Abstract: A device has stacked first and second substrates. The first substrate includes pixel array having pixels arranged along surface, the second substrate includes readout circuit having first AD-conversion circuit for generating first digital signals corresponding to first signals from the pixels, first parallel-serial conversion circuit for outputting first serial signal by performing parallel-serial conversion on the first digital signals, and processing circuit for processing the first serial signal. In orthogonal projection to the surface, part of the pixel array and part of the processing circuit overlap with each other. The first AD-conversion circuit is arranged between edge of the second substrate and the processing circuit. The first parallel-serial conversion circuit is arranged between the first AD-conversion circuit and the processing circuit.

Abstract: A solid state imaging device includes a pixel unit; a signal line; a readout circuit that outputs, to the signal line, a first signal corresponding to a state where the pixel is reset and a second signal based on charges generated by photoelectric conversion in the photoelectric conversion element; a signal output circuit including an amplifier and a clamp capacitor, wherein a first terminal of the clamp capacitor is connected to the signal line and a second terminal of the clamp capacitor is connected to an input terminal of the amplifier; a correction circuit that outputs a correction signal that is based on a difference between an output signal of the amplifier and a reference signal; and a holding circuit configured to hold the correction signal and apply the correction signal to the input terminal of the amplifier when the first signal is output to the signal line.

Abstract: Provided is an imaging apparatus, including: a driving circuit switching between a current supplying state and a current non-supplying state of the current sources included in column circuits in the respective columns; at least one second readout line to which image signals output from the column circuits in the respective columns are input; switches each having one terminal and another terminal; and a switch control circuit configured to output switch control signals for respectively controlling the switches to be turned on or off, each of the one terminals being connected to corresponding second readout line and each of the another terminals being connected commonly to an output line, in which, in a period in which the switch control signals for respectively controlling the switches to be turned on are output, the number of the current sources controlled to be in the current supplying state by the driving circuit is constant.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device has a pixel area including an effective pixel row and a reference pixel row, the reference pixel row containing a plurality of reference pixel pairs, each pair composed of a first reference pixel and a second reference pixel arranged adjacent to each other. The first and second reference pixels output reference signals having different signal levels and independent of the quantity of incident light.

Abstract: Because a conventionally known imaging apparatus includes a buffer element for each signal processing circuit, the number of buffer elements increases in proportion to the number of signal processing circuits. The delayed supply of a drive signal within a group of a plurality of signal processing circuits may require the operation timing margin to be set longer. In other words, the operational speed is hard to increase. First buffer circuits connected in series and second buffer circuits connected in parallel with the first buffer circuits are provided, and one second buffer circuit supplies a drive signal to a plurality of signal processing units.

Abstract: An absolute value between a reset voltage to reset a signal line and a first voltage supplied from a signal source is smaller than an absolute value between the reset voltage and a second voltage supplied from the signal source.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device has a pixel area including an effective pixel row and a reference pixel row, the reference pixel row containing a plurality of reference pixel pairs, each pair composed of a first reference pixel and a second reference pixel arranged adjacent to each other. The first and second reference pixels output reference signals having different signal levels and independent of the quantity of incident light.

Abstract: Because a conventionally known imaging apparatus includes a buffer element for each signal processing circuit, the number of buffer elements increases in proportion to the number of signal processing circuits. The delayed supply of a drive signal within a group of a plurality of signal processing circuits may require the operation timing margin to be set longer. In other words, the operational speed is hard to increase. First buffer circuits connected in series and second buffer circuits connected in parallel with the first buffer circuits are provided, and one second buffer circuit supplies a drive signal to a plurality of signal processing units.

Abstract: A solid state imaging device includes a pixel unit; a signal line; a readout circuit that outputs, to the signal line, a first signal corresponding to a state where the pixel is reset and a second signal based on charges generated by photoelectric conversion in the photoelectric conversion element; a signal output circuit including an amplifier and a clamp capacitor, wherein a first terminal of the clamp capacitor is connected to the signal line and a second terminal of the clamp capacitor is connected to an input terminal of the amplifier; a correction circuit that outputs a correction signal that is based on a difference between an output signal of the amplifier and a reference signal; and a holding circuit configured to hold the correction signal and apply the correction signal to the input terminal of the amplifier when the first signal is output to the signal line.

Abstract: Because a conventionally known imaging apparatus includes a buffer element for each signal processing circuit, the number of buffer elements increases in proportion to the number of signal processing circuits. The delayed supply of a drive signal within a group of a plurality of signal processing circuits may require the operation timing margin to be set longer. In other words, the operational speed is hard to increase. First buffer circuits connected in series and second buffer circuits connected in parallel with the first buffer circuits are provided, and one second buffer circuit supplies a drive signal to a plurality of signal processing units.

Abstract: An acoustic apparatus includes a signal processor configured to generate an analog audio signal based on a digital audio signal. The digital audio signal includes a first silent part and a sound part subsequent to the first silent part. The signal processor starts an operation in a period during which the first silent part is input.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, and a plurality of signal processing units each associated with a respective one of columns of the pixel array and including an A/D conversion unit configured to convert a signal generated based on the pixels into a digital signal. The photoelectric conversion device further includes a plurality of groups each including a plural ones of signal processing units out of the plurality of signal processing units and a block output unit configured to receive outputs of the plural ones of signal processing units, and a driving signal transmission unit configured to transmit a driving signal for driving a plurality of the block output units. The driving signal transmission unit supplies, to one of the block output units and another of the block output units, the driving signal at respective different timings.

Abstract: Provided is an imaging apparatus, including: a driving circuit switching between a current supplying state and a current non-supplying state of the current sources included in column circuits in the respective columns; at least one second readout line to which image signals output from the column circuits in the respective columns are input; switches each having one terminal and another terminal; and a switch control circuit configured to output switch control signals for respectively controlling the switches to be turned on or off, each of the one terminals being connected to corresponding second readout line and each of the another terminals being connected commonly to an output line, in which, in a period in which the switch control signals for respectively controlling the switches to be turned on are output, the number of the current sources controlled to be in the current supplying state by the driving circuit is constant.

Abstract: An absolute value between a reset voltage to reset a signal line and a first voltage supplied from a signal source is smaller than an absolute value between the reset voltage and a second voltage supplied from the signal source.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device has a pixel area including an effective pixel row and a reference pixel row, the reference pixel row containing a plurality of reference pixel pairs, each pair composed of a first reference pixel and a second reference pixel arranged adjacent to each other. The first and second reference pixels output reference signals having different signal levels and independent of the quantity of incident light.

Abstract: An amplifier circuit includes a differential amplifier circuit configured to amplify a voltage between a signal input to a first input terminal and a signal input to a second input terminal, a plurality of output circuits each configured to output a signal corresponding to a signal output from the differential amplifier circuit, and a control circuit configured to set a selected one of the plurality of output circuits in an operating state to drive an output terminal of the selected output circuit, and set a remaining output circuit in a non-operating state and set an output terminal of the remaining output circuit in a high impedance state.

Abstract: A light-emitting element driving apparatus comprising a light-emitting element, a driving unit including a control terminal for driving the light-emitting element based on a potential of the control terminal, and a controlling unit including a voltage holding unit, wherein the controlling unit controls the potential of the control terminal such that an emitted light amount approaches a target value and causes the voltage holding unit to hold a voltage corresponding to the potential of the control terminal, when the light-emitting element is in an emitting state, controls the potential of the control terminal to inactivate the driving unit, when setting the light-emitting element in a non-emitting state, and controls the potential of the control terminal by using the voltage of the voltage holding unit, when setting the light-emitting element in the emitting state again.

Abstract: Because a conventionally known imaging apparatus includes a buffer element for each signal processing circuit, the number of buffer elements increases in proportion to the number of signal processing circuits. The delayed supply of a drive signal within a group of a plurality of signal processing circuits may require the operation timing margin to be set longer. In other words, the operational speed is hard to increase. First buffer circuits connected in series and second buffer circuits connected in parallel with the first buffer circuits are provided, and one second buffer circuit supplies a drive signal to a plurality of signal processing units.

Abstract: Because a conventionally known imaging apparatus includes a buffer element for each signal processing circuit, the number of buffer elements increases in proportion to the number of signal processing circuits. The delayed supply of a drive signal within a group of a plurality of signal processing circuits may require the operation timing margin to be set longer. In other words, the operational speed is hard to increase. First buffer circuits connected in series and second buffer circuits connected in parallel with the first buffer circuits are provided, and one second buffer circuit supplies a drive signal to a plurality of signal processing units.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes signal processing units having a plurality of analog-to-digital converters, a first output unit having a plurality of first output terminals and include first output blocks provided in correspondence with the first output terminals, and a second output unit having one or more second output terminals and include second output blocks provided in correspondence with the second output terminals.