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:
May. 12, 2015

Filed:

Aug. 07, 2012
Applicants:

Ken Sasaki, Tokyo, JP;

Nobuhiro Takeda, Yokohama, JP;

Inventors:

Ken Sasaki, Tokyo, JP;

Nobuhiro Takeda, Yokohama, JP;

Assignee:
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 3/14 (2006.01); H04N 5/335 (2011.01); H04N 5/232 (2006.01); H04N 5/359 (2011.01); H04N 5/355 (2011.01); H04N 5/3745 (2011.01); H01L 27/146 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 5/359 (2013.01); H01L 27/14621 (2013.01); H01L 27/14627 (2013.01); H01L 27/14641 (2013.01); H04N 5/355 (2013.01); H04N 5/3559 (2013.01); H04N 5/3745 (2013.01);
Abstract

An image sensor comprises a plurality of pixels, and each pixel having: a plurality of photoelectric conversion units configured to receive light fluxes that pass through different exit pupil regions of an optical system disposed on an object side of the image sensor and accumulate charges, respectively; a separation portion configured to separate the photoelectric conversion units; and setting means configured to selectively set an electric potential of the separation portion to any one of a plurality of electric potentials. Signals can be separately read out from the photoelectric conversion units. Taking an electric potential of a separation portion that separates the plurality of pixels as a reference potential, the plurality of electric potentials include first to third electric potentials; higher than the reference potential, lower than the reference potential, and higher than the reference potential and lower than the first electric potential.


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