| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080204584 | IMAGING APPARATUS, DRIVING METHOD THEREOF, AND IMAGING SYSTEM - In an imaging apparatus according to the present invention, the driving unit drives each of the pixels in the non-readout region in the first mode such that the setting unit sets the input unit to a third electric potential with the transfer unit being ready to transfer the electric charge to reset the photoelectric conversion unit in a first period and that the setting unit sets the input unit to a fourth electric potential for the pixel to be deselected in a second period later than the first period. | 08-28-2008 |
| 20080211950 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND IMAGING SYSTEM - An imaging apparatus includes a pixel unit array and a driving unit. Each pixel unit includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion units, a charge-voltage converter common to the plurality of photoelectric conversion units, a plurality of transfer units which transfer electric charges generated by the plurality of photoelectric conversion units to the charge-voltage converter, an output unit which outputs a signal based on the electric charges to a signal line, and a setting unit which sets the electric potential of the charge-voltage converter. Each pixel unit is selected or deselected in accordance with the electric potential set in the charge-voltage converter. The driving unit drives the pixel unit array so that the output unit continuously outputs, to the signal line, the signal based on the electric charges generated by the plurality of photoelectric conversion units in the selected pixel unit without performing an operation of deselecting the selected pixel unit. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20090190017 | IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS AND IMAGING SYSTEM - An image sensing apparatus includes a pixel array including a light-shielded area where light-shielded pixels are arranged, and an effective area where non-light-shielded pixels are arranged. Each of the light-shielded pixels includes a first photoelectric conversion unit, a first charge-voltage converter which converts charges generated in the first photoelectric conversion unit into a voltage, and a first amplification transistor functioning as a MOS transistor which receives, at the gate, the voltage converted by the first charge-voltage converter. Each of the non-light-shielded pixels includes a second photoelectric conversion unit, a second charge-voltage converter which converts charges generated in the second photoelectric conversion unit into a voltage, and a second amplification transistor functioning as a MOS transistor which receives, at the gate, the voltage converted by the second charge-voltage converter. The gate capacitance of the first amplification transistor is larger than that of the second amplification transistor. | 07-30-2009 |
| 20100066884 | Imaging method that continuously outputs a signal based on electric charges generated by a selected pixel unit without performing an operation of deselecting the selected pixel unit - An imaging apparatus includes a pixel unit array and a driving unit. Each pixel unit includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion units, a charge-voltage converter common to the plurality of photoelectric conversion units, a plurality of transfer units which transfer electric charges generated by the plurality of photoelectric conversion units to the charge-voltage converter, an output unit which outputs a signal based on the electric charges to a signal line, and a setting unit which sets the electric potential of the charge-voltage converter. Each pixel unit is selected or deselected in accordance with the electric potential set in the charge-voltage converter. The driving unit drives the pixel unit array so that the output unit continuously outputs, to the signal line, the signal based on the electric charges generated by the plurality of photoelectric conversion units in the selected pixel unit without performing an operation of deselecting the selected pixel unit. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100328509 | PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREOF, IMAGING APPARATUS, AND IMAGING SYSTEM - Each pixel has a photoelectric conversion unit configured to convert light into electrical charges and to store the electrical charges, an amplifying unit configured to amplify a signal based on the electrical charges stored in the photoelectric conversion unit and to output the signal to an output line, and a reset unit configured to reset a input part of the amplifying unit. A clip unit, which is configured to limit an electric voltage of the output line, includes an amplifying circuitry for amplifying a signal based on the electric voltage of the output line and an MOS transistor for limiting the electric voltage of the output line based on the difference in electric potential between the gate and source. The clip unit controls the electric potential of the gate of the MOS transistor by the amplifying circuitry. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20110133966 | SWITCHED-CAPACITOR INPUT CIRCUIT AND ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER INCLUDING THE SAME - A switched-capacitor input circuit which receives an analog input signal, and samples and holds the analog input signal, comprising an amplifier, at least one capacitor, one terminal of the capacitor being connected to an input terminal of the amplifier, and a first switch configured to selectively connect the other terminal of the capacitor to one of a first reference voltage, a second reference voltage, and a third reference voltage, wherein the first switch connects the other terminal of the capacitor to the first reference voltage so as to perform offset correction of ternary weight | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110133974 | SWITCHED-CAPACITOR INPUT CIRCUIT AND ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER INCLUDING THE SAME - A switched-capacitor input circuit which receives an analog input signal, and samples and holds the analog input signal, comprising a differential amplifier, a first capacitor, one terminal of the first capacitor being connected to a non-inverting input terminal of the differential amplifier, a second capacitor, one terminal of the second capacitor being connected to an inverting input terminal of the differential amplifier, a first switch configured to connect the other terminal of the first capacitor to one of a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage, a second switch configured to connect the other terminal of the second capacitor to one of the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage, and a third switch configured to connect the other terminal of the first capacitor to the other terminal of the second capacitor. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20120086841 | PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION DEVICE AND IMAGE CAPTURING DEVICE - A photoelectric conversion device includes a pixel unit including a photoelectric converter, an amplifier arranged on the output side of the pixel unit, an output unit arranged on the output side of the amplifier, a first restriction circuit, and a second restriction circuit. The first restriction circuit restricts, between the amplifier and the output unit, a noise level read out from the pixel unit via the amplifier in reading out the noise level from the pixel unit. The second restriction circuit restricts, between the photoelectric converter and the amplifier, a noise level to be provided to the amplifier in reading out the noise level from the pixel unit. | 04-12-2012 |
