Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes an A/D converter per column. The A/D converter performs a first A/D conversion that (i) refines, using a first comparator, a range including a potential of an analog signal to a range of a potential corresponding to a difference between a first potential and a second potential through a binary search, and further (ii) generates, based on a result of the binary search, a first digital signal being a high-order portion of a digital signal. The A/D converter also performs a second A/D conversion that generates, based on a ramp signal and the result of the binary search, a second digital signal being a low-order portion of a remainder of the digital signal, by measuring a time necessary for an output of a second comparator to be inverted.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes an A/D converter per column. The A/D converter performs a first A/D conversion that (i) refines, using a first comparator, a range including a potential of an analog signal to a range of a potential corresponding to a difference between a first potential and a second potential through a binary search, and further (ii) generates, based on a result of the binary search, a first digital signal being a high-order portion of a digital signal. The A/D converter also performs a second A/D conversion that generates, based on a ramp signal and the result of the binary search, a second digital signal being a low-order portion of a remainder of the digital signal, by measuring a time necessary for an output of a second comparator to be inverted.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device that suppresses streaking includes an imaging region in which unit cells are aligned in matrix, an A/D converter for converting an analog signal generated in the imaging region to a digital signal, and a ramp buffer having an input terminal and an output terminal. Ramp voltage is input to the input terminal, and a reference signal having the ramp voltage is output from the output terminal toward the A/D converter. The A/D converter includes a comparator disposed in each column for comparing an analog signal with a reference signal, and a counter disposed corresponding to the comparator for counting a comparison period of the comparator. The ramp buffer includes a feedback circuit for simultaneously outputting the reference signal to the multiple comparators and controlling the amount of current flowing to the output terminal according to the ramp voltage of the reference signal output from the terminal.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device that suppresses streaking includes an imaging region in which unit cells are aligned in matrix, an A/D converter for converting an analog signal generated in the imaging region to a digital signal, and a ramp buffer having an input terminal and an output terminal. Ramp voltage is input to the input terminal, and a reference signal having the ramp voltage is output from the output terminal toward the A/D converter. The A/D converter includes a comparator disposed in each column for comparing an analog signal with a reference signal, and a counter disposed corresponding to the comparator for counting a comparison period of the comparator. The ramp buffer includes a feedback circuit for simultaneously outputting the reference signal to the multiple comparators and controlling the amount of current flowing to the output terminal according to the ramp voltage of the reference signal output from the terminal.

Abstract: There is provided an optical disc recording/reproducing apparatus which can reduce the chip size using the high-miniaturization process and can enhance the detection accuracy. A signal which is obtained by amplitude-adjusting a header region in a reproduced signal detected by an optical pickup (1) is digitized, and peak detection or bottom detection from the reproduced signal in each of a first section and a second section in the header region is performed by detection circuits (9) to (12), respectively. Then, amplitude data in the first section and the second section are obtained by subtracters (13) and (14) from the detected values in the respective detection circuits. A difference in amplitude between the first section and the second section in the header region is obtained by a subtracter (15) based on the amplitude data, and the amplitude difference is outputted as an off-track error signal.

Abstract: There is provided an optical disc recording/reproducing apparatus which can reduce the chip size using the high-miniaturization process and can enhance the detection accuracy. A signal which is obtained by amplitude-adjusting a header region in a reproduced signal detected by an optical pickup (1) is digitized, and peak detection or bottom detection from the reproduced signal in each of a first section and a second section in the header region is performed by detection circuits (9) to (12), respectively. Then, amplitude data in the first section and the second section are obtained by subtracters (13) and (14) from the detected values in the respective detection circuits. A difference in amplitude between the first section and the second section in the header region is obtained by a subtracter (15) based on the amplitude data, and the amplitude difference is outputted as an off-track error signal.

Abstract: The present invention solves the problems that, in a detection circuit which is mostly configured by analog circuits, the chip size cannot be reduced even using a highly-precise processing, there are many external capacitors and terminals thereof, a plurality of high-speed and large-scale AD converters are required for digitization, the detection precision of a small amplitude signal superimposed on an RF signal is deteriorated, and high-speed sample/hold is required. A significant deletion of analog circuits can be realized by generating a digital detection signal directly from an analog RF signal using a simple analog circuit configuration of a detection control means including a comparator, a threshold DAC for setting a threshold value, and an integrator.

Abstract: An optical disc recording/playback apparatus is provided with a first AD converter 35 for shaping a push-pull signal 14 detected from an optical disc medium 1 by a light difference signal shaping circuit 21, and converting the signal into a digital sampling signal 38 using a sampling clock 37 synchronized with a channel frequency; a series of means for detecting wobble amplitude information 77 during recording from the digital sampling signal 38; a series of means for detecting address polarity information 60 and address position information during playback; and a recording laser power control circuit 113 for controlling a recording laser power to a power suited for recording on the basis of the wobble amplitude information.

Abstract: In a land pre-pit address demodulating device DM for detecting land pre-pit address information during recording to a DVD-R/RW-disc, a tracking error signal TE is muted by a first reference potential Vref1 during a period in which the tracking error signal TE is generated from a reflected laser beam having a power for recording a mark, an RF residual component is removed from the tracking error signal TE, and the tracking error signal TE from which the RF residual component has been removed is compared with a second reference potential Vref2, thereby detecting a land pre-pit address signal.

Abstract: An optical disc recording/playback apparatus is provided with a first AD converter 35 for shaping a push-pull signal 14 detected from an optical disc medium 1 by a light difference signal shaping circuit 21, and converting the signal into a digital sampling signal 38 using a sampling clock 37 synchronized with a channel frequency; a series of means for detecting wobble amplitude information 77 during recording from the digital sampling signal 38; a series of means for detecting address polarity information 60 and address position information during playback; and a recording laser power control circuit 113 for controlling a recording laser power to a power suited for recording on the basis of the wobble amplitude information.

Abstract: In a land pre-pit address demodulating device DM for detecting land pre-pit address information during recording to a DVD-R/RW-disc, a tracking error signal TE is muted by a first reference potential Vref1 during a period in which the tracking error signal TE is generated from a reflected laser beam having a power for recording a mark, an RF residual component is removed from the tracking error signal TE, and the tracking error signal TE from which the RF residual component has been removed is compared with a second reference potential Vref2, thereby detecting a land pre-pit address signal.