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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 02, 2025
Filed:
May. 07, 2021
Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation, Kanagawa, JP;
Takuro Kosaka, Kanagawa, JP;
Yosuke Ueno, Kanagawa, JP;
SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION, Kanagawa, JP;
Abstract
There is provided a solid state imaging element includes a current source, a pixel circuit, a comparison circuit, a control section, and a counter. The current source generates a constant current. The pixel circuit generates a pixel signal of a higher voltage than a predetermined lower limit voltage in accordance with conductance of the current source. The comparison circuit amplifies the pixel signal at a predetermined amplification rate and compares the amplified pixel signal with a predetermined reference signal. The control section decreases conductance as the amplification rate increases. The counter counts count values in a period of time until a comparison result of the comparison circuit is inverted and outputs the count values.