Abstract: When a level of a signal output from a pixel is higher than a comparison level, the signal output from the pixel is converted into a digital signal during a first period by using a first reference signal. If the level of the signal output from the pixel is lower than the comparison level, the signal output from the pixel is converted into a digital signal during a second period that is longer than the first period by using a second reference signal.

Abstract: A solid-state image sensor includes a pixel configured to generate a pixel signal corresponding to incident light, an amplification circuit configured to amplify the pixel signal, a setting circuit configured to set a gain of the amplification circuit based on a comparison result between a threshold and the pixel signal amplified by the amplification circuit, and a correction circuit configured to correct the pixel signal, which is amplified by a gain set by the setting circuit, by using a first correction value and a second correction value. The first correction value is a value corresponding to a gain error and the second correction value is a value corresponding to an offset of the amplification circuit in the gain.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device includes analog signal output units including pixels and configured to output analog signals based on pixels, and signal processing units. Each of the signal processing units is provided correspondingly to one of the analog signal output units and including a gain application unit configured to apply a gain to an analog signal by using only passive elements and an AD conversion unit. In the gain application unit, a portion that contributes to application of a gain to the analog signal is constituted only of passive elements. The gain application unit selectively outputs a first amplified signal obtained by applying a first gain to the analog signal or a second amplified signal obtained by applying a second gain to the analog signal smaller than the first gain. The AD conversion unit converts, from analog to digital, the first or second amplified signal.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includes pixels, reading circuits, first current sources each including a first transistor, second current sources each including a second transistor, a first control unit configured to control outputting a current from the first transistor to the reading circuit, and a second control unit configured to perform selectively supplying a voltage to a gate of the second transistor and holding a voltage at the gate of the second transistor. When the second control unit supplies the voltage to the gate of the second transistor, the second transistor supplies the reference current and the first control unit stops outputting the current from the first transistor to the reading circuit. When the second control unit holds the voltage at the gate of the second transistor, the first control unit causes the first transistor to output the current from the first transistor to the reading circuit.

Abstract: In order to reduce common source voltage fluctuations of a differential amplifier and to accomplish speed enhancement of reading operation, an image pickup apparatus is provided, including: a differential amplifier comprising a differential transistor and a current source, the differential transistor forming a differential pair with the pixel transistor and having a gate to which a ramp signal is input, the current source being configured to supply a current that flows in the differential pair; and a dummy pixel comprising a dummy pixel transistor in which one main node is electrically connected to one main node of the pixel transistor, and another main node is electrically connected to another main node of the pixel transistor.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of columns, a plurality of comparators provided correspondingly to the respective columns, a reference signal generation unit configured to supply a reference signal to the plurality of comparators, a counter configured to generate a count signal that includes a plurality of bits in synchronization with a first clock signal, a synchronization unit configured to synchronize the plurality of bits with a second clock signal to generate a synchronized count signal and to output the generated synchronized count signal, and a plurality of memories provided correspondingly to the respective comparators, the memories each being configured to store the synchronized count signal in response to a change in an output of a corresponding one of the comparators.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a pixel. The pixel includes a transfer transistor, a reset transistor, an amplification transistor, and a selection transistor. The photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a control line, a voltage control unit, and a current source. The control line is electrically connected to a source of the amplification transistor. The voltage control unit controls the voltage of the control line. The current source outputs a reference current. A path of a current from the amplification transistor is separated from a path of the reference current. The photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a comparison unit configured to compare the current from the amplification transistor with the reference current. During a period in which a transistor connected to the gate of the amplification transistor is in a conductive state, the selection transistor is in a non-conductive state.

Abstract: The game apparatus (1) has a fixed main unit (100) and a movable operating device (8) that is held by a player and is capable of detecting the body motion of the player and of transmitting a signal to, receiving from, the main unit (100). The operating device (8) has an acceleration sensor (86) for detecting acceleration, a light source (85), and a transmitter (87) for transmitting a value detected by the acceleration sensor (86) to the main unit (100). The main unit (100) has light receiving units (9L,9R) that receive the light emitted from the light source (85) to detect the intensity of the received light, a RAM (14), and a processor (16).

Abstract: A driving circuit that switches a light emitting element between an ON state and an OFF state in synchronization with an input signal is provided. The circuit includes a driving current supply unit that has a control terminal and supplies the light emitting element with a driving current whose value changes with dependency on the potential of the control terminal; a control unit that changes the potential of the control terminal in synchronization with the input signal; and a supplementary current supply unit that supplies the control terminal with a supplementary current that promotes change in the potential of the control terminal. The supplementary current supply unit has a capacitor, a voltage that is applied to the capacitor changes in synchronization with the input signal, and the supplementary current is generated by change in the voltage of the capacitor.

Abstract: There are provided a method for driving an image pickup device, a method for correcting a digital signal, an image pickup device, a method for driving an image capturing system, and an image capturing system. Digital signals are generated on the basis of a potential at an input node of a comparison unit by using a first reference signal whose potential changes by a first amount per unit time and a second reference signal whose potential changes by a second amount per unit time, the second amount being greater than the first amount. A correction value based on a difference in signal value between the digital signals is derived. A digital signal based on a pixel signal is corrected on the basis of the derived correction value.

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: 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: 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: A photoelectric conversion device includes a photoelectric converter, a transistor having a gate to which a voltage corresponding to charges generated by the photoelectric converter is supplied, a control line connected to a first main electrode of the transistor, and a readout unit configured to read out a signal corresponding to a voltage of the gate, and a voltage controller configured to change a voltage of the control line. The readout unit generates a digital signal corresponding to the voltage of the gate, based on a current flowing through a second main electrode of the transistor during a period in which the voltage controller changes the voltage of the control line.

Abstract: A sensor has an image sensing unit including pixel blocks, and a readout unit for reading out a signal from the image sensing unit. The pixel block includes a photoelectric converter, first and second transistors, and a current source. First main electrodes of the first and second transistors are connected to a common node, and the current source is provided between the common node and a predetermined voltage. A signal readout operation includes an operation in which a voltage corresponding to charges in the photoelectric converter is supplied to a control electrode of the first transistor, and a temporally changing reference voltage is supplied to a control electrode of the second transistor. The readout unit reads out a signal from the image sensing unit via a second main electrode of the first transistor.

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: An imaging device includes a comparator that compares a noise signal with each of a first reference signal and a second reference signal having potentials with different changing quantities per unit time, and that compares a photoelectric conversion signal with each of the first reference signal and the second reference signal. Also, the imaging device AD-converts signals obtained by amplifying the noise signal by a first gain and a second gain having different gains, and AD-converts a signal obtained by amplifying the photoelectric conversion signal by one of a first gain and a second gain.

Abstract: When a level of a signal output from a pixel is higher than a comparison level, the signal output from the pixel is converted into a digital signal during a first period by using a first reference signal. If the level of the signal output from the pixel is lower than the comparison level, the signal output from the pixel is converted into a digital signal during a second period that is longer than the first period by using a second reference signal.

Abstract: When a level of a signal output from a pixel is higher than a comparison level, the signal output from the pixel is converted into a digital signal during a first period by using a first reference signal. If the level of the signal output from the pixel is lower than the comparison level, the signal output from the pixel is converted into a digital signal during a second period that is longer than the first period by using a second reference signal.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a comparator that compares a noise signal with each of a first reference signal and a second reference signal having potentials with different changing quantities per unit time, and that compares a photoelectric conversion signal with each of the first reference signal and the second reference signal. Also, the imaging device AD-converts signals obtained by amplifying the noise signal by a first gain and a second gain having different gains, and AD-converts a signal obtained by amplifying the photoelectric conversion signal by one of a first gain and a second gain.