Abstract: A photoconductive device having a photoconductive layer which includes an amorphous semiconductor layer capable of charge multiplication in at least a part thereof is disclosed. The method of operating such a photoconductive device is also disclosed. By using the avalanche effect of the amorphous semiconductor layer, it is possible to realize a highly sensitive photoconductive device while maintaining low lag property. In one aspect of the present invention, the amorphous semiconductor layer is amorphous Se. In another aspect of the present invention, the amorphous semiconductor layer is composed mainly of tetrahedral elements including at least an element of hydrogen or halogens. When using the amorphous semiconductor layer composed mainly of tetrahedral elements, the charge multiplication effect is produced mainly in the interior of the amorphous semiconductor, and thus it is possible to obtain a thermally stable photoconductive device having a high sensitivity while keeping a good photoresponse.

Abstract: Disclosed is a photoelectric conversion device which comprises: a photoconductive layer made of amorphous semiconductor material which shows charge multiplication and which converts photo signals into electric signals; and a substrate having electric circuits or the like (for example switching elements) for reading the electric signals. The amorphous semiconductor material used according to the invention shows the charge multiplication action under predetermined intensity of electric field so that a high sensitive photoelectric conversion device having a gain which is not smaller than 1 is realized.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device using an amorphous material composed mainly of tetrahedral elements including at least an element of hydrogen and halogens as semiconductor material is disclosed. When a strong electric field is applied to a layer formed by using this amorphous semiconductor, a charge multiplication effect is produced mainly in the interior of the amorphous semiconductor and thus it is possible to obtain a thermally stable photoelectric conversion device having a high sensitivity while keeping a good photoresponse.

Abstract: A photoconductive device having a photoconductive layer which includes an amorphous semiconductor layer capable of charge multiplication in at least a part thereof is disclosed. The method of operating such a photoconductive device is also disclosed. By using the avalanche effect of the amorphous semiconductor layer, it is possible to realize a highly sensitive photoconductive device while maintaining low lag property.

Abstract: A target of an image pickup tube is formed by laminating at least a transparent conductive film, an amorphous layer consisting essentially of silicon, and an amorphous layer consisting essentially of selenium in the above order on a light-transmitting substrate.

Abstract: A photoconductive device having a photoconductive layer which includes an amorphous semiconductor layer capable of charge multiplication in at least a part thereof is disclosed. The method of operating such a photoconductive device is also disclosed. By using the avalanche effect of the amorphous semiconductor layer, it is possible to realize a highly sensitive photoconductive device while maintaining low lag property.

Abstract: A light-detecting device for converting a light to an electrical signal utilizes a charge multiplication function and has a stable gain.The light-detecting device comprises a photo-electric conversion unit for converting a measurement light to an electrical signal, a power supply for applying an electric field to the photo-electric conversion unit, a light source for applying an incident light to the photo-electric conversion unit, signal detection means for detecting the charge converted by the photo-electric conversion unit based on the incident light from the light source, and signal hold means for holding the output signal of the signal detection means at a predetermined level.

Abstract: Within an electronic device having a plurality of circuit parts (such as a three-dimensional device), a light transmission system which transfers signals between the circuit parts by the use of light is provided.The light transmission system is formed of a light emitting source which emits light having a desired wavelength, a photoelectric conversion portion which absorbs the light and converts it into an electric signal, and a light traveling path which conveys the light emitted from the light emitting source to the photoelectric conversion portion.Further, each of the light emitting source, the light traveling path and the photoelectric conversion portion is formed of a superlattice structure in which a plurality of materials of unequal energy gaps are layered.

Abstract: A high velocity electron beam scanning negatively charge biased image pickup tube has a target which includes at least a transparent conductive layer, a photoconductor layer and a layer for secondary electron emission on a light-transmissive insulating substrate, and in which the transparent conductive layer is arranged on a light incidence side, the photoconductor layer being made of amorphous silicon.

Abstract: A photosensor including a transparent electrode for transmitting incident light and a photoconductive layer receiving light from the transparent electrode for performing photoelectric conversion, is disclosed in which the photoconductive layer is made of amorphous silicon, the amorphous silicon contains 5 to 30 atomic percent hydrogen and is doped with at least one selected from elements belonging to the groups II and III in such a manner that a region remote from the transparent electrode is higher in the concentration of the selected element than another region proximate to the transparent electrode, and a voltage is applied across the photoconductive layer so that a surface of the photoconductive layer facing the transparent electrode is at a positive potential with respect to another surface of the photoconductive layer opposite to the surface facing the transparent electrode.

Abstract: An image pick-up tube has a photoelectric conversion target including a transparent substrate, and a transparent electrode and a photoconductive layer formed on the transparent substrate. An electron beam is scanned on the photoelectric conversion target. A first electrode is formed on a beam scanning surface of the photoconductive layer so as to be segmented in stripe or grid with its electrode segments electrically connected to each other. A second electrode is formed on the first electrode through an insulating layer with its electrode segments electrically connected to each other. An insulating layer may be interposed between the first electrode and the photoconductive layer.

Abstract: An image pickup tube comprising a target composed of a light-transmissible plate, a transparent electrode provided on said light-transmissible plate and a photoconductor made of hydrogen-containing amorphous silicon provided on said transparent electrode; an electron beam generator; and a mesh electrode near the aforesaid target, at least the surface of said mesh electrode being made of at least one member selected from the group consisting of Be, B, C, Mg, Al and Si, has high resolution with greatly improved life characteristics.

Abstract: An image pickup tube of high velocity electron beam scanning and negatively charging system having a target including, on a transparent substrate, at least a transparent conductive film, a photoconductive layer, a layer for emitting secondary electrons, and stripe electrodes. The transparent substrate may be made of amorphous silicon.

Abstract: In a photoelectric conversion element including at least a first electrode and a photoconductive layer having an amorphous material whose indispensable constituent is silicon and which contains hydrogen as an essential constituent element on a predetermined substrate, the present invention discloses a photoelectric conversion element wherein said layer of the amorphous material is disposed on said first electrode via a light transmitting or light semi-transmitting metallic layer for adhesion with respect to said amorphous material. As said metallic layer for adhesion, preferred is a layer consisting of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Ta, Cr, W, Nd, Mo, V and Ti. Thus, adhesion between said substrate and said amorphous material can be improved.

Abstract: Disclosed is a light sensitive screen including at least a light-transmitting conductive film and a photoconductive layer, the light-transmitting conductive film being arranged on a side of incidence of light, characterized in that the photoconductive layer is constructed of a single layer or a plurality of layers of one or more photoconductive substances, at least one of such photoconductive substance layers being formed of an amorphous silicon material which contains at least 5 atomic-% to 30 atomic-% of hydrogen, whose optical forbidden band gap is 1.65 eV to 2.25 eV and whose peak component in an infrared absorption spectrum at a wave number of 2,100 cm.sup.-1 is greater than that at a wave number of 2,000 cm.sup.-1. Various characteristics of an imaging device provided with the light sensitive screen, such as dark current, lag and after image characteristics, are improved.

Abstract: A photoelectric device having at least a predetermined impurity region which is disposed in a semiconductor substrate, and a photoelectric conversion portion which is constructed by stacking an electrode layer lying in contact with at least a part of the impurity region, a photoconductive material layer overlying the electrode layer, and a transparent electrode overlying the photoconductive material layer, characterized in that the photoconductive material layer is made of an amorphous chalcogenide material which principally contains Se, is disclosed. It is very favorable that the photoelectric conversion material layer made of the amorphous material principally containing Se is partially doped with Te so as to enhance its sensitivity. The amorphous chalcogenide material is very useful in the following point.

Abstract: In preparing an image pickup device by using hydrogen-containing amorphous silicon for a photoconductive layer, a hydrogen-containing amorphous silicon layer is first formed and is then heat-treated at 100.degree. to 300.degree. C. The image pickup characteristics of the amorphous silicon layer are highly improved by this heat treatment. For example, the lag and dark current are reduced and the signal current-target voltage characteristic is improved. Especially excellent improving effects can be obtained when amorphous silicon characterized in that (1) the hydrogen content is 5 to 30 atomic %, (2) the optical forbidden band gap is 1.30 to 1.95 eV and (3) in the infrared absorption spectrum, the component of a wave number of 2000 cm.sup.-1 is observed larger than the component of a wave number of 2100 cm.sup.-1 is subjected to the above-mentioned heat treatment. The adhesion to the substrate is enhanced, and good image pickup characteristics can be obtained.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic member employing an amorphous silicon photoconductive layer, a part which is at least 10 nm thick inwardly of the amorphous silicon layer from the surface (or interface) of the amorphous silicon layer is made of amorphous silicon which has an optical forbidden band gap of at least 1.6 eV and a resistivity of at least 10.sup.10 .OMEGA..cm. The electrophotographic member exhibits a satisfactory resolution and good dark-decay characteristics. Further, a region which has an optical forbidden band gap narrower than that of the amorphous silicon forming the surface (or interface) region is disposed within the amorphous silicon layer to a thickness of at least 10 nm, whereby the sensitivity of the electrophotographic member to longer wavelengths of light can be enhanced.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrophotographic member having an amorphous-silicon photoconductive layer, wherein the distance between a portion in which light illuminating the photoconductor is absorbed therein until its intensity decreases to 1% of that at incidence and the interface of the photoconductor opposite to the light incidence side thereof is at most 5 .mu.m, whereby the residual potential of the photoconductive layer can be reduced.That part of the photoconductive layer constituting the electrophotographic member which is at least 10 nm thick inwardly of the photoconductive layer from the surface thereof to store charges is made of amorphous silicon which has an optical forbidden band gap of at least 1.6 eV and a resistivity of at least 10.sup.10 .OMEGA..multidot.cm. Further, within such photoconductive layer, a region of amorphous silicon which has an optical forbidden band gap smaller than that of the amorphous silicon forming the surface part is disposed at a thickness of at least 10 nm.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic member employing an amorphous silicon photoconductive layer, a part which is at least 10 nm thick inwardly of the amorphous silicon layer from the surface (or interface) of the amorphous silicon layer is made of amorphous silicon which has an optical forbidden band gap of at least 1.6 eV and a resistivity of at least 10.sup.10 .OMEGA..cm. The electrophotographic member exhibits a satisfactory resolution and good dark-decay characteristics. Further, a region which has an optical forbidden band gap narrower than that of the amorphous silicon forming the surface (or interface) region is disposed within the amorphous silicon layer to a thickness of at least 10 nm, whereby the sensitivity of the electrophotographic member to longer wavelengths of light can be enhanced.