Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a pixel array with unit pixels each having a photoelectric conversion device arranged in a matrix. Column signal lines are wired with respect to one column in the pixel arrangement and pixels are regularly connected to the column signal lines in accordance with rows in which pixels are positioned. A pixel signal reading unit has a column processing unit that reads pixel signals in units of plural pixels from the pixel array and performs column processing to read signals on a column basis, wherein the pixel signal reading unit includes a column input unit which can connect one or plural column signal lines arranged at a corresponding column to an input of one column processing unit through plural capacitors connected in parallel The column input unit has switches which can change a connection state between capacitors and column signal lines corresponding to the column.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image pickup circuit including: amplifying means for amplifying a charge corresponding to an amount of light received by a photodetector, and outputting a pixel signal; ramp signal generating means for generating a ramp signal whose voltage drops with a fixed slope from a predetermined initial voltage; and comparing means for comparing the pixel signal output by the amplifying means with the ramp signal output by the ramp signal generating means. A reference potential of the pixel signal output by the amplifying means and a reference potential of the ramp signal output by the ramp signal generating means are at a same level.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image pickup circuit including: amplifying means for amplifying a charge corresponding to an amount of light received by a photodetector, and outputting a pixel signal; ramp signal generating means for generating a ramp signal whose voltage drops with a fixed slope from a predetermined initial voltage; and comparing means for comparing the pixel signal output by the amplifying means with the ramp signal output by the ramp signal generating means. A reference potential of the pixel signal output by the amplifying means and a reference potential of the ramp signal output by the ramp signal generating means are at a same level.

Abstract: The present technology relates to an A/D converter, a solid-state image pickup device and a method of driving the same, and an electronic apparatus which are capable of reducing power consumption while reducing a circuit size. A comparator compares a reference voltage with an input voltage, the reference voltage having a ramp waveform whose voltage value varies with time, a lower-bit storage element holds a count value in a predetermined count pattern, based on an output signal from the comparator, a Gray code binary conversion circuit converts the count value in the count pattern held by the lower-bit storage element into binary data, and a storing operation control circuit supplies a pulse signal corresponding to the binary data obtained by conversion in the Gray code binary conversion circuit to a lower-bit U/D CNT. The present technology is applicable to, for example, an image sensor storing a count value in a storage element with use of a Gray code or a phase shift code as a clock signal.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus includes a comparator for comparing a pixel signal obtained by a pixel section and a reference signal the value of which varies in a stepwise manner, an analog-digital converter for outputting, as a digital value, the amount of time when the pixel signal and the reference signal change levels by the comparator; a reset signal generator for generating a reset signal that triggers a reset operation to be input to the comparator in order to adjust the reference in the analog-digital converter, and a waveform processor provided between the reset signal generator and the comparator for increasing the degree of dullness of a waveform of the reset signal.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device having an analog-digital converter, and an analog-digital conversion method are described herein. An example of a solid-state imaging device includes a bit inconsistency prevention section configured to prevent bit inconsistency between output of a low-level bit latch section and a high-level bit counting section.

Abstract: An imaging device is disclosed. The device includes: a unit pixel that outputs an analog electric signal in accordance with a signal charge; a local voltage supply circuit that generates a local voltage different from an operation voltage; a reference signal generation section that generates a reference signal based on the local voltage provided by the local voltage supply circuit; and a processing section that converts, by referring to the reference signal generated by the reference signal generation section, the analog signal provided by the unit pixel into a digital signal. In the imaging device, the reference signal generation section keeps constant a load current of the local voltage supply circuit in an operating state.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a pixel array with unit pixels each having a photoelectric conversion device arranged in a matrix. Column signal lines are wired with respect to one column in the pixel arrangement and pixels are regularly connected to the column signal lines in accordance with rows in which pixels are positioned. A pixel signal reading unit has a column processing unit that reads pixel signals in units of plural pixels from the pixel array and performs column processing to read signals on a column basis, wherein the pixel signal reading unit includes a column input unit which can connect one or plural column signal lines arranged at a corresponding column to an input of one column processing unit through plural capacitors connected in parallel The column input unit has switches which can change a connection state between capacitors and column signal lines corresponding to the column.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device, a driving control method, and an image pickup apparatus are capable of, in the case of changing the resolution of AD conversion, changing only a pulse that needs to be changed. In a case where the mode of the resolution of AD conversion is in a first mode , such as a 9-bit mode, a decoder operates a first counter. In a case where the mode of the resolution of AD conversion is another mode, such as a 10-bit mode or a 12-bit mode, the decoder stops a counting operation by the first counter and starts counting by second counter when the count value of the first counter reaches a start count value stored in a register, and resumes counting by the first counter when the count value of the second counter reaches the number of counts stored in the register.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus includes a comparator for comparing a pixel signal obtained by a pixel section and a reference signal the value of which varies in a stepwise manner, an analog-digital converter for outputting, as a digital value, the amount of time when the pixel signal and the reference signal change levels by the comparator; a reset signal generator for generating a reset signal that triggers a reset operation to be input to the comparator in order to adjust the reference in the analog-digital converter, and a waveform processor provided between the reset signal generator and the comparator for increasing the degree of dullness of a waveform of the reset signal.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus includes comparing means for comparing a pixel signal obtained by a pixel section and a reference signal the value of which varies in a stepwise manner, analog-digital converting means for outputting, as a digital value, the amount of time when the pixel signal and the reference signal change levels by the comparing means, reset signal generating means for generating a reset signal that triggers a reset operation to be input to the comparing means in order to adjust the reference in the analog-digital converting means, and waveform processing means provided between the reset signal generating means and the comparing means for increasing the degree of dullness of a waveform of the reset signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a solid-state image pickup device, a driving control method, and an image pickup apparatus that are capable of performing, in the case of changing the resolution of AD conversion, changing of only a pulse that needs to be changed, with a more simplified configuration. In a case where the mode of the resolution of AD conversion is a 9-bit mode, a decoder 102 operates only an H counter 104. In a case where the mode of the resolution of AD conversion is a 10-bit mode or a 12-bit mode, the decoder 102 stops a counting operation by the H counter 104 and starts counting by an idle counter 106 when the count value of the H counter 104 reaches a start count value stored in a register 101, and resumes counting by the H counter 104 when the count value of the idle counter 106 reaches the number of counts stored in the register 101. The present invention is applicable, for example, to an image sensor employing a column AD conversion method.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device includes a pixel array section including a plurality of unit pixels, a reference signal production section configured to generate a reference signal and output a detection value, a comparison section configured to compare a reset level upon resetting, a counter configured to start a counting action and continue the counting action to measure a comparison time period in order to obtain count values corresponding to the reset level and the signal level, a detection section configured to retain a result of the comparison of said comparison section when the reset level reaches the detection value as a result of the detection of a black sun phenomenon for a fixed period of time, and a prevention section configured to prevent a black sun phenomenon based on a result of the detection of said detection section.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital conversion method includes the steps of outputting an upper-bit conversion reference signal, obtaining a digital value of upper bits on the basis of a period of time from a set time to the time when a magnitude relation between the analog signal and the upper-bit conversion reference signal is determined to be changed, generating and outputting a lower-bit conversion reference signal, obtaining a digital value of lower bits on the basis of a period of time from a set time to the time when a magnitude relation between the analog signal and the lower-bit conversion reference signal is determined to be changed, and determining a digital value of digital data converted from the analog signal on the basis of the digital value of the upper bits and the digital value of the lower bits.

Abstract: An image detection processing device which executes the processing at a high speed using a circuit constitution of a small scale best suited for calculating the centroid of an object, the circuit being arranged on the same chip as the image detection processing device. The image detection processing device or a so-called vision chip includes a plurality of image detection processing elements, and comprises a shift register for converting serial data representing the total sum or a portion of the pixel data into a first parallel data, an adder which receives the converted parallel data and outputs a second parallel data representing a first-order moment, and a serial divider which receives the first and second parallel data and divides them to produce serial data representing the centroid coordinates, featuring a circuit constitution of a small scale and realizing a high-speed processing.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image pickup circuit including: amplifying means for amplifying a charge corresponding to an amount of light received by a photodetector, and outputting a pixel signal; ramp signal generating means for generating a ramp signal whose voltage drops with a fixed slope from a predetermined initial voltage; and comparing means for comparing the pixel signal output by the amplifying means with the ramp signal output by the ramp signal generating means. A reference potential of the pixel signal output by the amplifying means and a reference potential of the ramp signal output by the ramp signal generating means are at a same level.

Abstract: An imaging device is disclosed. The device includes: a unit pixel that outputs an analog electric signal in accordance with a signal charge; a local voltage supply circuit that generates a local voltage different from an operation voltage; a reference signal generation section that generates a reference signal based on the local voltage provided by the local voltage supply circuit; and a processing section that converts, by referring to the reference signal generated by the reference signal generation section, the analog signal provided by the unit pixel into a digital signal. In the imaging device, the reference signal generation section keeps constant a load current of the local voltage supply circuit in an operating state.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus includes comparing means for comparing a pixel signal obtained by a pixel section and a reference signal the value of which varies in a stepwise manner, analog-digital converting means for outputting, as a digital value, the amount of time when the pixel signal and the reference signal change levels by the comparing means, reset signal generating means for generating a reset signal that triggers a reset operation to be input to the comparing means in order to adjust the reference in the analog-digital converting means, and waveform processing means provided between the reset signal generating means and the comparing means for increasing the degree of dullness of a waveform of the reset signal.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital conversion method includes the steps of outputting an upper-bit conversion reference signal, obtaining a digital value of upper bits on the basis of a period of time from a set time to the time when a magnitude relation between the analog signal and the upper-bit conversion reference signal is determined to be changed, generating and outputting a lower-bit conversion reference signal, obtaining a digital value of lower bits on the basis of a period of time from a set time to the time when a magnitude relation between the analog signal and the lower-bit conversion reference signal is determined to be changed, and determining a digital value of digital data converted from the analog signal on the basis of the digital value of the upper bits and the digital value of the lower bits.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device includes a pixel array section including a plurality of unit pixels, a reference signal production section configured to generate a reference signal and output a detection value, a comparison section configured to compare a reset level upon resetting, a counter configured to start a counting action and continue the counting action to measure a comparison time period in order to obtain count values corresponding to the reset level and the signal level, a detection section configured to retain a result of the comparison of said comparison section when the reset level reaches the detection value as a result of the detection of a black sun phenomenon for a fixed period of time, and a prevention section configured to prevent a black sun phenomenon based on a result of the detection of said detection section.