Abstract: An analog to digital converter comprising a reference signal generator, a comparator, and a counter wherein the reference signal generator is operable to generate a reference for converting an analog signal into a digital signal. The reference signal generator is also operable to generate a plurality of the reference signals based on the change in a voltage. The comparator is operable to compare the analog signal with the reference signal generated by the reference signal generator. The counter is operable to count, in parallel with a comparison performed by the comparator, a predetermined count clock and to hold a count value at the time of completion of the comparison.

Abstract: An analog to digital converter comprising a reference signal generator, a comparator, and a counter wherein the reference signal generator is operable to generate a reference for converting an analog signal into a digital signal. The reference signal generator is also operable to generate a plurality of the reference signals based on the change in a voltage. The comparator is operable to compare the analog signal with the reference signal generated by the reference signal generator. The counter is operable to count, in parallel with a comparison performed by the comparator, a predetermined count clock and to hold a count value at the time of completion of the comparison.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a CMOS image sensor and a signal processor operable to process an output signal from the CMOS image sensor. The CMOS image sensor includes the following elements: an imaging region; a reference signal generator operable to generate a reference signal; a comparator operable to compare the reference signal generated by the reference signal generator with a signal transmitted from the imaging region; a counter operable to count, in parallel with comparison performed by the comparator, a predetermined count clock and to hold a count value at the time of completion of comparison performed by the comparator; and a reference signal supply interface unit operable to supply the reference signal generated by the reference signal generator to a plurality of comparators via different signal lines, respectively.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a CMOS image sensor and a signal processor operable to process an output signal from the CMOS image sensor. The CMOS image sensor includes the following elements: an imaging region; a reference signal generator operable to generate a reference signal; a comparator operable to compare the reference signal generated by the reference signal generator with a signal transmitted from the imaging region; a counter operable to count, in parallel with comparison performed by the comparator, a predetermined count clock and to hold a count value at the time of completion of comparison performed by the comparator; and a reference signal supply interface unit operable to supply the reference signal generated by the reference signal generator to a plurality of comparators via different signal lines, respectively.

Abstract: A configuration of an imaging device includes: an S/H circuit 9 which samples signal voltages read out from a plurality of charge-detecting circuits by a horizontal scanning circuit and output from an output amplifier 6, without the transfer of signal charges by a charge transfer portion; a memory 10 which stores signal voltages sampled by the S/H circuit 9 as memory voltages (Vm1 to Vm4); and a signal processing circuit 8 which executes predetermined signal processing, using signal voltages read out from the plurality of charge-detecting circuits by the horizontal scanning circuit and output from the output amplifier 6 and memory signals stored in the memory 10, with the transfer of signal charges read out from the photoelectric conversion portion to the charge transfer portion.