The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Jul. 09, 2019

Filed:

Aug. 03, 2015
Applicant:

Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation, Kanagawa, JP;

Inventor:

Kouichi Harada, Kanagawa, JP;

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H03M 1/12 (2006.01); H04N 5/353 (2011.01); H04N 5/378 (2011.01); H01L 27/146 (2006.01); H04N 5/3745 (2011.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 5/378 (2013.01); H01L 27/14612 (2013.01); H04N 5/353 (2013.01); H04N 5/3745 (2013.01); H03M 1/12 (2013.01);
Abstract

Presence or absence of a photon is accurately detected in an image sensor with a simple configuration. A pixel circuit generates as an input voltage a signal voltage by photoelectrically converting light when the light is incident, and generates as the input voltage a predetermined reset voltage when light is not incident. A capacitor retains the predetermined reset voltage as a retained voltage. An amplification comparator amplifies a voltage difference between the input voltage and the retained voltage. A detection comparator outputs a result of determining whether or not the amplified voltage difference is higher than a predetermined value, as a detection signal indicating detected presence or absence of light incidence.


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