Abstract: An imaging device comprises pixels. The pixel includes first semiconductor regions of a first conductivity type provided in a surface part of a semiconductor substrate and a second semiconductor region of a second conductivity type provided in the surface part of the semiconductor substrate between the first semiconductor regions. The pixel includes: a light-receiving unit in which photodiodes each configured between the second semiconductor region and one of the first semiconductor regions; quenching circuits, each connected to a corresponding one of the first semiconductor regions; and a counter unit connected to each of connection nodes between the first semiconductor regions and the quenching circuits and counts a pulse generated in response to a photon being incident on the light-receiving unit. The second semiconductor region is provided across a deeper part of the semiconductor substrate than the first semiconductor regions.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device includes a first photoelectric conversion element, a second photoelectric conversion element, a microlens that guides incident light to the first photoelectric conversion element and the second photoelectric conversion element, a floating diffusion to which charges accumulated in at least one of the first photoelectric conversion element and the second photoelectric conversion element are transferred, and a transistor that, when switched on, adds a capacitance to a node of the floating diffusion. First and second reading operations are performed. In the first reading operation, a signal based on charges transferred to the floating diffusion is read at a first conversion gain caused by a state where the transistor is in an off-state. In the second reading operation, a signal based on charges transferred to the floating diffusion is read at a second conversion gain caused by a state where the transistor is in an on-state.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device includes a plurality of pixels arranged to form a plurality of columns, an output line arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of columns, a signal from a corresponding pixel being output to the output line, and a comparison unit arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of columns and having a first input terminal and a second input terminal. A signal corresponding to a potential of the output line is input to the first input terminal. A reference signal is input to the second input terminal. The comparison unit performs an offset clamping operation, and then performs comparison for analog-to-digital conversion of a signal output from a pixel.

Abstract: The invention provides an image processing apparatus which comprises a controller which causes an image sensing device to execute either a first mode in which outputs image data of a first resolution, or a second mode in which outputs image data of a second resolution lower than the first resolution; and an evaluating circuit which, by outputting image data of the second resolution in relation to acquired image data, obtains an index value that relates to a spatial frequency of a frequency band in which a signal level decreases in image data of the second resolution more than in image data of the first resolution, wherein the evaluating circuit detects, by machine learning, the index value of image data of the second resolution, and the controller, based on the detected index value, selects either the first or second mode.

Abstract: The invention provides an image processing apparatus which comprises a controller which causes an image sensing device to execute either a first mode in which outputs image data of a first resolution, or a second mode in which outputs image data of a second resolution lower than the first resolution; and an evaluating circuit which, by outputting image data of the second resolution in relation to acquired image data, obtains an index value that relates to a spatial frequency of a frequency band in which a signal level decreases in image data of the second resolution more than in image data of the first resolution, wherein the evaluating circuit detects, by machine learning, the index value of image data of the second resolution, and the controller, based on the detected index value, selects either the first or second mode.

Abstract: A solid-state image sensor and an image capture apparatus are provided that can realize image acquisition and distance measurement while restraining the circuit scale from increasing. The solid-state image sensor includes a plurality of pixels each including a sensor unit that generates a pulse with a frequency that is based on a reception frequency of a photon, and a counter that can operate in a first mode of counting the number of pulses of a signal generated by the sensor unit, and a second mode of counting the number of pulses of a predetermined signal that is based on an elapsed time from a timing at which light is emitted from a light emitting unit.

Abstract: An imaging device comprises pixels. The pixel includes first semiconductor regions of a first conductivity type provided in a surface part of a semiconductor substrate and a second semiconductor region of a second conductivity type provided in the surface part of the semiconductor substrate between the first semiconductor regions. The pixel includes: a light-receiving unit in which photodiodes each configured between the second semiconductor region and one of the first semiconductor regions; quenching circuits, each connected to a corresponding one of the first semiconductor regions; and a counter unit connected to each of connection nodes between the first semiconductor regions and the quenching circuits and counts a pulse generated in response to a photon being incident on the light-receiving unit. The second semiconductor region is provided across a deeper part of the semiconductor substrate than the first semiconductor regions.

Abstract: An image sensor that obtains an image in which shake is corrected, while at the same time suppresses an increase in the circuit size, is disclosed. The image sensor has a plurality of pixels. Each of the plurality of pixels includes a light-sensitive element that detects the incidence of single photons; and a counter that counts a pulse contained in a signal. The image sensor further comprises a control unit that, on the basis of detected shake, switches a signal of the light-sensitive element supplied to the counter in a pixel, or replaces a count value of the counter of the pixel with a count value of the counter in another pixel.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a pixel array, a signal generator that generates a comparison signal whose electric potential changes with time and a converter that converts a pixel signal into a digital signal. The comparison signal starts to change from a first electric potential in accordance with a start of the conversion of the pixel signal by the converter, and changes again, in accordance with inversion of a magnitude relationship between the pixel signal and the comparison signal, from a third electric potential between the first electric potential and a second electric potential at which the magnitude relationship is inverted. The converter includes a counter that holds, as a signal value, a count value obtained by counting from the start of the conversion of the pixel signal until the inversion of the magnitude relationship.

Abstract: An image sensor that obtains an image in which shake is corrected, while at the same time suppresses an increase in the circuit size, is disclosed. The image sensor has a plurality of pixels. Each of the plurality of pixels includes a light-sensitive element that detects the incidence of single photons; and a counter that counts a pulse contained in a signal. The image sensor further comprises a control unit that, on the basis of detected shake, switches a signal of the light-sensitive element supplied to the counter in a pixel, or replaces a count value of the counter of the pixel with a count value of the counter in another pixel.

Abstract: A solid-state image sensor and an image capture apparatus are provided that can realize image acquisition and distance measurement while restraining the circuit scale from increasing. The solid-state image sensor includes a plurality of pixels each including a sensor unit that generates a pulse with a frequency that is based on a reception frequency of a photon, and a counter that can operate in a first mode of counting the number of pulses of a signal generated by the sensor unit, and a second mode of counting the number of pulses of a predetermined signal that is based on an elapsed time from a timing at which light is emitted from a light emitting unit.

Abstract: A switching power source device for controlling a current flowing through a coil by turning on/off a switching element by a PWM control to obtain a desired DC voltage, includes in a PWM ON period to turn on the switching element by the PWM control, a switching control of the switching element is enabled by a first pulse signal whose cycle is shorter than a PWM cycle based on the PWM control and whose pulse width is gradually increased, in a first period just after the PWM ON period is started, and the switching control of the switching element is enabled by the PWM signal based on the PWM control after the first period has elapsed.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a pixel array, a signal generator that generates a comparison signal whose electric potential changes with time and a converter that converts a pixel signal into a digital signal. The comparison signal starts to change from a first electric potential in accordance with a start of the conversion of the pixel signal by the converter, and changes again, in accordance with inversion of a magnitude relationship between the pixel signal and the comparison signal, from a third electric potential between the first electric potential and a second electric potential at which the magnitude relationship is inverted. The converter includes a counter that holds, as a signal value, a count value obtained by counting from the start of the conversion of the pixel signal until the inversion of the magnitude relationship.

Abstract: A switching power source device for controlling a current flowing through a coil by turning on/off a switching element by a PWM control to obtain a desired DC voltage, includes in a PWM ON period to turn on the switching element by the PWM control, a switching control of the switching element is enabled by a first pulse signal whose cycle is shorter than a PWM cycle based on the PWM control and whose pulse width is gradually increased, in a first period just after the PWM ON period is started, and the switching control of the switching element is enabled by the PWM signal based on the PWM control after the first period has elapsed.

Abstract: The switching power source device obtains a desired DC voltage by controlling the current flowing through a coil by turning on and off a switching element by a PWM control. In the PWM ON period to turn on the switching element by the PWM control, the switching power source device is enabled to switch the switching element by a first pulse signal whose cycle is shorter than the PWM cycle and whose pulse width is gradually increased, in a first period just after the start of the PWM ON period. Further, the switching power source device is enabled to switch the switching element by a PWM signal based on the PWM control after the first period in the PWM ON period has elapsed. According to this approach, it is possible to reduce the harmonic noise.

Abstract: The switching power source device obtains a desired DC voltage by controlling the current flowing through a coil by turning on and off a switching element by a PWM control. In the PWM ON period to turn on the switching element by the PWM control, the switching power source device is enabled to switch the switching element by a first pulse signal whose cycle is shorter than the PWM cycle and whose pulse width is gradually increased, in a first period just after the start of the PWM ON period. Further, the switching power source device is enabled to switch the switching element by a PWM signal based on the PWM control after the first period in the PWM ON period has elapsed. According to this approach, it is possible to reduce the harmonic noise.

Abstract: A metal gasket includes an outer ring that is formed in a substantially C-shaped cross-section having an opening in a circumferential direction and an inner ring that is disposed inside the outer ring, wherein the inner ring is configured in a polygonal shape of a cross section, and a pair of corner portions opposing to each other in the inner ring are disposed on inner circumferential faces on the both sides of the opening in the outer ring.

Abstract: A low-compression force metal gasket includes a coating layer containing a polymer material on at least a sealing surface of the gasket, and the coating layer satisfies the following conditions (1) to (3): (1) the layer comprises a resin, a rubber or a mixture thereof having an oxygen gas permeability coefficient at 25° C. of 10×10?12 to 0.1×10?12 (m2/s); (2) when the layer is compression deformed, the storage elastic modulus (E?) at 200° C. is in the range of 1.0×107 to 1.0×102 Pa; and (3) the coating layer has a thickness of 1 to 40 ?m. The gasket provides a high seal at a low clamping force.

Abstract: A metal gasket includes an outer ring that is formed in a substantially C-shaped cross-section having an opening in a circumferential direction and an inner ring that is disposed inside the outer ring, wherein the inner ring is configured in a polygonal shape of a cross section, and a pair of corner portions opposing to each other in the inner ring are disposed on inner circumferential faces on the both sides of the opening in the outer ring.

Abstract: A low-compression force metal gasket includes a coating layer containing a polymer material on at least a sealing surface of the gasket, and the coating layer satisfies the following conditions (1) to (3): (1) the layer comprises a resin, a rubber or a mixture thereof having an oxygen gas permeability coefficient at 25° C. of 10×10?12 to 0.1×10?12 (m2/s); (2) when the layer is compression deformed, the storage elastic modulus (E?) at 200° C. is in the range of 1.0×107 to 1.0×102 Pa; and (3) the coating layer has a thickness of 1 to 40 ?m. The gasket provides a high seal at a low clamping force.