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 |
20120249352 | 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. | 10-04-2012 |
20130016264 | SOLID-STATE IMAGE SENSING APPARATUSAANM Ono; ToshiakiAACI Ebina-shiAACO JPAAGP Ono; Toshiaki Ebina-shi JP - A solid-state image sensing apparatus, comprising, a pixel portion, a conversion portion including a first group and a second group each of which includes at least one analog/digital conversion unit to convert an analog signal of the pixel portion into a digital signal, and a clock supply unit including a first clock buffer and a second clock buffer connected in series for propagation of a clock signal, wherein each of the analog/digital conversion units includes a comparison unit and a counter unit, the comparison unit compares the analog signal with a comparison reference potential, the counter unit measures a time from the start of the comparison to the change of the comparison result, each of the first clock buffer and the second clock buffer corrects a duty ratio of a clock signal by using a differential circuit. | 01-17-2013 |
20130176468 | SOLID-STATE IMAGE SENSOR, DRIVING METHOD THEREOF, AND CAMERA - A solid-state image sensor, comprising a pixel array complying with a Bayer array, a first signal processor configured to process each of red-pixel and blue-pixel signals output from the pixel array, a second signal processor configured to process each of green-pixel signals output from the pixel array, and a control unit configured to control the pixel array, the first signal processor, and the second signal processor, wherein the solid-state image sensor selects a readout method, by changing timings of the control signals, from a progressive method, an interlace method, and a pseudo-progressive method. | 07-11-2013 |
20130181115 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING APPARATUS - A solid-state imaging apparatus includes: a read out circuit configured to convert the analog signal generated by a pixel into a digital signal. The read out circuit includes an analog circuit, a digital circuit and a logic circuit arranged between the analog circuit and the digital circuit. The analog circuit is formed within first and second semiconductor regions of first and second conductivity type. The logic circuit is formed within third and fourth semiconductor regions of the first and second conductivity types. The digital circuit is formed within a fifth and sixth semiconductor regions of the first and second conductivity types. The first to sixth semiconductor regions are isolated one from another. And, a number of elements included in the logic circuit is smaller than a number of elements included in the digital circuit. | 07-18-2013 |
20130181116 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND METHOD OF DRIVING THE SAME - In an image pickup apparatus, a plurality of vertical signal lines are disposed in each pixel column. A pixel array includes pixels of first color and pixels of second color different from the first color. Two pixels of the first color are located at different row addresses and different column addresses. Signals from two pixels of the same color are processed simultaneously by a plurality of first column circuits. | 07-18-2013 |
20130181117 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DRIVING THE SAME - An image pickup apparatus of the present invention includes a clipping circuit that clips the voltage of an input node of an amplifying unit in a pixel. The clipping circuit can operate at least in a time period in which a charge is transferred from a photoelectric conversion unit to the input node of the amplifying unit, and can switch among multiple clipping voltages. | 07-18-2013 |
20130182157 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DRIVING THE SAME - A solid-state imaging apparatus includes: a plurality of pixels; a reference signal generating circuit configured to generate a ramp signal; a counter performing a counting operation according to the changing of the ramp signal; a read out circuit having a comparator comparing a signal read out from the pixel with the ramp signal, and converting an analog signal outputted from the pixel to a digital signal; and a control circuit configured to adjust a reset potential to be used when the comparator is reset, wherein the control circuit obtains a conversion value derived by converting an analog signal derived of a reset level of the pixel to a digital signal, and adjusts a reference potential based on the conversion value to make a dynamic range of A/D conversion follow the fluctuation of the reset level of the pixel. | 07-18-2013 |
20130182163 | SOLID-STATE IMAGE SENSOR - A solid-state image sensor comprising a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels are arrayed in a matrix having a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, wherein the pixel array includes a first wiring layer and a second wiring layer arranged above the first wiring layer, the first wiring layer includes first column signal lines arranged at the respective columns of the pixel array, and the second wiring layer includes second column signal lines arranged at the respective columns of the pixel array. | 07-18-2013 |
20140375859 | SOLID-STATE IMAGE SENSOR - Each of pixels in a pixel array includes a photoelectric converter and a readout circuit which outputs a signal in accordance with charges generated in the photoelectric converter. The readout circuit includes a group of transistors which are disposed so as to form a current path fed by a current source. The readout circuit of a pixel in a first line in the array and the readout circuit of a pixel in a second line in the array are disposed between the photoelectric converter of the pixel in the first line and the photoelectric converter of the pixel in the second line. Directions of currents respectively flowing through the group of transistors in the readout circuit of the pixel in the first line and the plurality of transistors in the readout circuit of the pixel in the second line are the same. | 12-25-2014 |
20150062395 | PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION DEVICE, IMAGING SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR DRIVING PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION DEVICE - An AD conversion unit AD-converts a first analog signal output from a clamping unit and generated based on a signal generated at a first photoelectric conversion unit. Then, while the first analog signal is clamped at a reference level, signals generated based on the signals generated at the first and second photoelectric conversion units are applied to the clamping unit, whereby the AD conversion unit AD-converts a second analog signal output from the clamping unit. | 03-05-2015 |
20150077605 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING APPARATUS, METHOD FOR DRIVING THE SAME, AND IMAGING SYSTEM - A solid-state imaging apparatus improving a read-out speed and a noise-reduction rate comprises: a photoelectric conversion portion configured to convert light into an electric charge; a floating diffusion portion configured to convert the electric charge into a voltage; a transfer transistor configured to transfer the electric charge converted by the photoelectric conversion portion to the floating diffusion portion; an amplifying transistor configured to amplify the voltage of the floating diffusion portion; a selecting transistor configured to output the voltage amplified by the amplifying transistor to an output line; and a switch provided between the output line and a current source, wherein the selecting transistor and the switch are held at an OFF state, during a period of a transition of the transfer transistor from an OFF state to an ON state and during a period of a transition of the transfer transistor from the ON state to the OFF state. | 03-19-2015 |