Abstract: A photodetection device according to the present disclosure includes: a light-receiving section that includes a light-receiving element, and generates a pulse signal including a pulse corresponding to a result of light reception by the light-receiving element; a plurality of switches that is each turned on or off on the basis of a corresponding control signal of a plurality of control signals, and each transmits the pulse signal by being turned on in a pulse period of the corresponding control signal of the plurality of control signals; a plurality of counters that is provided corresponding to the plurality of switches, and each performs counting processing on the basis of the pulse signal supplied through a corresponding switch of the plurality of switches to generate a first count value; and a signal generator that generates the plurality of control signals in a detection period to sequentially shift the respective pulse periods of the plurality of control signals by a unit period having a shorter time leng

Abstract: A photodetection device according to the present disclosure includes: a plurality of light-receiving sections that each includes a light-receiving element, and generates a first pulse signal including a pulse corresponding to a result of light reception by the light-receiving element; an adder that generates a second pulse signal by selecting one or more first pulse signals from a plurality of the first pulse signals generated by the plurality of light-receiving sections and performing addition processing on the basis of the one or more selected first pulse signals; a divider that performs division processing for dividing the second pulse signal into a plurality of third pulse signals in a time division manner on the basis of a clock signal; a plurality of counters that is provided corresponding to the plurality of third pulse signals, and each performs count processing on the basis of a corresponding one of the third pulse signals; and a controller that sets signal number of the one or more pulse signals to

Abstract: A light-receiving apparatus (1a) includes a counting unit (11), a setting unit (12), and an acquiring unit (13). The counting unit is configured to measure a detection number of times that represents the number of times incidence of a photon to a light-receiving element has been detected within an exposure period and to output a counted value. The setting unit is configured to set a cycle of updating time information in accordance with an elapsed time during the exposure period. The acquiring unit is configured to acquire the time information indicating a time at which the counted value reaches a threshold before the exposure period elapses.

Abstract: A light-receiving apparatus (1a) includes a counting unit (11), a setting unit (12), and an acquiring unit (13). The counting unit is configured to measure a detection number of times that represents the number of times incidence of a photon to a light-receiving element has been detected within an exposure period and to output a counted value. The setting unit is configured to set a cycle of updating time information in accordance with an elapsed time during the exposure period. The acquiring unit is configured to acquire the time information indicating a time at which the counted value reaches a threshold before the exposure period elapses.

Abstract: To reduce power consumption in a solid-state image sensor that detects weak light. The solid-state image sensor includes a photodiode, a resistor, a measuring unit, and a control unit. The photodiode photoelectrically converts incident light and outputs a photocurrent. The resistor drops a potential of one end of the photodiode to a value lower than a power supply potential every time a photocurrent is output. The measuring unit measures illuminance of the incident light on the basis of a frequency of dropping of the potential of one end. The control unit controls the power supply potential to a lower value as the measured illuminance is higher.

Abstract: To reduce power consumption in a solid-state image sensor that detects weak light. The solid-state image sensor includes a photodiode, a resistor, a measuring unit, and a control unit. The photodiode photoelectrically converts incident light and outputs a photocurrent. The resistor drops a potential of one end of the photodiode to a value lower than a power supply potential every time a photocurrent is output. The measuring unit measures illuminance of the incident light on the basis of a frequency of dropping of the potential of one end. The control unit controls the power supply potential to a lower value as the measured illuminance is higher.

Abstract: A light receiving element capable of reducing at least either power consumption or a dead time while reducing an input voltage to a readout circuit is proposed. There is provided a light receiving element (200) including a photon response multiplication part (210) that includes a charge multiplication region capable of multiplying a charge generated in response to incidence of a photon, a first resistor part (211) that is connected at one end to one end of the photon response multiplication part and has a resistance value larger than a resistance value of the photon response multiplication part, a second resistor part (212) that is connected at one end to the other end of the first resistor part, and a readout unit (230) that is connected to the other end of the first resistor part and reads an output from the photon response multiplication part via the first resistor part.

Abstract: A light-receiving apparatus (1a) includes a counting unit (11), a setting unit (12), and an acquiring unit (13). The counting unit is configured to measure a detection number of times that represents the number of times incidence of a photon to a light-receiving element has been detected within an exposure period and to output a counted value. The setting unit is configured to set a cycle of updating time information in accordance with an elapsed time during the exposure period. The acquiring unit is configured to acquire the time information indicating a time at which the counted value reaches a threshold before the exposure period elapses.

Abstract: To reduce power consumption in a solid-state image sensor that measures a time. The solid-state image sensor includes a count unit, a count control unit, a clock unit, and an estimation unit. The count unit counts the number of times a photon has been incident within a predetermined exposure period, and outputs a count value. The count control unit performs control to stop the count unit and performs a request of time information in a case where the count value has reached a predetermined value before the predetermined exposure period elapses. The clock unit measures a time and outputs the time information in response to the request. The estimation unit estimates the number of incident times of a photon within the predetermined exposure period on the basis of the output time information.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a light receiving surface, and two or more pixels opposed to the light receiving surface. Each of the pixels includes a photoelectric conversion section that performs photoelectric conversion on light entering via the light receiving surface, a first charge holding section that holds a charge transferred from the photoelectric conversion section, and a second charge holding section disposed at a position where all or a portion thereof overlaps the first charge holding section in a planar layout, and formed to have no electrical continuity to the first charge holding section. Each of the pixels further includes a first transfer transistor that transfers the charge held by the first charge holding section to a floating diffusion, and a second transfer transistor that transfers a charge held by the second charge holding section to the floating diffusion.

Abstract: An imaging device according to the present disclosure includes: a pixel including a photoelectric converter configured to generate a signal in response to entering light, a storage configured to store data corresponding to the signal, and an output section configured to output the data stored in the storage; and a controller configured to control the output section to output the data in a case where the data stored in the storage satisfies a predetermined condition.

Abstract: To reduce power consumption in a solid-state image sensor that measures a time. The solid-state image sensor includes a count unit, a count control unit, a clock unit, and an estimation unit. The count unit counts the number of times a photon has been incident within a predetermined exposure period, and outputs a count value. The count control unit performs control to stop the count unit and performs a request of time information in a case where the count value has reached a predetermined value before the predetermined exposure period elapses. The clock unit measures a time and outputs the time information in response to the request. The estimation unit estimates the number of incident times of a photon within the predetermined exposure period on the basis of the output time information.

Abstract: To reduce power consumption in a solid-state image sensor that detects weak light. The solid-state image sensor includes a photodiode, a resistor, a measuring unit, and a control unit. The photodiode photoelectrically converts incident light and outputs a photocurrent. The resistor drops a potential of one end of the photodiode to a value lower than a power supply potential every time a photocurrent is output. The measuring unit measures illuminance of the incident light on the basis of a frequency of dropping of the potential of one end. The control unit controls the power supply potential to a lower value as the measured illuminance is higher.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device and electronic device with improved charge transfer efficiency from a charge storage unit to a charge-voltage conversion unit via a transfer gate are disclosed. In one example, the solid-state imaging device is configured so that, before an A/D conversion operation for signal level acquisition, a switching unit switches a state to the LG state at least once and to the HG state at least once. A transfer unit is configured to transfer the charge stored in the charge storage unit to the charge-voltage conversion unit at least twice when the state is being switched to the LG state and when the state is being switched to the HG state. A charge-voltage conversion unit adds the charge that is transferred for the LG state and the HG state and convert the added charge into a voltage signal.

Abstract: An imaging device according to the present disclosure includes: a pixel including a photoelectric converter configured to generate a signal in response to entering light, a storage configured to store data corresponding to the signal, and an output section configured to output the data stored in the storage; and a controller configured to control the output section to output the data in a case where the data stored in the storage satisfies a predetermined condition.

Abstract: A analog-digital conversion device is provided with a comparison unit, a holding unit, a bidirectional conveying unit, and a control unit. The comparison unit compares an input signal with a reference signal. The holding unit holds a digital signal corresponding to the reference signal in the timing in which a result of the comparison has changed. The bidirectional conveying unit inputs a digital signal into the holding unit to cause the holding unit to hold the digital signal, and reads the held digital signal as a result of analog-digital conversion for the input signal. The control unit controls internal resistance of the bidirectional conveying unit to be set at a value that differs between when the holding unit is caused to hold the digital signal, and when the held digital signal is read from the holding unit.

Abstract: A signal processing device includes a comparison unit to compare a signal level of an analog signal with a signal level of a reference signal; a selection unit configured to select the reference signal to be supplied to the comparison unit; and a switching unit capable of switching a signal line connected to an input terminal of the comparison unit such that a signal line via which the selected reference signal is transmitted is connected to the input terminal of the comparison unit, wherein the comparison unit includes a floating node as the input terminal, the selection unit includes a signal line in which a parasitic capacitance is caused between the signal line and the floating node as the input terminal of the comparison unit, and the signal line of the selection unit is configured to transmit an identical level of signal in multiple comparison processes of the comparison unit.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device and electronic device with improved charge transfer efficiency from a charge storage unit to a charge-voltage conversion unit via a transfer gate are disclosed. In one example, the solid-state imaging device is configured so that, before an A/D conversion operation for signal level acquisition, a switching unit switches a state to the LG state at least once and to the HG state at least once. A transfer unit is configured to transfer the charge stored in the charge storage unit to the charge-voltage conversion unit at least twice when the state is being switched to the LG state and when the state is being switched to the HG state. A charge-voltage conversion unit adds the charge that is transferred for the LG state and the HG state and convert the added charge into a voltage signal.

Abstract: Inputting/outputting into/from a holding unit for holding a result of analog-digital conversion is performed by simple control while a malfunction is prevented. A analog-digital conversion device is provided with a comparison unit, a holding unit, a bidirectional conveying unit, and a control unit. The comparison unit compares an input signal with a reference signal. The holding unit holds a digital signal corresponding to the reference signal in the timing in which a result of the comparison has changed. The bidirectional conveying unit inputs a digital signal into the holding unit to cause the holding unit to hold the digital signal, and reads the held digital signal as a result of analog-digital conversion for the input signal. The control unit controls internal resistance of the bidirectional conveying unit to be set at a value that differs between when the holding unit is caused to hold the digital signal, and when the held digital signal is read from the holding unit.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a first chip including a plurality of pixels, each pixel including a light sensing unit generating a signal charge responsive to an amount of received light, and a plurality of MOS transistors reading the signal charge generated by the light sensing unit and outputting the read signal charge as a pixel signal, a second chip including a plurality of pixel drive circuits supplying desired drive pulses to pixels, the second chip being laminated beneath the first chip in a manner such that the pixel drive circuits are arranged beneath the pixels formed in the first chip to drive the pixels, and a connection unit for electrically connecting the pixels to the pixel drive circuits arranged beneath the pixels.