 in the floating state is controlled. An emitter electrode 108 connected to the n + -type region 105, a wiring 109 for extracting the signal from the emitter electrode 108, and a wiring 110 connected to the capacitor electrode 107 are formed at the upper surface side of the substrate 101. An n + -type region 111 having a high impurity concentration and an electrode 112 for applying a voltage to the collector of a bipolar transistor are sequentially formed on the lower surface of the substrate 101. The basic operation of the photoelectric transducer device will be described below. Assume that the p-type region 104 as the base region of the bipolar transistor is set in the initial state of a negative potential. Light 113 is incident on the p-type region 104 and carriers corresponding to the amount of light are stored in the p-type region 104 (storage operation). The base potential is changed by the charged carriers. The change in base potential controls a current supplied to an emitter-collector path, and an electrical signal having a level corresponding to the amount of incident light is extracted from the floating emitter electrode 108 (read operation). In order to remove the carriers stored in the p-type region 104, the emitter electrode 108 is grounded and a refresh positive voltage pulse is supplied to the capacitor electrode 107. Upon application of this positive voltage, the p-type region 104 is forward-biased with respect to the n + -type region 105, thereby removing the charged carriers. When the refresh pulse falls, the p-type region 104 returns to the initial state of the negative potential (refresh operation). The cycle of storage, read, and refresh operations is repeated. According to the method proposed here, the carriers generated upon reception of light are stored in the p-type region 104 as the base region, and the current supplied between the emitter and collector electrodes 108 and 112 is controlled by the stored carriers. Therefore, the stored carriers are amplified by the amplification function of each cell, and the amplified carriers are read out. Therefore, a high output with high sensitivity and low noise can be obtained. A potential Vp generated by the base by the carriers stored in the base upon light excitation is given by Q/C where Q is the charge of the carriers stored in the base, and C is the capacitance connected to the base. As is apparent from the above mathematical expression, both Q and C are reduced according to the reduction of the cell size when the transducer device is highly integrated. It is thus found that the potential Vp generated by light excitation is kept substantially constant. Therefore, the method proposed by the above prior art is advantageous in a future high-resolution implementation. The change in base potential Vb during the application of the positive refresh voltage to the capacitor electrode 107 is given as follows: (Cox + Cbe + Cbc)dVb/dt = -Ib where Cbe is the capacitance between the base and emitter of the bipolar transistor, Cbc is the capacitance between the base and collector thereof, and Ib is the base current. Fig. 2 is a graph showing changes in base potential Vb during the application of the positive refresh voltage as a function of time. Referring to Fig. 2, the initial base potential at the time of the application of the refresh pulse varies according to the magnitude of the storage voltage Vp. The negative potential in the initial state is changed in the positive direction by the storage voltage Vp during the storage operation. In this state, when the positive refresh pulse is applied to the capacitor electrode 107, the initial base potential is greater than a potential after refresh by the storage voltage Vp. As is also apparent from the graph in Fig. 2, the time for which the initial base potential is maintained varies according to the magnitude of the initial base potential. However, after the lapse of this period, the base potential Vb is decreased at a common rate regardless of the initial base potential. If the refresh time t is sufficiently long, the base potential Vb can be controlled to be substantially 0 V regardless of the magnitude of the storage voltage Vp. Therefore, the base potential Vb returns to the predetermined negative potential of the initial state when the refresh pulse falls. However, in order to achieve high-speed operation, the refresh operation is terminated at the refresh time t = t0 and the base potential Vb = Vk in practice. Even if a residual potential of the base potential Vb is present, the base potential Vb can return to the predetermined negative potential when the refresh pulse falls under the conditions wherein the refresh time t = t0 is established and the base potential Vb is constantly the predetermined potential Vk. Therefore, the negative potential can be set to be the initial state. However, in the conventional photoelectric transducer device described above, when the refresh operation is repeated, the residual potential Vk is gradually decreased to undesirably cause an after image phenomenon. Referring to Fig. 2, assume that the initial base potential of a cell receiving a large amount of light is 0.8 V and that the initial base potential of a cell receiving a small amount of light is 0.4 V. When the refresh time t has elapsed, the base potential Vb of the cell receiving a large amount of light becomes the predetermined residual potential Vk. However, the base potential Vb of the cell receiving a small amount of light becomes a residual potential Vl lower than the predetermined residual potential Vk. In this state, when the refresh pulse falls, the base potential Vb of the cell receiving a small amount of light becomes lower than the negative potential of the initial state. From a potential lower than the initial negative potential, storage and read operations are started. Therefore, if the refresh operation is repeated in a low illuminance state, the residual potential of the base is gradually decreased. Even if a high illuminance state is obtained, the resultant output has a level lower than that corresponding to the amount of incident light. In other words, the after image phenomenon occurs due to the following reason. When the refresh operation is repeated, the holes in the base region are recombined to result in their shortage. If the shortage of holes cannot be compensated for a long period of time, i.e., if the low illuminance state continues for a long period of time, the after image phenomenon typically occurs. Fig. 3 is a schematic circuit diagram of an area sensor using a conventional photoelectric transducer device. Referring to Fig. 3, conventional photoelectric transducer cells 120 of a 3 x 3 matrix are arranged in the area sensor. Emitter electrodes 108 of the cells 120 are connected to corresponding vertical lines in units of columns. Capacitor electrodes 107 are connected to horizontal lines in units of rows. A positive voltage from a vertical scanning unit 121 is applied to the photoelectric transducer cells 120 to perform read access or refresh operation in units of rows. EP-A-0132076 also proposes an arrangement in which the emitter of the bipolar transistor also functions as the drain region of an MOS transistor, and the source region of the MOS transistor is connected to the base region of the bipolar transistor by a conductor. At the time of the refresh operation the emitter (and therefore the drain region) is grounded and then the MOS transistor is turned on, so that a current flows to bring the base to zero potential. Then the MOS transistor is turned off and the base is refreshed by applying the refresh pulse to the capacitor electrode. In another embodiment EP-A-0132076 proposes that the refresh pulse is not used, and the base is refreshed only by applying a voltage to the base through an MOS transistor, which may be constructed as described above or may be completely separate from the emitter. EP-A-0206649 (which was published on 30 December 1986, after the filing date of the present application, but which has a filing date earlier than the filing date of the present application and a priority date earlier than the priority dates of the present application) proposes that the photoelectric transducer cell includes an additional semiconductor region, of the same conductivity type as the base region, underneath a cell isolation region, so as to form a pnpn structure. The additional semiconductor region acts as the emitter of a secondary bipolar transistor, the base of which is formed by the collector of the main bipolar transistor and the collector of which is formed by the base of the main bipolar transistor. This secondary bipolar transistor is used for injecting carriers into the base region of the main bipolar transistor before the refresh pulse is applied to the capacitor electrode. In an array of such cells the emitters of the main bipolar transistors are connected to vertical lines which are connected through transistors to storage capacitors, and then through further transistors to an output line. The emitter electrodes are also connected to ground through further transistors, for grounding the emitter electrodes during the refresh pulse. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a photoelectric transducer apparatus as set out in claim 1 and a method of operating photoelectric transducer apparatus as set out in claim 5. Optional features are set out in the remaining claims. An embodiment of the present invention provides a device and method of photoelectrically converting light into an electrical signal, wherein a residual potential is not decreased even if refresh operation is repeated, and an after image phenomenon can be eliminated. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS: Fig. 1A is a schematic plan view of a photoelectric transducer device described in EP-A-0 132 076, Fig. 1B is a sectional view of the device in Fig. 1A taken along the line I - I thereof, and Fig. 1C is an equivalent circuit diagram of the device in Fig. 1A; Fig. 2 is a graph showing changes in base potential during refresh operation as a function of time; Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram of an image pickup device using the photoelectric transucer device described in EP-A-0 132 076. Fig. 4A is an equivalent circuit diagram of a photoelectric transducer device used in an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 4B is an equivalent circuit diagram of a photoelectric tranducer device used in another embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5A is a circuit diagram of a one-dimensional image pickup device embodying the present invention, Fig. 5B is a timing chart for explaining an operation of the image pickup device in Fig. 5A, Fig. 5C is a timing chart for explaining another operation of the image pickup device in Fig. 5A, and 5D is a timing chart for explaining still another operation of the embodiment as shown in Fig. 5A. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS: Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings below. Fig. 4A is an equivalent circuit diagram of a photoelectric transducer device used in an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 4A, a p-type base region 703 of an npn bipolar transistor 701 is connected to a capacitor electrode 704 through a capacitor 702. The base region 703 is connected to the drain of a p-channel MOS transistor 707. The operation of the transducer device having the arrangement described above will be described below. In the storage operation, the p-type base region 703 is set in the initial negative potential, the emitter electrode 705 is set at zero potential in the floating state, and the capacitor electrode 704 is set at zero potential. The collector electrode 706 is maintained at a positive potential. The gate electrode 708 of the p-channel MOS transistor 707 is set at a positive potential, and the p-channel MOS transistor 707 is rendered nonconductive. In this state, upon reception of light, carriers (holes in this case) corresponding to the amount light are stored in the p-type base region 703. In the read operation, the emitter electrode 705 is set in the floating state, anda positive read voltage pulse is applied to the capacitor electrode 704. As previously mentioned, an electrical signal corresponding to the amount of incident light is read out to the emitter electrode 705. In the hole injection operation, the capacitor electrode 704 is set at zero potential, the emitter electrode 705 is set in the floating state or at zero potential, and a source electrode 709 of the p-channel MOS transistor 707 is set at a proper potential, e.g., the ground potential. Assume that a negative pulse is applied to the gate electrode 708 of the p-channel MOS transistor 707. If the potential of the p-type base region 703 is lower than that of the source electrode 709 in the dark state or a state wherein an amount of light is small, the holes are injected into the p-type base region 703 to increase its potential. However, if the amount of incident light is large and at the same time the potential of the p-type base region 703 is higher than that of the source electrode 709, some of the holes stored in the p-type base region 703 are erased. The potential of the p-type base region 703 is set to be equal to that of the source electrode 709. The potential of the source electrode 709 is set such that the potential of the p-type base region 703 is sufficiently higher than the residual potential Vk even in the dark state. In the refresh operation, the emitter electrode 705 is grounded, the gate electrode 708 of the p-channel MOS transistor 707 is set at a positive potential, and the p-channel MOS transistor 707 is rendered nonconductive. In this state, when the refresh pulse is applied to the capacitor electrode 704, the holes stored in the p-type base region 703 are recombined with the electrons injected from the emitter electrode 705 to the p-type base region 703, thus eliminating the holes. Since the potential of the p-type base region 703 is sufficiently high due to the hole injection operation even in the dark state, the initial base potential upon application of the refresh pulse is sufficiently higher than the residual potential Vk regardless of the amount of incident light (Fig. 2). Therefore, when the refresh time t0 has elapsed, the potential of the p-type base region 703 is set at the predetermined potential Vk regardless of the amount of incident light. In this state, when the positive refresh pulse falls, the p-type base region 703 is set at the predetermined initial negative potential. By inserting the hole injection operation in the transducer cycle, the holes in the p-type base region 703 are not subject to shortage even if the refresh operation is repeated. Therefore, nonlinearity of the photoelectric transducer characteristics and the after image phenomenon with a small amount of light can be completely prevented. In the above embodiment, the base region as the control electrode has a p conductivity type, and thus the carriers are holes. However, if the base region as the main control electrode of a pnp bipolar transistor has an n conductivity type, the carriers are electrons. In the embodiment of Fig. 4A, the means for injecting the carriers in the p-type base region is a p-channel MOS transistor. However, other means may be used in place of the p-channel MOS transistor. For example, as shown in Fig. 4B, an n-channel MOS transistor may be used. The control means for controlling the potential of the control electrode region through the capacitor to dissipate the carriers (holes) stored therein is the means for grounding the emitter region, applying the refresh pulse to the capacitor electrode, and then injecting electrons from the emitter region, thereby recombining the electrons and the holes. Fig. 5A is a circuit diagram of an image pickup device having photoelectric transducer cells arranged in a one-dimensional manner, and Fig. 5B is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the image pickup device in Fig. 5A. Referring to Fig. 5A, three photoelectric transducer cells 810 are one-dimensionally arranged. Collector electrodes 809 are commonly connected and receive a positive voltage. Capacitor electrodes 804 are commonly connected to a terminal 831 through a horizontal line 830. A read/ refresh pulse signal R is applied to the terminal 831. Emitter electrodes 805 are respectively connected to vertical lines 835, 835', and 835". A gate electrode 808 of the transistor 807 is connected to a terminal 833 through a horizontal line 832 and receives a pulse signal c for hole injection. A source electrode of the transistor 807 is connected to a terminal 834 for receiving a hole injection voltage Vc. The vertical lines 835, 835', and 835" are respectively grounded through transistors 836, 836', and 836". The gate electrodes of the transistors 836, 836', and 836" are commonly connected to a terminal 838 through a line 837. A signal vc is applied to the terminal 838. The vertical lines 835, 835', and 835" are respectively connected to charge storage capacitors 840, 840', and 840" through transistors 839, 839', and 839" and to an output line 844 through transistors 843, 843', and 843". The gate electrodes of the transistors 839, 839', and 839" are commonly connected to a terminal 842 through a line 841. A signal T is applied to the terminal 842. The gate electrodes of the transistors 843, 843', and 843" are connected to the parallel output terminals of a shift register 845. Signals H1, H2, and H3 respectively appear at the parallel output terminals. The output line 844 is grounded through a transistor 846 for refreshing the output line 844 and connected to the gate electrode of a transistor 848 serving as an output amplifier and having an output terminal 849. The gate electrode of the refresh transistor 846 is connected to a terminal 847. A signal Hc is applied to the terminal 847. The operation of the image pickup device having the arrangement described above will be described with reference to Fig. 5B. The pulse signals T and vc rise to turn on the transistors 839, 839', 839", 836, 836', and 836". The emitter electrodes 805 of the photoelectric transducer cells 810 and the vertical lines 835, 835', and 835" are grounded, thereby removing the residual charges from the charge storage capacitors 840, 840', and 840" and the vertical lines 835, 835', and 835". At time t1, the signal c rises so that the potential Vc applied to the terminal 834 is applied to the base region 803 of each photoelectric transducer cell 810. The holes are injected into the base region 803 of each photoelectric transducer cell 810 held in the dark state or receiving a small amount of light. As a result, the potentials at the base regions of the photoelectric transducer cells are set to be substantially equal to each other (hole injection operation). Before time t2, the signal c falls and at time t2 the signal R rises to apply the positive refresh voltage to the capacitor electrodes 804 of the photoelectric transducer cells 810. Since the emitter electrodes are grounded, the refresh operation is performed in the same manner as described with reference to Fig. 4A. When the signal R falls at time t3, the p-type base regions 803 of the photoelectric transducer cells 810 are reset in the initial negative potential state. When the refresh operation is completed, the signal vc falls to turn off the transistor 836, 836', and 836". At time t4, the signal R rises again to apply the positive read voltage to the capacitor electrodes 804 of the photoelectric transducer cells 810. In this state, the holes of the electron-hole pairs excited by incident light are stored in the p-type base regions of the photoelectric transducer cells 810. The base potential of each cell is increased by the storage voltage component corresponding to the amount of light, and at the same time, the read operation is performed. The read signals corresponding to the optical information of the photoelectric transducer cells 810 are respectively stored in the charge storage capacitors 840, 840', and 840". The store operation in this case is conducted under the condition that respective cells are forward-biased between base and emitter thereof. At time t5, the signals T and R fall to turn off the transistors 839, 839', and 839". The signal Hc rises to remove the residual charge from the output line 844, and then the signal Hc falls. The signal H1 output from the first output terminal of the shift register 845 rises to turn on the transistor 843, so that the read signal stored in the charge storage capacitor 840 is read out onto the output line 844. The readout signal appears at the terminal 849 through the transistor 848. Subsequently, the signal Hc rises, and the output line 844 is grounded through the transistor 846, thereby removing the residual charge. In the same manner as described above, the signals 843' and 843" output from the shift register 845 sequentially rise to read out the read signals from the charge storage capacitors 840' and 840" onto the output line 844. Every time a read signal appears, the pulse signal Hc rises to refresh the output line 844. In this manner, the read signals from all the photoelectric transducer cells 810 serially appear at the terminal 849 through the transistor 848. Fig. 5C is a timing chart for explaining another operation of the image pickup device in Fig. 5A. Fig. 5C shows the operation mode wherein the signal R which rises at time t2 does not fall at time t3, and other signal timings are the same as those in Fig. 5B. In the case of Fig. 5C, a store operation is conducted under the condition that respective cells are forward-biased between base and emitter thereof, the signals generated by the transistors 805 of the photoelectric transducer cells are always read out onto the vertical lines 835, 835', and 835". Such read operation can be allowed. According to this timing, a noise taken in the sensor cells responsive to the falling and rising of the pulse R, that is a fixed pattern noise due to an irregularity in configuration in cells of the capacitor electrode and a random noise due to a carrier produced by depressing the interface between the oxidization film and the semiconductor under the capacitor electrode, is removed. Therefore, a good signal without noise can be obtained. Fig. 5D is a timing chart for explaining still another operation of the embodiment as shown in Fig. 5A. Fig. 5D shows the operation mode wherein the signal T which has not fallen at the time t3, falls at the time t3 and rises again at the time t4 at which the store operation is completed. An operation of another timings is the same as that of Fig. 5C. In the case of the operation as shown in Fig. 5D, during the store operation, the signals produced at the transistors 805 of respective cells are readout to only the vertical lines 835, 835', and 835". In case of long time store operation, since quantity of bias between base and emitter of the transistors 805 in respective cells is reduced as the store time continues, the emitter current of the transistor 805 also is reduced. Thereby, irregularity in operation of the cell is produced in the low current region in the transistor 805 as it is outputted as a signal to the vertical lines 835, 835', and 835". According to this timing, when the pulse T rises again at time t4, the signals including the low current operation irregularity of the transistor 805 which has been read out to the vertical lines 835, 835', and 835" are once divided between the capacitors 840, 840', and 840" and the wiring capacitances of the vertical lines 835, 835', and 835". Therefore, the voltage of the signals is dropped. Since the voltage of the vertical lines 835, 835', and 835" is dropped, the transistor 805 operates again. By the large emitter current, the signals stored in bases of respective cells can be read out to the capacitors 840, 840', and 840". Thereby, the signals including low current operation irregularity of the transistor 805 produced during the long store time are removed. Signals without operation irregularity of transistors of respective cells can be read out to the capacitors 840, 840', and 840". In the photoelectric transducer device of this embodiment as described above, a transistor and the like is formed in the control electrode region of the semiconductor transistor, and thus the potential of the control electrode is controlled. Therefore, the carriers can be injected into the control electrode at the proper time. For example, the potential of the control electrode region can be kept sufficiently high at the beginning of refreshing. The potential of the control electrode region at the end of refreshing can be maintained at a desired predetermined value. The conventional nonlinearity of the characteristics and the after image phenomenon of the photoelectric transducer can be improved. In particular, when the present invention is applied to the image pickup device as shown in Fig. 5A, unlike in the conventional control method, fixed pattern noise caused by variations of the capacitances inherent to the photoelectric transducer cells can be prevented. If the image pickup device picks up an image of an object, a video image with little noise can be obtained.

Claims: Photoelectric transducer apparatus comprising: a plurality of photoelectric transducer cells (810), each cell comprising: a bipolar transistor having a base region, an emitter region, a collector region and a control electrode capacitively coupled to the base region, the transistor being operable to accumulate charge carriers in the base region in response to incident electromagnetic radiation, provide a signal from the emitter region in accordance with the quantity of charge carriers stored in the base region, and refresh the base region by neutralising charge carriers stored therein; and an insulated gate transistor (707, 707') for injecting charge carriers into the base region at least in the case that it has a relatively low quantity of charge carriers stored in it; a plurality of storage capacitors (840) for receiving and storing the said signals from the emitter regions; a plurality of first further transistors (839) for coupling the emitter regions to the storage capacitors; an output line (844); a plurality of second further transistors (843) for coupling the storage capacitors to the output line; a plurality of third further transistors (836) for coupling the emitter regions to a fixed potential; and control means for controlling the bipolar transistor and the insulated gate transistor of each cell, and for controlling the first, second and third further transistors, the control means being arranged, in respect of each cell, (a) to cause the insulated gate transistor to inject charge carriers into the base region after a signal has been provided from the emitter region, at least in the case that the base region has a relatively low quantity of charge carriers stored in it, (b) subsequently to cause a refresh pulse to be applied to the said control electrode to neutralise charge carriers stored in the base region, (c) to cause the respective third further transistor (836) to couple the emitter region to the fixed potential while it causes the refresh pulse to be applied to the said control electrode, and (d) to apply a voltage (R) to the base region via the control electrode to forward bias the base-emitter junction during the accumulation of charge carriers so that the said signal is provided from the emitter region during the accumulation of charge carriers. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the control means is arranged to control the first further transistors (839) to be conductive, so that the said signals provided from the emitter regions are stored in the storage capacitors (840), during the accumulation of charge carriers. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the control means is arranged to control the first further transistors (839) to be non-conductive, so that the said signals provided from the emitter regions are not stored in the storage capacitors (840), during the accumulation of charge carriers, and to control the first further transistors (839) to be conductive, so that the said signals are stored in the storage capacitors (840), subsequently. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the control means is arranged to cause the third further transistor (836) to hold the emitter region to the fixed potential before and while it causes the insulated gate transistor to inject charge carriers into the base region. A method of operating photoelectric transducer apparatus, which apparatus comprises: a plurality of photoelectric transducer cells (810), each cell comprising: a bipolar transistor having a base region, an emitter region, a collector region, and a control electrode capacitively coupled to the base region, the transistor being operable to accumulate charge carriers in the base region in response to incident electromagnetic radiation, provide a signal from the emitter region in accordance with the quantity of charge carriers stored in the base region, and refresh the base region by neutralising charge carriers stored therein; and an insulated gate transistor (707, 707') for injecting charge carriers into the base region at least in the case that it has a relatively low quantity of charge carriers stored in it, a plurality of storage capacitors (840) for receiving and storing the said signals from the emitter regions; a plurality of first further transistors (839) for coupling the emitter regions to the storage capacitors; an output line (844); a plurality of second further transistors (843) for coupling the storage capacitors to the output line; and a plurality of third further transistors (836) for coupling the emitter regions to a fixed potential, the method comprising the steps of, in respect of each cell, (a) injecting charge carriers into the base region after a signal has been provided from the emitter region, at least in the case that it has a relatively low quantity of charge carriers stored in it, (b) subsequently applying a refresh pulse to the control electrode to neutralise charge carriers stored in the base region, (c) holding the emitter region at a fixed potential by means of the respective third further transistor (836) during the step of applying the refresh pulse, and (d) applying a voltage (OR) to the base region via the control electrode to forward bias the base-emitter junction during the accumulation of charge carriers so as to provide the said signal from the emitter region during the accumulation of charge carriers. A method according to claim 5 which comprises rendering the first further transistors (839) conductive, and storing the said signals in the storage capacitors (840), during the accumulation of charge carriers. A method according to claim 5 which comprises rendering the first further transistors (839) non-conductive, and not storing the said signals in the storage capacitors (840), during the accumulation of charge carriers, and rendering the first further transistors (839) conductive, and storing the said signals in the storage capacitors (840), subsequently. A method according to any one of claims 5 to 7 which comprises holding the emitter region at a fixed potential before and during the step of injecting carriers into the base region. A method according to any one of claims 5 to 8 in which charge carriers are injected into the base region in step (a) regardless of the quantity of charge carriers stored in it. A method according to any one of claims 5 to 8 in which charge carriers are injected into the base region in step (a) only if the quantity of charge carriers stored in it is below a threshold level. A method according to claim 10 in which charge carriers are removed from the base region instead of being injected into it if the quantity of charge carriers stored in it is above the threshold level.

Inventors: HARADA TADANORI, OHMI TADAHIRO, SUGAWA SHIGETOSHI, SUZUKI TOSHIJI, TANAKA NOBUYOSHI, HARADA, TADANORI, OHMI, TADAHIRO, SUGAWA, SHIGETOSHI, SUZUKI, TOSHIJI, TANAKA, NOBUYOSHI
Applicants: CANON KK, CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1986
Main classification: H01L27
IPC codes: H01L27, H04N3