Nsk Corporation

Sony Corporation

Sony Group Corporation

Hitachi Maxell, Limited

Hiroshi Iwasa

Satoshi Kadokawa

Kiyoshi Okubo

Shoichi Abe

Satoshi Ogata

Yasuo Murakami

Hayato Wakabayashi

Tsutomu Abe

Hidenao Kubota

Masaru Kikuchi

Yuuki Yamagata

Hiroshi Narai

Moichi Chiba

Katsuhiro Ikezawa

Yasuyuki Shimazaki

Makoto Fujinami

Dai Kinno

Fumio Ueki

Toshimi Takajo

Shoji Noguchi

Takashi Nagato

Yasuhiro Nomura

Toshiharu Honda

Magozo Hamamoto

Yasuo Utsumi

Yasuyuki Shimasaki

Toshiyuki Yamamoto

Toshiro Kawamura

Koichi Sakita

A solid-state image pickup device includes: comparators; counters; and a control portion for carrying out control in such a way that in a phase of an addition mode, the two comparators and the two counters corresponding to the two pixel columns, respectively, are set as a unit, 1 is added to a second digit of one counter of the two counters when both the comparison results from the two comparators has a first logic, 1 is added to a first digit of the one counter when one of the comparison results from the two comparators has the first logic, and 1 is added to none of the first digit and the second digit of the one counter when both the comparison results from the two comparators has a second logic.

Solid-state image pickup device, signal processing method for the same, and image pickup apparatus using the same

In a reference signal comparison AD conversion scheme, a reference signal SLP_ADC and each of P and D phases of a pixel signal voltage Vx are compared. A count clock CKcntis counted based on the comparison result. The counting result data is converted into signal data Dsig, i.e., the difference between the P and D phases, which is also subjected to CDS. At this time, the n-bit AD conversion is performed on each of the P and D phases of the pixel signal voltage Vx, followed by summation for digital integration. This prevents any possible detrimental effects that may be caused by summation in the analog domain. Although the signal data becomes W times greater, noise will likely become &#x221a;W times greater. This alleviates the problem of random noise resulting from AD conversion such as quantizing noise and circuit noise that do not exist in the analog domain, thus reducing the noise.

Solid-state imaging device, imaging device, electronic equipment, A/D converter and A/D conversion method

A solid-state image pickup device includes: comparators; counters; and a control portion for carrying out control such that in an addition mode, the two comparators and the two counters corresponding to the two pixel columns, respectively, are set as a unit, and pixel signals are added in a horizontal direction within column processing circuitry. A reduction in power consumption is achieved and the frame rate is enhanced.

In a reference signal comparison AD conversion scheme, a reference signal SLP_ADC and each of P and D phases of a pixel signal voltage Vare compared. A count clock CKcntis counted based on the comparison result. The counting result data is converted into signal data Dsig, i.e., the difference between the P and D phases, which is also subjected to CDS. At this time, the n-bit AD conversion is performed on each of the P and D phases of the pixel signal voltage V, followed by summation for digital integration. This prevents any possible detrimental effects that may be caused by summation in the analog domain. Although the signal data becomes W times greater, noise will likely become &#x221a;W times greater. This alleviates the problem of random noise resulting from AD conversion such as quantizing noise and circuit noise that do not exist in the analog domain, thus reducing the noise.

A solid state imaging device includes: an AD conversion section having one comparison section, which receives a reference signal from a reference signal generator that generates the reference signal whose level gradually changes and which compares the reference signal with an analog signal to be processed, and one counting section, which receives a count clock for AD conversion and performs a count operation on the basis of a comparison result of the comparison section, for each of M signal lines to which the signal is supplied and that acquires the signal on the basis of output data of the counting section; an operation period control section controlling an operation period of the counting section on the basis of the comparison result; and a control section performing control regarding which of the signals, which are supplied through the M signal lines, is to be processed and which one of m levels of the signals to be processed is to be processed and controlling the processing order.

Solid state imaging device, imaging apparatus, and AD conversion method

An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging section receiving color light and interpolation light including at least a part of a wavelength range of the color light in order to interpolate the brightness of the color light and converting the received color light and interpolation light into a signal; a control section controlling a first exposure time of the color light and a second exposure time of the interpolation light separately according to the brightness of an object to be imaged; and an image creating section creating an image on the basis of a color signal, which is output when the imaging section receives the color light, during the first exposure time controlled by the control section and on the basis of an interpolation signal, which is output when the imaging section receives the interpolation light, during the second exposure time controlled by the control section.

Imaging apparatus and imaging method

A sheet metal rocker arm manufactured by the steps of punching one metal plate to form a blank having a predetermined contour and through holes, and subjecting this blank to a bending work based on a press work to form a pair of side walls parallel to each other and a connecting portion for connecting the both ends of the side walls in the width direction thereof. This rocker arm is also provided with at least a pair of though holes formed at positions which are aligned with each other on the both side walls and at least one engagement portion provided in a part of the connecting portion. The thickness of at least one engagement portion, is formed to be greater than the thickness of the both side walls.

Sheet metal rocker arm, manufacturing method thereof, cam follower with said rocker arm, and assembling method thereof

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Kanagawa, Japan

Hiroshi Iwasa