Abstract: Sensing devices configured to detect photons with high accuracy regardless of environmental illuminance are disclosed. In one example, a sensing device includes a photodetector and a load element connected between the photodetector and a first reference potential. A first transistor is configured to be turned on according to a voltage of a node between the photodetector and the load element. A second transistor is configured to turn on according to either a current of the first transistor or a voltage of a second signal line. A third transistor of an opposite conductivity type to the first and second transistors is configured to turn on according to the voltage of the second signal line. A first inverter is connected between a node between the first transistor and the third transistor and a fourth signal line.

Abstract: A data reception device that can improve communication quality when transmitting/receiving serial data is to be provided. There is provided the data reception device including a signal generation unit that generates, from serial data received, a first signal whose value is inverted at a rising timing of the serial data and a second signal whose value is inverted at a falling timing of the serial data, and a clock recovery unit that performs clock recovery using the first signal and the second signal generated by the signal generation unit.

Abstract: The present technology relates to a DAC circuit, a solid-state imaging element, and electronic equipment that can be achieved with a small-scale circuit configuration. The DAC circuit includes: a ramp DAC that generates a ramp signal that changes in voltage with a constant time gradient; an injection DAC that outputs a predetermined voltage during a reset period for resetting a comparison target voltage to be compared with the ramp signal; and an adding circuit that adds an output of the ramp DAC and an output of the injection DAC and outputs the outputs to a comparison circuit as a comparison reference voltage. The present technology can be applied to, for example, a DAC circuit of a solid-state imaging element, and the like.

Abstract: An imaging device for improving the determining speed of a comparator and reducing power consumption. The comparator imaging device includes a differential input circuit that operates with a first power supply voltage, the differential input circuit outputs a signal when an input signal is higher than a reference signal in voltage, and a positive feedback circuit that operates with a second power supply voltage lower than the first power supply voltage. The positive feedback circuit accelerates transition speed when a compared result signal indicating a compared result between the input signal and the reference signal in voltage, is inverted, on the basis of the output signal of the differential input circuit. The imaging device further includes a voltage conversion circuit that converts the output signal of the differential input circuit into a signal corresponding to the second power supply voltage.

Abstract: A communication circuit, a communication system, and a self-diagnosis method of the communication circuit, which facilitate specifying a failed part which causes a communication failure when a communication failure occurs in a communication system, are provided. A serial signal for self-diagnosis is supplied to a first conversion unit, a pulse signal for self-diagnosis corresponding to the serial signal for self-diagnosis output from the first conversion unit is input to a second conversion unit instead of a pulse signal received by a pulse signal reception unit, and the serial signal corresponding to the pulse signal for self-diagnosis output from the second conversion unit is transmitted to the outside via a serial signal transmission unit.

Abstract: The present technology relates to a DAC circuit, a solid-state imaging element, and electronic equipment that can be achieved with a small-scale circuit configuration. The DAC circuit includes: a ramp DAC that generates a ramp signal that changes in voltage with a constant time gradient; an injection DAC that outputs a predetermined voltage during a reset period for resetting a comparison target voltage to be compared with the ramp signal; and an adding circuit that adds an output of the ramp DAC and an output of the injection DAC and outputs the outputs to a comparison circuit as a comparison reference voltage. The present technology can be applied to, for example, a DAC circuit of a solid-state imaging element, and the like.

Abstract: A data reception device that can improve communication quality when transmitting/receiving serial data is to be provided. There is provided the data reception device including: a signal generation unit that generates, from serial data received, a first signal whose value is inverted at a rising timing of the serial data and a second signal whose value is inverted at a falling timing of the serial data; and a clock recovery unit that performs clock recovery using the first signal and the second signal generated by the signal generation unit.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a comparator, an AD converter, a solid-state image pickup device, an electronic device, a method of controlling the comparator, a data writing circuit, a data reading circuit, and a data transferring circuit, capable of improving the determining speed of the comparator and reducing power consumption.

Abstract: A battery monitoring system includes a plurality of battery monitoring devices connected in series, such that each battery monitoring device is in communication with at least one adjacent battery monitoring device, and each battery monitoring device monitors battery cells. First and second interface devices are located along first and second communication paths including the battery monitoring devices. A controller controls the first and second interface devices to switch transmission modes between transmitting along the first communication path via the first interface device and the battery monitoring devices, transmitting along the second communication path via the second interface device and the battery monitoring devices, and transmitting along a third transmission mode in which a direction of the communication signals outputted from the first interface device and the second interface device to the plurality of battery monitoring devices are reversed.

Abstract: An imaging device for improving the determining speed of the comparator and reducing power consumption. The comparator includes a differential input circuit that operates with a first power supply voltage, the differential input circuit that outputs a signal when an input signal is higher than a reference signal in voltage, a positive feedback circuit that operates with a second power supply voltage lower than the first power supply voltage and accelerates transition speed when a compared result signal indicating a compared result between the input signal and the reference signal in voltage, is inverted, based on the output signal of the differential input circuit, and a voltage conversion circuit that converts the output signal of the differential input circuit into a signal corresponding to the second power supply voltage.

Abstract: A signal transmission system including: a first connector apparatus, and a second connector apparatus that is coupled with the first connector apparatus. The first connector apparatus and the second connector apparatus are coupled together to form an electromagnetic field coupling unit, and a transmission object signal is converted into a radio signal, which is then transmitted through the electromagnetic field coupling unit, between the first connector apparatus and the second connector apparatus.

Abstract: A semiconductor device for measuring a voltage of a battery cell, including first and second nodes, and first and second battery voltage measurement units. The first node is configured to receive a first voltage, the first voltage being a voltage of a capacitor that accumulates an electric charge based on the voltage of the battery cell. The first battery voltage measurement unit measures the first voltage through a first path. The second node is configured to receive a second voltage based on the voltage of the battery cell, the second node being different from the first node. The second battery voltage measurement unit measures the second voltage through a second path that is different from the first path.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a voltage generation circuit configured to generate a specific voltage; a first terminal configured to output the specific voltage; a second terminal configured to receive a temperature sensitive voltage; an analog/digital conversion circuit configured to convert the specific voltage and the temperature sensitive voltage to digital values; a storage unit configured to store the specific voltage and the temperature sensitive voltage; and a third terminal configured to transmit the specific voltage and the temperature sensitive voltage to an external semiconductor device.

Abstract: A battery monitoring system includes a plurality of battery monitoring devices connected in series, such that each battery monitoring device is in communication with at least one adjacent battery monitoring device, and each battery monitoring device monitors battery cells. First and second interface devices are located along first and second communication paths including the battery monitoring devices. A controller controls the first and second interface devices to switch transmission modes between transmitting along the first communication path via the first interface device and the battery monitoring devices, transmitting along the second communication path via the second interface device and the battery monitoring devices, and transmitting along a third transmission mode in which a direction of the communication signals outputted from the first interface device and the second interface device to the plurality of battery monitoring devices are reversed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a comparator, an AD converter, a solid-state image pickup device, an electronic device, a method of controlling the comparator, a data writing circuit, a data reading circuit, and a data transferring circuit, capable of improving the determining speed of the comparator and reducing power consumption.

Abstract: A communication circuit, a communication system, and a self-diagnosis method of the communication circuit, which facilitate specifying a failed part which causes a communication failure when a communication failure occurs in a communication system, are provided. A serial signal for self-diagnosis is supplied to a first conversion unit, a pulse signal for self-diagnosis corresponding to the serial signal for self-diagnosis output from the first conversion unit is input to a second conversion unit instead of a pulse signal received by a pulse signal reception unit, and the serial signal corresponding to the pulse signal for self-diagnosis output from the second conversion unit is transmitted to the outside via a serial signal transmission unit.

Abstract: A video signal and an audio signal are TMDS transmitted from a source device to a sink device. Through a reserved line and a HPD line provided separately from a TMDS transmission line, an Ethernet™ signal is bidirectionally transmitted, and also, a SPDIF signal is transmitted from the sink device to the source device. The Ethernet™ signal bidirectionally transmitted between Ethernet™ transmitter/receiver circuits is differentially transmitted by an amplifier and is received by the amplifier. The SPDIF signal from a SPDIF transmitter circuit is common-mode transmitted from an adder and is received by the adder to be supplied to the SPDIF receiver circuit.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided for improving the determining speed of the comparator and reducing power consumption. The comparator includes a differential input circuit configured to operate with a first power supply voltage and output a signal when an input signal is higher than a reference signal in voltage; a positive feedback circuit configured to operate with a second power supply voltage lower than the first power supply voltage and to accelerate transition speed when a compared result signal indicating a compared result between the input signal and the reference signal in voltage, is inverted, based on the output signal of the differential input circuit; and a voltage conversion circuit configured to convert the output signal of the differential input circuit into a signal corresponding to the second power supply voltage.

Abstract: A video signal and an audio signal are TMDS transmitted from a source device to a sink device. Through a reserved line and a HPD line provided separately from a TMDS transmission line, an Ethernet™ signal is bidirectionally transmitted, and also, a SPDIF signal is transmitted from the sink device to the source device. The Ethernet™ signal bidirectionally transmitted between Ethernet™ transmitter/receiver circuits is differentially transmitted by an amplifier and is received by the amplifier. The SPDIF signal from a SPDIF transmitter circuit is common-mode transmitted from an adder and is received by the adder to be supplied to the SPDIF receiver circuit.

Abstract: A battery system includes a plurality of electronic storage modules serially connected together wherein the electronic storage modules include a battery block group including a plurality of battery cells, and a different magnetic core connected to each battery block group.