Abstract: Disclosed is a light-projection device that is used for a range finding apparatus that computes a distance to an object that has reflected light, by measuring a time difference between a time when light is emitted and a time when reflected light is detected. The light-projection device comprises a light source array in which a plurality of light-emitting elements are two-dimensionally arranged and a light-projection lens that adjusts a light projection range of light emitted from the light source array. The light projection device further comprises a driving device that changes relative positions between the light source array and the light-projection lens and a light source control unit that switches on the light source array under conditions where the light source array is in different positions.

Abstract: Disclosed in a range finding apparatus that can efficiently perform range finding that uses light of different wavelengths. The range finding apparatus comprises a light source device capable of concurrently emitting light of a first wavelength and light of a second wavelength that is longer than the first wavelength and computes distance information based on a time period from when range finding is started until when incident of light on a pixel of a light receiving part is detected. In a pixel array of the light receiving part, a first pixel configured to receive light of the first wavelength and a second pixel configured to receive light of the second wavelength are two-dimensionally arranged.

Abstract: Disclosed is a light-receiving device having a wide dynamic range. The light receiving device comprises a pixel array in which a first pixel provided with a first optical band pass filter and having a first sensitivity and a second pixel provided with a second optical band pass filter and having a second sensitivity that is lower than the first sensitivity are two-dimensionally arranged. A full width at half maximum of the second optical band pass filter is narrower than a full width at half maximum of the first optical band pass filter.

Abstract: A range finding apparatus uses a light-receiving device in which a first pixel having a first sensitivity and a second pixel having a second sensitivity that is lower than the first sensitivity are two-dimensionally arranged. The range finding apparatus measures time periods from a predetermined time until times when light is incident on each of the first pixel and the second pixel, and computes distance information for the first pixel and the second pixel based on the measured time periods. The measurement resolution used to measure the time period for the second pixel is lower than a measurement resolution used to measure the time period for the first pixel.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a capturing device configured to capture an image of a subject; an estimation unit configured to estimate, from the captured image of the subject, a speed of the subject at a time point of image capture of a subsequent image, the estimation being performed using a learned model generated through machine learning, and a control unit configured to, based on the estimated speed of the subject, control an image capturing operation for the image capture of the subsequent image by the capturing device.

Abstract: An image sensor comprising a plurality of microlenses, and a pixel array having, with respect to each of the microlenses, a pair of first regions formed at a first depth from a surface on which light is incident, a pair of second regions formed at a second depth deeper than the first depth, and a plurality of connecting regions that connects the pair of first regions and the pair of second regions, respectively. A direction of arranging the pair of second regions corresponding to each microlens is a first direction, and a direction of arranging the pair of first regions is either the first direction or a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction.

Abstract: An image sensor comprises a plurality of pixels, and signals are read out in units of rows. The plurality of pixels comprise a plurality of microlenses, and for each microlense, a pair of first semiconductor regions formed at a first depth; a pair of second semiconductor regions formed at a second depth deeper than the first depth; and a plurality of connecting regions that connect the first semiconductor regions and the second semiconductor regions, respectively. Pixels having a first arrangement have the first and second semiconductor regions arranged in a row direction, pixels having a second arrangement have the first semiconductor regions arranged in a column direction and the second semiconductor regions arranged in the row direction. A crosstalk ratio between the first semiconductor regions in the second arrangement is made smaller than that in the first arrangement.

Abstract: A pixel circuit of a photoelectric conversion device includes two photoelectric conversion elements, each including two impurity region in each of two different layers. In at least one pixel of the pixel circuits, a first separation region separating the two impurity regions in a first layer and a second separation region separating the two impurity regions in a second layer extend in directions different from each other in a planer view. An impurity region in a photoelectric conversion element includes a first portion overlapping the first separation region in the planar view, a second portion adjacent to a first transfer gate, and a third portion located on an opposite side of the second portion with respect to the first portion. The impurity region has a potential distribution monotonically decreasing from the third portion to the second portion for signal charges.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter includes a generator, a comparator, and a counter. The generator generates a reference signal whose voltage changes with respect to time. The voltage of the reference signal changes with a constant slope in a predetermined first period since the voltage starts changing. The slope of the voltage becomes steeper with respect to time in a second period after the first period. The comparator compares the reference signal and a voltage output from outside, and outputs a comparison result. The counter counts at a predetermined first cycle since the voltage of the reference signal starts changing until the comparison result is inverted.

Abstract: An apparatus includes pixels each including a conversion unit. The conversion unit includes a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type, a second semiconductor region of a second conductivity type, and a third semiconductor region of the first conductivity type in order from a light incident surface side, and includes an in-pixel separation portion of the second conductivity type. The second semiconductor region includes a first end and a second end opposing the first end. The conversion unit further includes a fourth semiconductor region between the first and second ends. The in-pixel separation portion separates the first semiconductor region into a first region overlapping the first end and a second region overlapping the second end in a top view from the light incident surface side. A concentration of a second conductivity type impurity is lower in the fourth semiconductor region than in the in-pixel separation portion.

Abstract: An imaging device suitable for focus detection of a pupil division phase difference method includes: a light receiving unit provided on a first surface side of a semiconductor substrate and having a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional form; and a read-out circuit provided on a second surface side of the semiconductor substrate opposite to the first surface side and configured to read signals from the pixels. Each of pixels has at least two photoelectric conversion elements and a separation region which is a region between the two photoelectric conversion elements and a separation region control electrode arranged on the second surface side of the separation region and configured to control a potential of the separation region.

Abstract: An apparatus includes pixels on a substrate. Each pixel includes a first portion, a second, and a microlens. The substrate has a first surface on an incidence side and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and includes an inter-pixel portion isolating adjacent pixels from each other, and an intra-pixel portion isolating the first and second portions from each other. The inter-pixel portion includes a first region located adjacently to the first surface, and a second region located adjacently to the second surface. The intra-pixel portion includes a third region located adjacently to the first surface, and a fourth region located adjacently to the second surface. The first and third regions are shifted with respect to the second and fourth regions, respectively, in an identical direction that is a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the intra-pixel portion in plan view from the first surface.

Abstract: An image sensor comprising pixels each includes, an photoelectric conversion unit, a first inner-layer lens, a second inner-layer lens, and an on-chip microlens. A light-shielding wall around the second inner-layer lens is provided between adjacent pixels. A first positional difference between center positions of the first inner-layer lens and the photoelectric conversion unit, a second positional difference between center positions of the second inner-layer lens and the photoelectric conversion unit, and a third positional difference between center positions of the on-chip microlens and the photoelectric conversion unit satisfy: the second positional difference<the first positional difference<the third positional difference.

Abstract: An image sensor comprising a plurality of microlenses, and a pixel array having, with respect to each of the microlenses, a pair of first regions formed at a first depth from a surface on which light is incident, a pair of second regions formed at a second depth deeper than the first depth, and a plurality of connecting regions that connects the pair of first regions and the pair of second regions, respectively. A direction of arranging the pair of second regions corresponding to each microlens is a first direction, and a direction of arranging the pair of first regions is either the first direction or a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction.

Abstract: In an image sensor having a plurality of pixels including focus detection pixels that outputs signals from which a pair of focus detection signals having parallax can be obtained based on light flux passing through different pupil regions of an imaging optical system, each pixel comprises: at least one photoelectric conversion unit; and a microlens optical system provided on a side on which light is incident with respect to the photoelectric conversion unit, wherein a shape of a principal curved surface of the microlens optical system is such that a first curvature of the microlens optical system at a first distance from an optical axis of the microlens optical system is larger than a second curvature of the microlens optical system at a second distance which is farther from the optical axis of the microlens optical system than the first distance.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a capturing device configured to capture an image of a subject; an estimation unit configured to estimate, from the captured image of the subject, a speed of the subject at a time point of image capture of a subsequent image, the estimation being performed using a learned model generated through machine learning, and a control unit configured to, based on the estimated speed of the subject, control an image capturing operation for the image capture of the subsequent image by the capturing device.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes a pixel array, an AD converter, an output line configured to connect the pixel and the AD converter, a reset unit configured to reset the output line, an amplification transistor configured to amplify a signal from the pixel, a connection unit configured to connect a source of the amplification transistor to the output line, a constant current source, and a control unit configured to, after a voltage of the output line is reset, cause a constant current to flow to the output line and to control to connect a source of the amplification transistor to the output line, wherein the control unit sets a value of the constant current so that the constant current is a lower value than a current required to drive the output line.

Abstract: An imaging device suitable for focus detection of a pupil division phase difference method includes: a light receiving unit provided on a first surface side of a semiconductor substrate and having a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional form; and a read-out circuit provided on a second surface side of the semiconductor substrate opposite to the first surface side and configured to read signals from the pixels. Each of pixels has at least two photoelectric conversion elements and a separation region which is a region between the two photoelectric conversion elements and a separation region control electrode arranged on the second surface side of the separation region and configured to control a potential of the separation region.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter includes a generator, a comparator, and a counter. The generator generates a reference signal whose voltage changes with respect to time. The voltage of the reference signal changes with a constant slope in a predetermined first period since the voltage starts changing. The slope of the voltage becomes steeper with respect to time in a second period after the first period. The comparator compares the reference signal and a voltage output from outside, and outputs a comparison result. The counter counts at a predetermined first cycle since the voltage of the reference signal starts changing until the comparison result is inverted.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device includes a semiconductor substrate, a photoelectric conversion unit, an amplification transistor, and an insulating isolation portion. The photoelectric conversion unit is disposed inside the semiconductor substrate. The amplification transistor is configured to output a signal from the photoelectric conversion unit. The insulating isolation portion, disposed between the photoelectric conversion unit and the amplification transistor to surround the amplification transistor in a plan view, is configured to penetrate through the semiconductor substrate. A first well in which the amplification transistor is disposed is connected to a source or a drain of the amplification transistor.