Canon Kabushiki Kaisha

Shinya Ichino

Tomoya Kumagai

Takanori Yamashita

An apparatus includes a readout line, and a plurality of pixel cells each including a conversion unit, an output unit configured to output a signal corresponding to a charge generated by the conversion unit, and a selection switch provided on a pathway between the output unit and the readout line. The apparatus includes a first switch provided on a pathway between the readout line and a first potential line, a second switch provided on a pathway between the pixel cell and the readout line, and a control unit configured to bring the second switch into an off state during a first period during which the first switch is in an on state.

Imaging apparatus, and method with increased readout speed

A photoelectric conversion device includes a pixel region in which unit pixels each including a photoelectric conversion unit are arranged to form rows and columns, output lines arranged at least two in each column and each connected to the unit pixel of the corresponding column, column circuits provided corresponding to each of the output lines, and a control circuit configured to control connections between the output lines and the column circuits. The control circuit is configured to connect a first output line to a corresponding first column circuit and disconnect a second output line arranged in the same column as the first output line from a corresponding second column circuit when no pixel signal is output to the second output line at a timing when a pixel signal is output to the first output line.

Photoelectric conversion device and method of driving photoelectric conversion device

A device of the disclosure comprises pixels including photoelectric converters generating charge, transistors having nodes receiving signals based on the charge, and transistors supplying reset voltage; and lines along the columns, wherein: in a first period, the node is disconnected from the converter, and signals based on the reset voltage is output from a pixel in a first row to a line, in a second period, signals based on the reset voltage and the charge transferred to the node are output from the pixel in the first row to a line, in a third period, signals based on the charge is output from a pixel in a second row to a line, in a fourth period, signals based on the charge is output from a pixel in a third row to a line, and the first period is prior to the second period, and between the third and fourth periods.

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Tokyo, Japan

Shinya Ichino