Active solid-state devices (e.g. – transistors – solid-state diode – Non-single crystal – or recrystallized – semiconductor... – Amorphous semiconductor material
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-11
2001-05-22
Thomas, Tom (Department: 2811)
Active solid-state devices (e.g., transistors, solid-state diode
Non-single crystal, or recrystallized, semiconductor...
Amorphous semiconductor material
C257S072000, C348S308000, C349S116000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06236063
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device having both an image sensor function and a picture display function. More particularly, the present invention relates to an active matrix type semiconductor device constituted by a plurality of thin film transistors (TFTs) arranged in a matrix form.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a technique for a TFT using polycrystal silicon (polysilicon TFT) has been diligently studied. As a result, it becomes possible to form a driver circuit including a shift register circuit and the like by use of the polysilicon TFT, and an active matrix type liquid crystal panel in which a pixel region and a peripheral driver circuit for driving the pixel region are integrated on the same substrate has been put to practical use. Thus, a liquid crystal panel is miniaturized and its weight is lessened, and the liquid crystal panel is used as a display portion of various kinds of information equipment and portable equipment, such as a personal computer, a video camera, and a digital camera.
Recently, a pocket-sized small portable information processing terminal device (mobile computer) which is superior to a note-sized personal computer in portability and is inexpensive, becomes popular, and an active matrix type liquid crystal panel is used as its display portion. In such an information processing terminal device, data can be inputted from the display portion in a touch-pen system. However, it is necessary to connect it with a peripheral equipment for reading a picture, such as a scanner or a digital camera, in order to input character/drawing information on a sheet or image information. Thus, the portability of the information processing terminal device is vitiated. Moreover, an economical burden is imposed on users.
The active matrix type liquid crystal display device is also used for a display portion of a TV meeting system, a TV telephone, a terminal for the Internet, and the like. Although such a system or terminal includes a camera (CCD camera) for taking a picture of a dialogist or a user, a display portion and a reading portion (sensor portion) are separately manufactured, and are made into a module. Thus, the manufacturing cost is high.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and therefore has an object of the invention to provide a semiconductor device including a pixel matrix, an image sensor, and a peripheral circuit for driving those, that is, a novel semiconductor device having both an image pickup function and a display function and made intelligent.
Another object of the present invention is to manufacture a novel intelligent semiconductor device at low cost by making the structure/manufacturing process of an image sensor coincident with the structure/manufacturing process of a pixel matrix and a peripheral driver circuit.
In order to solve the foregoing problems, the present invention adopts such a structure that a display semiconductor device for displaying a picture and a light receiving semiconductor device for capturing a picture are provided on the same substrate. The structure of the present invention is as follow.
According to an aspect of the present invention, a semiconductor device comprises an active matrix substrate including a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix form and a plurality of sensor portions arranged in a matrix form; and a backlight; wherein each of the sensor portions comprises a photoelectric conversion element, and the backlight is to be used as a light source when an external picture is read. The above objects can be achieved by this.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a semiconductor device comprises an active matrix substrate including a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix form and a plurality of sensor portions arranged in a matrix form; and a backlight; wherein each of the sensor portions includes a pixel reflecting electrode, the pixel reflecting electrode includes a plurality of window for allowing light to pass, each of the sensor portions comprises a photoelectric conversion element, and the backlight is to be used as a light source when an external picture is read. The above objects can be achieved by this.
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English abstract re JP 6-18845 to Casio Comput Co., Ltd.
English abstract re JP 6-22250 to Casio Comput Co., Ltd.
Full English translation re JP 6-18845, published Jan. 28, 1994.
Full English translation re JP 6-22250, published Jan. 28, 1994.
Koyama Jun
Yamazaki Shunpei
Cook Alex McFarron Manzo Cummings & Mehler, Ltd.
Hu Shouxiang
Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co,. Ltd.
Thomas Tom
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