Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130127820 | DRIVING CIRCUIT FOR LIGHT EMITTING ELEMENT, AND LIGHT EMITTING DEVICE - A driving circuit that switches a light emitting element between an ON state and an OFF state in synchronization with an input signal is provided. The circuit includes a driving current supply unit that has a control terminal and supplies the light emitting element with a driving current whose value changes with dependency on the potential of the control terminal; a control unit that changes the potential of the control terminal in synchronization with the input signal; and a supplementary current supply unit that supplies the control terminal with a supplementary current that promotes change in the potential of the control terminal. The supplementary current supply unit has a capacitor, a voltage that is applied to the capacitor changes in synchronization with the input signal, and the supplementary current is generated by change in the voltage of the capacitor. | 05-23-2013 |
20130206961 | SOLID-STATE IMAGE SENSING DEVICE - An image sensor comprises plural sets of a unit pixel outputting a pixel signal based on an electric charge generated through photoelectric conversion and a conversion unit converting the pixel signal into a digital signal. A reference signal source generates reference signals and supplies the generated reference signals to the conversion unit through signal lines. The conversion unit of each set comprises a comparator which compares the level of the reference signal with that of the pixel signal, a count circuit which counts a clock based on the comparison processing, a selection circuit which selects, among the signal lines, a signal line to be selectively connected to the input of the comparator, and a switch which selectively connects the selected signal line to the input of the comparator, and selectively connects a load to an unselected one of the signal lines. | 08-15-2013 |
20130229555 | IMAGING APPARATUS, IMAGING SYSTEM, IMAGING APPARATUS DRIVING METHOD, AND IMAGING SYSTEM DRIVING METHOD - 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. | 09-05-2013 |
20130258131 | PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION APPARATUS AND IMAGE PICKUP SYSTEM - 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. | 10-03-2013 |
20130258132 | PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION APPARATUS AND IMAGE PICKUP SYSTEM - 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. | 10-03-2013 |
20140098272 | PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION DEVICE AND IMAGING SYSTEM - A photoelectric conversion device includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of columns, a plurality of comparators provided correspondingly to the respective columns, a reference signal generation unit configured to supply a reference signal to the plurality of comparators, a counter configured to generate a count signal that includes a plurality of bits in synchronization with a first clock signal, a synchronization unit configured to synchronize the plurality of bits with a second clock signal to generate a synchronized count signal and to output the generated synchronized count signal, and a plurality of memories provided correspondingly to the respective comparators, the memories each being configured to store the synchronized count signal in response to a change in an output of a corresponding one of the comparators. | 04-10-2014 |
20140175263 | METHOD FOR DRIVING IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE, METHOD FOR CORRECTING DIGITAL SIGNAL, IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE, METHOD FOR DRIVING IMAGE CAPTURING SYSTEM, AND IMAGE CAPTURING SYSTEM - There are provided a method for driving an image pickup device, a method for correcting a digital signal, an image pickup device, a method for driving an image capturing system, and an image capturing system. Digital signals are generated on the basis of a potential at an input node of a comparison unit by using a first reference signal whose potential changes by a first amount per unit time and a second reference signal whose potential changes by a second amount per unit time, the second amount being greater than the first amount. A correction value based on a difference in signal value between the digital signals is derived. A digital signal based on a pixel signal is corrected on the basis of the derived correction value. | 06-26-2014 |
20140184844 | PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION DEVICE, IMAGE PICKUP SYSTEM, AND DRIVING METHOD OF PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION DEVICE - 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 includes a gain application unit configured to apply a gain to an analog signal and an AD conversion unit. The gain application unit selectively outputs a first amplified signal obtained by applying a first gain of 1 or less to the analog signal or a second amplified signal obtained by applying a second gain, smaller than the first gain, to the analog signal. The AD conversion unit converts, from analog to digital, the first or second amplified signal output from the gain application unit. | 07-03-2014 |
20140184865 | Photoelectric Conversion Device, Image Pickup System, and Driving Method Of Photoelectric Conversion Device - 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. | 07-03-2014 |
20140293085 | IMAGING DEVICE, DRIVING METHOD OF IMAGING DEVICE, AND IMAGING SYSTEM - An imaging device includes a comparator that compares a noise signal with each of a first reference signal and a second reference signal having potentials with different changing quantities per unit time, and that compares a photoelectric conversion signal with each of the first reference signal and the second reference signal. Also, the imaging device AD-converts signals obtained by amplifying the noise signal by a first gain and a second gain having different gains, and AD-converts a signal obtained by amplifying the photoelectric conversion signal by one of a first gain and a second gain. | 10-02-2014 |
20150021464 | PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION APPARATUS AND IMAGE PICKUP SYSTEM - 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. | 01-22-2015 |