Canon Kabushiki Kaisha

Takeru Suzuki

Seiji Hashimoto

Yasushi Matsuno

Takashi Muto

Daisuke Yoshida

Atsushi Furubayashi

Hirofumi Totsuka

Kazuyuki Shigeta

Kazuhiro Sonoda

Yuichiro Yamashita

Takeshi Kojima

Ginjiro Toyoguchi

Pixels output a first signal based on signal charge of a part of photoelectric conversion units of multiple photoelectric conversion units, and a second signal based on signal charge of multiple photoelectric conversion units. An imaging apparatus outputs signals based on the first signals and signals based on the second signals by reducing the number of signals based on the first signals as compared to the number of signals based on the second signals.

Imaging apparatus, and imaging system having a plurality of pixels for outputting a signal based on a generated signal charge

Imaging apparatus, imaging system, imaging apparatus driving method, and imaging system driving method

Imaging apparatus, imaging system, imaging apparatus driving method, and imaging system driving method using pixels outputting signal based on at least part of photoelectric conversion units

An imaging apparatus, driving method of the imaging apparatus, and an imaging system, are provided, wherein pixels output at least two image signals with different viable signal ranges, and the pixel signal with a larger signal range is converted to a digital signal during a first period, and the pixel signal with a smaller signal range is converted to a digital signal during a second period shorter than the first period.

Imaging apparatus including analog-to-digital conversion circuits to convert analog signals into digital signals, imaging system including analog-to-digital conversion circuits to convert analog signals into digital signals, and imaging apparatus driving method

When a level of a signal output from a pixel is higher than a comparison level, the signal output from the pixel is converted into a digital signal during a first period by using a first reference signal. If the level of the signal output from the pixel is lower than the comparison level, the signal output from the pixel is converted into a digital signal during a second period that is longer than the first period by using a second reference signal.

Photoelectric conversion apparatus and image pickup system

Imaging apparatus, imaging system, and imaging apparatus driving method

Provided is an AD conversion apparatus including: a reference signal generating circuit configured to output a first reference signal and a second reference signal, whose voltages change with time; a comparison circuit configured to perform a comparison between a voltage of the analog signal and the voltage of the first reference signal; a control circuit configured to generate and output digital data based on the comparison; a digital-to-analog converter configured to generate, using the second reference signal, a signal whose voltage changes with time from a comparison base voltage, the comparison base voltage being based on the digital data, and configured to output the signal to the comparison circuit; and a counter configured to generate a count value by measuring an elapsed time. The comparison circuit is further configured to perform a comparison between the voltage of the analog signal and the signal output from the digital-to-analog converter.

AD conversion apparatus, solid-state imaging apparatus, and imaging system

A photoelectric conversion device includes analog signal output units including pixels and configured to output analog signals based on pixels, and signal processing units. Each of the signal processing units is provided correspondingly to one of the analog signal output units and including a gain application unit configured to apply a gain to an analog signal by using only passive elements and an AD conversion unit. In the gain application unit, a portion that contributes to application of a gain to the analog signal is constituted only of passive elements. The gain application unit selectively outputs a first amplified signal obtained by applying a first gain to the analog signal or a second amplified signal obtained by applying a second gain to the analog signal smaller than the first gain. The AD conversion unit converts, from analog to digital, the first or second amplified signal.

Photoelectric conversion device, image pickup system, and driving method of photoelectric conversion device having a switch including a short-circuit, in on state, between input and output nodes of a gain application unit

An AD converting unit compares an output signal from an amplifier circuit after reset of a pixel with a reference signal of time-variable, outputs a first digital value, when the output signal from the amplifier circuit in a non-reset state of the pixel is larger than a threshold, sets a gain of the amplifier circuit to a first gain, when the output signal is smaller than the threshold, sets the gain of the amplifier circuit to a second gain larger than the first gain, further after the gain of the amplifier circuit was set to the first or second gain, compares the output signal from the amplifier circuit in the non-reset state of the pixel with the reference signal of time-variable, and outputs a second digital value. When resolutions of the first and second digital values differ, a correcting unit corrects a difference between the resolutions.

Imaging apparatus and imaging system

An image pickup apparatus includes a plurality of comparators. At least two analog signal outputs from a pixel are input to the plurality of comparators, and the plurality of comparators perform comparison operations in an overlapped period.

Image pickup apparatus, image pickup system, driving method for image pickup apparatus, and driving method for image pickup system using two analog-to-digital conversions

A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a plurality of pixels provided in a plurality of columns, a plurality of analog-to-digital conversion units each provided for a corresponding one of the plurality of columns, and a correction unit. Each of the plurality of analog-to-digital conversion units is configured to convert a signal of a corresponding one of the plurality of pixels into a digital signal at a resolution corresponding to a magnitude of the signal. The correction unit is configured to correct a difference in the resolution.

In a photoelectric conversion apparatus including a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, each of the pixels including a photoelectric conversion unit, a first holding unit configured to hold electric charge, a second holding unit configured to hold electric charge, a first transfer unit configured to connect the photoelectric conversion unit and the first holding unit, a second transfer unit configured to connect the first holding unit and the second holding unit, and a third transfer unit configured to connect the photoelectric conversion unit and a power supply, a first operation mode and a second operation mode are selectively executed.

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Kawasaki, Japan

Takeru Suzuki