Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a technique for reducing the variation of a bias voltage. An analog-to-digital converter comprises a comparator including a first amplifier and a second amplifier inputted one output of the first amplifier. The first amplifier is a differential type of amplifier, and includes one input terminal for receiving a signal and the other input terminal for receiving a reference signal which changes with a predetermined slope. The second amplifier is a single-ended type amplifier, and determines an auto zero voltage based on the amplified voltage by an auto zero operation of the first amplifier and includes a self-bias circuit using the auto zero voltage as a bias voltage. The comparator is plural, the comparators are plurality which arranged in a row direction, and outputs a digital value based on an analog voltage inputted to the other input terminal in parallel operation.

Abstract: There is provided an image sensor employing an avalanche diode. The image sensor includes a plurality of pixel circuits arranged in a matrix, a plurality of pulling circuits, a plurality of output circuits and a global current source circuit. Each of the plurality of pixel circuits includes a single photon avalanche diode and a P-type or N-type select switch transistor. Each of the plurality of pulling circuits is arranged corresponding to one pixel circuit column. The global current source circuit is used to form a current mirror with each of the plurality of pulling circuits. Each of the plurality of output circuits is shared by at least two pixel circuits.

Abstract: The photoelectric conversion device includes pixels arranged in a plurality of columns, a plurality of output lines from which signals are output from the pixels, and a plurality of column circuits provided corresponding to the plurality of output lines. The column circuit includes first and second sample-and-hold circuits for holding first and second signals. The sample-and-hold circuits include first switches provided between the output line and each unit capacitor, and second switches provided between first electrodes of adjacent unit capacitors. The second electrodes of the unit capacitor of the first sample-and-hold circuit are connected to each other by a first interconnection, and the second electrodes of the unit capacitor of the second sample-and-hold circuit are connected to each other by a second interconnection. The second switches are arranged along a first direction parallel to the plurality of columns, and the first and second interconnections extend along the first direction.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an image sensor and an image collection system. The image sensor includes: a pixel collection circuitry array including a plurality of pixel collection circuitries, each pixel collection circuitry being configured to monitor a change in a light intensity in a field of view and enter a triggered state when the change in the light intensity meets a predetermined condition; a boundary triggered pixel determination array configured to determine a boundary triggered pixel collection circuitry in the pixel collection circuitries in the triggered state; and a reading unit configured to respond to the boundary triggered pixel collection circuitry and output address information about the boundary triggered pixel collection circuitry.

Abstract: The imaging device includes a pixel including a photoelectric converter, a first switch, a charge holding portion, and an output unit, an output line, a readout circuit unit connected to the output line, and a control unit. The readout circuit unit includes an amplifier circuit, a second switch between the output line and the amplifier circuit, and a comparator comparing the amplified pixel signal with a reference signal. The control unit performs outputting a pixel signal by transferring the charge in the photoelectric converter to the charge holding portion, determining a level of the pixel signal amplified by the amplifier circuit, and setting a gain of the amplifier circuit in accordance with a result of determination, and sets the second switch to off during the first switch is in on and until the output unit is settled after the first switch transitions from on to off.

Abstract: The photoelectric conversion device includes a pixel unit configured to output first and second signals from columns of first and second regions, and a processing circuit including a first processing circuit including first and third memories, a second processing circuit including second and fourth memories, and a data exchange circuit. The first memory stores the first and second signals output from the first region, and the second memory stores the first and second signals output from the second region. The data exchange circuit stores the first signals read out from the first and second memories in the third memory, and stores the second signals read out from the first and second memories in the fourth memory. The processing circuit outputs the first signals stored in the third memory from the first processing circuit, and outputs the second signals stored in the fourth memory from the second processing circuit.

Abstract: An image sensor includes first conductive patterns on a first surface of a substrate, and second conductive patterns between the first conductive patterns and the first surface, in which at least one of the first conductive patterns or the second conductive patterns includes a time constant adjustment pattern and neighboring conductive patterns, in which the time constant adjustment pattern extends in a first direction that is parallel to the first surface and the neighboring conductive patterns extend in the first direction and are most adjacent to the time constant adjustment pattern. The time constant adjustment pattern includes one or more time constant adjustment portions that protrude in a second direction that is parallel to the first surface and is perpendicular to the first direction, and the one or more time constant adjustment portions do not overlap the neighboring conductive patterns in the second direction.

Abstract: A solid state imaging element according to an embodiment includes: a converter (14) that converts an analog pixel signal read out from a pixel into a bit value, successively for each of a plurality of bits, on the basis of a threshold voltage set according to a conversion history of the bit converted before a target bit; a plurality of voltage generation units (102a and 102b) that each generate a plurality of reference voltages; and a setting unit (12d) that sets the threshold voltage using the reference voltage selected from the reference voltages generated by each of the voltage generation units on the basis of a conversion result.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a pixel unit having a plurality of pixels forming a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, and a readout unit that divides the pixel unit into a plurality of pixel blocks based on a division pattern, each pixel block including at least two pixels, and combines signals from the at least two pixels included in one pixel block to generate one signal for each of the pixel blocks. A detection unit detects a change in signal values between a plurality of signals sequentially generated by the readout unit of the one pixel block. A control unit controls the readout unit to output a signal individually from each of the pixels included in at least one pixel block in response to detecting a change in the signal values, and controls the readout unit so that the division patterns are different in at least two frames.

Abstract: An image sensing device and an image sensing method are provided. The image sensing device includes a pixel array and a readout circuit. The pixel array includes multiple sensing sub-pixels arranged in an array. During a first exposure period of a frame period, the sensing sub-pixels are simultaneously exposed to respectively store multiple first sensing signals in multiple storage units of the sensing sub-pixels. During multiple first readout periods of the frame period, the readout circuit sequentially reads out the first sensing signals stored in the storage units during different periods. During each of multiple dynamic sensing periods of the frame period, all or part of the sensing sub-pixels are reset and then simultaneously exposed again, and the readout circuit then simultaneously reads out multiple second sensing signals of the sensing sub-pixels.

Abstract: A pixel array and an image sensor are provided. The image sensor includes a substrate, a pixel array of pixels, each pixel including a pixel circuit and a pixel conversion device. The pixel circuit is formed in a pixel area corresponding to the pixel in the substrate. The pixel conversion device is arranged on the substrate to vertically overlap the pixel circuit. The pixel circuit includes a floating diffusion node, a reset switching device, and an amplifier including a load device and a plurality of switching devices, the load device being arranged in the pixel area.

Abstract: To widen a dynamic range without reducing a frame rate in a solid-state imaging element provided with a differential amplifier circuit. The solid-state imaging element includes a reading circuit and a processing unit. The reading circuit performs processing of outputting a differentially amplified signal obtained by amplifying a difference between generated voltages of a pair of pixels and processing of outputting a pixel signal of the generated voltage of at least one of the pair of pixels each time the pair of pixels are exposed. The processing unit performs synthesis processing of synthesizing the output differentially amplified signal and the output pixel signal.

Abstract: An aberration correction method and apparatus. The apparatus includes at least one processor, and an input/output unit configured to receive an captured image, wherein the processor is configured to initialize a first matrix or a second matrix by reducing a matrix of a point spread function (PSF) of a lens included in a capturing device used to capture the captured image, iteratively perform an aberration removal and a noise removal based on the captured image and the first matrix or the second matrix, and output a final original image as a result of the iteratively performing. Here, the first matrix is a matrix obtained by reducing the number of indices indicating light arrival points of the matrix of the PSF, and the second matrix is a matrix obtained by reducing the number of indices corresponding to light arrival points of a transposed matrix of the PSF.

Abstract: A pixel includes an array of a plurality of photodiodes. The array of photodiodes includes a plurality of rows of photodiodes and a plurality of columns of photodiodes. The plurality of photodiodes includes a set of first photodiodes that has a first surface area and at least one second photodiode that has a second surface area that is smaller than the first surface area. The first photodiodes are arranged to be symmetric with respect to the at least one second photodiode. Output circuitry is electrically coupled to each of the first photodiodes in the set of first photodiodes. A switch is selectively, operably closed to electrically couple the output circuitry to the second photodiode.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device according to an embodiment of the disclosure includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer, and a voltage applier. The first electrode includes a plurality of electrodes independent from each other. The second electrode is disposed opposite to the first electrode. The photoelectric conversion layer is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The voltage applier applies different voltages to at least one of the first electrode or the second electrode during a charge accumulation period and a charge non-accumulation period.

Abstract: A digital correlated double sampling circuit includes a first latch circuit, a second latch circuit, a decision circuit, a delay control circuit and a calculating circuit. The first latch circuit stores first reset component data. The second latch circuit stores second reset component data and stores image component data based on a selected comparison signal during an image interval. The decision circuit outputs a decision signal by determining identity of the first reset component data and the second reset component data during the reset interval. The delay control circuit outputs the reset comparison signal and outputs one of the first image comparison signal and the second comparison signal as the selected comparison signal. The calculating circuit generates effective image data by subtracting the second reset component data from the image component data and sequentially outputs the effective image data.

Abstract: An imaging control apparatus includes a setting unit configured to set a time of a self-timer, a control unit configured to control image capturing to be performed upon a lapse of the time set by the setting unit from when an image capturing instruction is issued, and a display control unit configured to control a count display to be displayed with a first size in a case where the time set by the setting unit is equal to or larger than a first predetermined time, and to control the count display to be displayed with a second size smaller than the first size in a case where the time set by the setting unit is smaller than the first predetermined time.

Abstract: Designs of an anti-blooming sensing element or simply sensor are described. According to one aspect of the designs, each sensing element includes a photosensor, a pair of first and second circuits, a store device and a readout circuit. The first and second circuits, sandwiching the photosensor from a circuit perspective, are mirrored and balanced in impedance. The first circuit provides an inherent mechanism to discharge excessive charge accumulated on the photosensor before a predefined exposure time ends. Each of the two circuits includes two transistors.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprising: an image sensor that includes a plurality of focus detection pixels capable of outputting a pair of signals to be used for focus detection; a setter that sets an exposure control value based on a result of photometry; a controller that controls to perform image shooting by controlling exposure based on the exposure control value set by the setter; a detector that detects a focus state based on the pair of signals read out from the plurality of focus detecting pixels under control of the controller; and an estimator that estimates reliability of the focus state detected by the detector by normalizing an evaluation value obtained at a time of detecting the focus state by the detector in a case where the image shooting is performed using the exposure control value set by the setter.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus including a ramp voltage generation circuit having a first period for outputting an offset voltage that sets a reference voltage for the comparator circuit, and a second period for outputting a reference voltage having a slope-shaped voltage waveform that varies with time, wherein the generation circuit has a first drive state in which a voltage change amount per unit time of the reference voltage in the second period is a first voltage amount, and a second drive state in which the voltage change amount per unit time of the reference voltage in the second period is a second voltage amount that is less than the first voltage amount, and wherein the offset voltage in the second drive state is less than a value obtained by multiplying the offset voltage in the first drive state by a ratio of the second voltage amount to the first voltage amount.