Abstract: Provided is a radiation detector including a scintillator which generates, when a radial ray enters, scintillation light having light intensity according to energy of the radial ray, and then supplies a photon of the scintillation light to each of a plurality of pixels, a radial ray detection unit which detects whether or not the radial ray is made to enter based on a number of the photons supplied in an exposure period whenever the plurality of pixels are exposed by the scintillation light over the exposure period, and an exposure period adjusting unit which adjusts the exposure period based on an incident frequency of the detected radial ray.

Abstract: An object is to improve accuracy of photon counting in an imaging apparatus. The imaging apparatus includes a light uniformizing unit. The light uniformizing unit included in the imaging apparatus substantially uniformizes distribution of photons in an orthogonal direction toward an optical axis of incident light, which is incident to an imaging element in the imaging apparatus and the number of photons of which is to be detected, a plurality of pixels being arranged to the imaging element. The light uniformizing unit supplies the uniformized light to the imaging element to which a plurality of pixels are arranged in the imaging apparatus.

Abstract: To improve a temporal resolution. An image-capturing device includes a pixel array unit and a control unit. The pixel array unit includes a plurality of pixels classified into two or more groups, wherein pixels which belong to a same group are driven at a same timing. The control unit controls driving of the pixel array unit so that a number of groups in a period of time of read-out of electrical charge is a same number in any given timing in image-capturing operation, and that a number of groups in a period of time of exposure and accumulation of electrical charge is a same number in any given timing in the image-capturing operation.

Abstract: An object is to improve accuracy of photon counting in an imaging apparatus. The imaging apparatus includes a light uniformizing unit. The light uniformizing unit included in the imaging apparatus substantially uniformizes distribution of photons in an orthogonal direction toward an optical axis of incident light, which is incident to an imaging element in the imaging apparatus and the number of photons of which is to be detected, a plurality of pixels being arranged to the imaging element. The light uniformizing unit supplies the uniformized light to the imaging element to which a plurality of pixels are arranged in the imaging apparatus.

Abstract: An imaging device includes: a pixel array section having an array of pixels, each of which has a photoelectric converting device and outputs an electric signal according to an input photon; a sense circuit section having a plurality of sensor circuits each of which makes binary decision on whether there is a photon input to a pixel in a predetermined period upon reception of the electric signal therefrom; and a decision result IC section which integrates decision results from the sense circuits, pixel by pixel or for each group of pixels, multiple times to generate imaged data with a gradation, the decision result IC section including a count circuit which performs a count process to integrate the decision results from the sense circuits, and a memory for storing a counting result for each pixel from the count circuit, the sense circuits sharing the count circuit for integrating the decision results.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element converts light into electrical charge and accumulates the electrical charge. A floating diffusion region generates a voltage according to an amount of electrical charge transferred from the photoelectric conversion element. A floating diffusion region reset transistor initializes the generated voltage. A conversion unit performs conversion processing for converting the voltage into a digital signal. The photoelectric conversion element reset transistor initializes the amount of electrical charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion element at a predetermined point in time after the voltage is initialized. The transfer transistor performs the transfer from the photoelectric conversion element to the floating diffusion region when an exposure time, which is shorter than the time required for the conversion processing, has elapsed from the predetermined point in time.

Abstract: An imaging device including a pixel array section functioning as a light receiving section which includes photoelectric conversion devices and in which a plurality of pixels, which output electric signals when photons are incident, are disposed in an array; a sensing circuit section in which a plurality of sensing circuits, which receive the electric signals from the pixels and perform binary determination regarding whether or not there is an incidence of photons on the pixels in a predetermined period, are arrayed; and a determination result integration circuit section having a function of integrating a plurality of determination results of the sensing circuits for the respective pixels or for each pixel group, wherein the determination result integration circuit section derives the amount of photon incidence on the light receiving section by performing photon counting for integrating the plurality of determination results in the plurality of pixels.

Abstract: To improve the speed of AD conversion. An amplifier amplifies, by a magnification larger than 1, signals of a pixel that outputs a signal in which there is no accumulation of a charge by a photon as a reset signal, and outputs a signal in which there is accumulation of a charge by a photon as an accumulation signal. A calculation unit generates an offset amount signal corresponding to an amount of own offset component using the amplified signal, and calculates a digital value corresponding to the own offset component using the generated offset amount signal and accuracy set for AD conversion of the amplified accumulated signal.

Abstract: The accuracy of a binary decision on a photon incident on a pixel is improved. An imaging device includes a generation unit and a decision unit. The generation unit generates a digital value indicating the amount of charge stored by photons incident on a pixel during an exposure period based on a signal output by the pixel. The decision unit compares a threshold value set for each pixel having similar conversion efficiency at the time of conversion of the amount of charge stored in the pixel into a digital value generated by the generation unit, with the generated digital value, and makes a decision on the entrance of a photon into the pixel that output the signal.

Abstract: An imaging device and an imaging method are described herein. By way of example, the imaging devices includes a scintillator plate configured to convert incident radiation into scintillation light and an imaging element configured to convert the scintillation light to an electric signal. The scintillator plate includes a first scintillator partitioned from a second scintillator by a divider in a direction perpendicular to a propagation direction of the incident radiation. The divider prevents first scintillation light generated in the first scintillator from diffusing into the second scintillator and second scintillation light generated in the first scintillator from diffusing into the first scintillator.

Abstract: Provided are an image pickup device and a camera system that are capable of detecting an extremely small signal from a pixel or one photon signal with low noise and high precision at high speed, and are capable of performing various kinds of high-performance shooting by increasing a frame rate with use of this. Each sense circuit includes a comparator configured to compare an output signal from a pixel with a reference signal, and when signal detection is performed, a charge allowing a first pixel signal output from a selected pixel to be cancelled out is held in one or both of input sections of the comparator, an independent offset bias for each comparator is applied to one of the input sections of the comparator to cancel out an offset of the comparator, and a digital decision on intensity of light incident on the pixel is performed by comparing a reference signal changing in steps with a second pixel signal output from the selected pixel.

Abstract: An imaging device includes: a pixel array section having an array of pixels, each of which has a photoelectric converting device and outputs an electric signal according to an input photon; a sense circuit section having a plurality of sensor circuits each of which makes binary decision on whether there is a photon input to a pixel in a predetermined period upon reception of the electric signal therefrom; and a decision result IC section which integrates decision results from the sense circuits, pixel by pixel or for each group of pixels, multiple times to generate imaged data with a gradation, the decision result IC section including a count circuit which performs a count process to integrate the decision results from the sense circuits, and a memory for storing a counting result for each pixel from the count circuit, the sense circuits sharing the count circuit for integrating the decision results.

Abstract: An imaging device including a pixel array section functioning as a light receiving section which includes photoelectric conversion devices and in which a plurality of pixels, which output electric signals when photons are incident, are disposed in an array; a sensing circuit section in which a plurality of sensing circuits, which receive the electric signals from the pixels and perform binary determination regarding whether or not there is an incidence of photons on the pixels in a predetermined period, are arrayed; and a determination result integration circuit section having a function of integrating a plurality of determination results of the sensing circuits for the respective pixels or for each pixel group, wherein the determination result integration circuit section derives the amount of photon incidence on the light receiving section by performing photon counting for integrating the plurality of determination results in the plurality of pixels.

Abstract: A storage device able to make a redundant write operation of unselected data unnecessary and able to optimize an arrangement of pages to a state having a high efficiency for rewriting, wherein the storage device has a first memory unit, a second memory unit having a different access speed from the first memory, and a control circuit, wherein the control circuit has a function of timely moving the stored data in two ways between the first memory unit and the second memory unit having different access speeds in reading or rewriting.

Abstract: To improve the speed of AD conversion. An amplifier amplifies, by a magnification larger than 1, signals of a pixel that outputs a signal in which there is no accumulation of a charge by a photon as a reset signal, and outputs a signal in which there is accumulation of a charge by a photon as an accumulation signal. A calculation unit generates an offset amount signal corresponding to an amount of own offset component using the amplified signal, and calculates a digital value corresponding to the own offset component using the generated offset amount signal and accuracy set for AD conversion of the amplified accumulated signal.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a plurality of pixels, a plurality of sense circuits, and a count circuit. Each sense circuit is configured to read out electrical signals from at least one pixel associated with the sense circuit in order to generate data representing whether or not photons have been received by the sense circuit. The count circuit is in communication with a sense circuit selected from the plurality of sense circuits. The count circuit is configured to provide integration results for the pixels associated with the sense circuits based on the data received from the sense circuits.

Abstract: A solid state imaging device with (a) an amplifier transistor; an input node for the amplifier transistor; or both the amplifier transistor and the input node for the amplifier transistor; (b) a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements; (c) a like plurality of storage transistors, each configured to act as a photo-charge storage node to store charges generated by a respective photoelectric conversion element; and (d) a like plurality of transfer transistors, each configured to transfer charges from a respective photoelectric conversion element to a common output, the common output being either the amplifier transistor or the input node for the amplifier transistor.

Abstract: An imaging element includes an amplifying transistor. A signal charge from the photodiode is transferable to the gate of amplifying transistor, the photodiode being within a semiconductor substrate. The source and drain of the amplifying transistor are electrically isolated from a semiconductor substrate, wherein the source is within a well or the source and drain are within a silicon-on-insulator layer.

Abstract: A storage device enabling realization of a new storage configuration enabling apparent elimination of the overhead and enabling high speed access all the time particularly when constructing a high parallel configured high speed flash memory system, that is, a storage device having a flash memory as a main storage and having the function of rewriting at least a partial region of the flash memory by additional writing update data in an empty region and invalidating original data and, at the time of standby of the device where there is no access from the outside, performing processing for automatically restoring the invalidated region to an empty region, and a computer system and a storage system using the same.

Abstract: An imaging device includes: a pixel array section having an array of pixels, each of which has a photoelectric converting device and outputs an electric signal according to an input photon; a sense circuit section having a plurality of sensor circuits each of which makes binary decision on whether there is a photon input to a pixel in a predetermined period upon reception of the electric signal therefrom; and a decision result IC section which integrates decision results from the sense circuits, pixel by pixel or for each group of pixels, multiple times to generate imaged data with a gradation, the decision result IC section including a count circuit which performs a count process to integrate the decision results from the sense circuits, and a memory for storing a counting result for each pixel from the count circuit, the sense circuits sharing the count circuit for integrating the decision results.