Abstract: In a state that a plurality of capacitances are connected between input and output nodes of an amplifier, a short circuit is established between the input and output nodes of the amplifier. In a state that at least one of the capacitances is isolated from the input and output nodes of the amplifier, the plurality of capacitances are connected to the input and output nodes of the amplifier, in a case that an output from the amplifier is larger than a threshold.

Abstract: An output control unit configured to set an amplitude of a signal output to a signal line to be smaller as compared with a case where an amplification unit outputs a signal on the basis of a potential of the input node or put the amplification unit into a non-operating state is provided.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus including a plurality of photoelectric conversion units each of which includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer which accumulates signal charges and which is disposed between the first and second electrodes, and an insulating layer disposed between the photoelectric conversion layer and the second electrode, an amplification unit configured to receive optical signals and output signals each based on one of the optical signals, each of the optical signals being based on one of the signal charges, each of the signal charges being accumulated in one of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units, and a capacitive element having a first node and a second node, the first node being connected to the second electrodes of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units and the amplification unit and the second node selectively receiving each one of a plurality of potentials having different values.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus and a method of driving the same that can generate a digital data of a high resolution pixel signal are provided. The imaging apparatus includes: a pixel (10-1) for generating a signal by photoelectric conversion; a comparing circuit (30-1) for comparing a signal based on the pixel with a time-dependent reference signal; a counter circuit (40-1) performing a counting operating until an inversion of a magnitude relation between the signal based on the pixel and the time-dependent reference signal; and a selecting circuit (30-2) for setting a time-dependent change rate of the reference signal, according to a signal level of the signal based on the pixel.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Provided is an AD conversion apparatus including: a reference signal generating circuit configured to output a first reference signal and a second reference signal, whose voltages change with time; a comparison circuit configured to perform a comparison between a voltage of the analog signal and the voltage of the first reference signal; a control circuit configured to generate and output digital data based on the comparison; a digital-to-analog converter configured to generate, using the second reference signal, a signal whose voltage changes with time from a comparison base voltage, the comparison base voltage being based on the digital data, and configured to output the signal to the comparison circuit; and a counter configured to generate a count value by measuring an elapsed time. The comparison circuit is further configured to perform a comparison between the voltage of the analog signal and the signal output from the digital-to-analog converter.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus is provided which includes a plurality of pixels (101) arranged in a matrix for generating a signal by a photoelectric conversion, a plurality of column amplifier units (102) arranged each correspondingly to each of columns of the plurality of pixels, for outputting a first signal generated by amplifying at a first gain the signals from the plurality of pixels, and a second signal generated by amplifying at a second gain the signals from the plurality of pixels, and an analog to digital converting unit (108) for selecting one signal from the first and second signals for analog to digital conversion.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a hinge, a member attached to the hinge, and a housing. The housing accommodates the member and includes a wall configured to support the member and a portion configured to support the member from a side opposite to the wall.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a power relay stand which supports an electronic device includes a receiver, a transfer module and a transmitter. The receiver is provided so as to face a charging stand and receives power transmitted from the charging stand through contactless power transmission. The transfer module transfers the power received by the receiver. The transmitter is provided so as to face the electronic device and transmits the power transferred from the transfer module to the electronic device through the contactless power transmission.

Abstract: In an image sensing apparatus having a plurality of unit cells, each including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and a common circuit shared by the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, arranged in either one or two dimensions, the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged at a predetermined interval.

Abstract: In a first sensitivity level, an AD converter performs AD conversion selectively using, in accordance with the level of the analog signal, any one of a first reference signal and a second reference signal that have mutually different slopes, and in a second sensitivity level that is different from the first sensitivity level, the AD converter performs AD conversion only using a third reference signal.

Abstract: An AD converting unit compares an output signal from an amplifier circuit after reset of a pixel with a reference signal of time-variable, outputs a first digital value, when the output signal from the amplifier circuit in a non-reset state of the pixel is larger than a threshold, sets a gain of the amplifier circuit to a first gain, when the output signal is smaller than the threshold, sets the gain of the amplifier circuit to a second gain larger than the first gain, further after the gain of the amplifier circuit was set to the first or second gain, compares the output signal from the amplifier circuit in the non-reset state of the pixel with the reference signal of time-variable, and outputs a second digital value. When resolutions of the first and second digital values differ, a correcting unit corrects a difference between the resolutions.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a plurality of comparators. At least two analog signal outputs from a pixel are input to the plurality of comparators, and the plurality of comparators perform comparison operations in an overlapped period.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: In a case where a magnitude of an analog signal falls below a first threshold value, a comparator compares the analog signal with a first reference signal so as to obtain a p-bit digital signal. In a case where the magnitude of the analog signal exceeds the first threshold value, the comparator compares the analog signal with a second reference signal, which has a higher rate of change relative to time than the first reference signal, so as to obtain a q-bit digital signal, where q is less than p.

Abstract: An AD converting unit compares an output signal from an amplifier circuit after reset of a pixel with a reference signal of time-variable, outputs a first digital value, when the output signal from the amplifier circuit in a non-reset state of the pixel is larger than a threshold, sets a gain of the amplifier circuit to a first gain, when the output signal is smaller than the threshold, sets the gain of the amplifier circuit to a second gain larger than the first gain, further after the gain of the amplifier circuit was set to the first or second gain, compares the output signal from the amplifier circuit in the non-reset state of the pixel with the reference signal of time-variable, and outputs a second digital value. When resolutions of the first and second digital values differ, a correcting unit corrects a difference between the resolutions.

Abstract: A needle plate base in a multi-thread chain stitch sewing machine with a seam ravel preventing apparatus is divided into a left needle plate base for attaching a needle plate thereto and supporting a swinging support shaft of a thread hanging hook; and a right needle plate base for fixedly supporting a stopper member and a thread handling air cylinder and a stopper air cylinder. The right needle plate base is fastened to a sewing machine bed. The left needle plate base is fastenably and unfastenably fastened to an upper surface of the bed via screw members. Adjustment of stitch performation, and maintenance, e.g., replacement of various kinds of components stored inside the bed, can extremely easily and simply be carried out without having much trouble and requiring labor and time, and therefore, the stitch performation and predetermined ravel preventing function can be constantly surely reproduced.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus and a method of driving the same that can generate a digital data of a high resolution pixel signal are provided. The imaging apparatus includes: a pixel (10-1) for generating a signal by photoelectric conversion; a comparing circuit (30-1) for comparing a signal based on the pixel with a time-dependent reference signal; a counter circuit (40-1) performing a counting operating until an inversion of a magnitude relation between the signal based on the pixel and the time-dependent reference signal; and a selecting circuit (30-2) for setting a time-dependent change rate of the reference signal, according to a signal level of the signal based on the pixel.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus and a method of driving the same that can generate a digital data of a high resolution pixel signal are provided. The imaging apparatus includes: a pixel (10-1) for generating a signal by photoelectric conversion; a comparing circuit (30-1) for comparing a signal based on the pixel with a time-dependent reference signal; a counter circuit (40-1) performing a counting operating until an inversion of a magnitude relation between the signal based on the pixel and the time-dependent reference signal; and a selecting circuit (30-2) for setting a time-dependent change rate of the reference signal, according to a signal level of the signal based on the pixel.