SOLID STATE IMAGING DEVICE, METHOD OF CONTROLLING SOLID STATE IMAGING DEVICE, AND PROGRAM FOR CONTROLLING SOLID STATE IMAGING DEVICE

• US 20130075588A1
• Filed: 08/30/2012
• Published: 03/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kawaguchi, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 9,094,623 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/208.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14621 Colour filter arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14636 Interconnect structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14645 Colour imagers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/10 for generating image signals from different wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/133 including elements passing panchromatic light, e.g. filters passing white light
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/134 based on three different wavelength filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/135 based on four or more different wavelength filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/46 by combining or binning pixels
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/70 SSIS architectures; Circuits associated therewith
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/75 Circuitry for providing, modifying or processing image signals from the pixel array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/76 Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/77 Pixel circuitry, e.g. memories, A/D converters, pixel amplifiers, shared circuits or shared components
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/772 comprising A/D, V/T, V/F, I/T or I/F converters

Abstract

A solid state imaging device includes: a pixel array unit that has a plurality of pixels 2-dimensionally arranged in a matrix and a plurality of signal lines arranged along a column direction; A/D conversion units that are provided corresponding to the respective signal lines and convert an analog signal output from a pixel through the signal line into a digital signal; and a switching unit that switches or converts the analog signal output through each signal line into a digital signal using any of an A/D conversion unit provided corresponding to the signal line through which the analog signal is transmitted, and an A/D conversion unit provided corresponding to a signal line other than the signal line through which the analog signal is transmitted.

Claims

1. A solid state imaging device comprising:

a pixel array unit that has a plurality of pixels 2-dimensionally arranged in a matrix and a plurality of signal lines arranged along a column direction;

A/D conversion units that are provided corresponding to the respective signal lines and convert an analog signal output from a pixel through the signal line into a digital signal; and

a switching unit that switches or converts the analog signal output through each signal line into a digital signal using any of an A/D conversion unit provided corresponding to the signal line through which the analog signal is transmitted, and an A/D conversion unit provided corresponding to a signal line other than the signal line through which the analog signal is transmitted.

2. The solid state imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the A/D conversion unit has a comparator that compares a time-variable reference signal with an analog signal obtained from the pixel, and a counter that counts a time until the comparison is completed in the comparator, and

wherein the switching unit includes a first switch that connects an output terminal of the comparator in the A/D conversion unit provided corresponding to each signal line to an input terminal of the counter, a second switch that connects an output terminal of the comparator in the A/D conversion unit provided corresponding to each signal line to an input terminal of the counter of the A/D conversion unit provided corresponding to the other signal line, and a switching control unit that controls switching of the first switch and the second switch.

3. The solid state imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit switches or converts the analog signal output from one of two signal lines into a digital signal using any of the A/D conversion unit provided corresponding to one signal line and the A/D conversion unit provided corresponding to the other signal line.

4. The solid state imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit switches or converts the analog signal output through each signal line of the plurality of signal lines into a digital signal using any of the A/D conversion unit provided corresponding to the signal line through which the analog signal is transmitted, and the A/D conversion unit provided corresponding to the signal line provided to be adjacent to one side of the signal line through which the analog signal is transmitted.

5. The solid state imaging device according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined number of pixels of the plurality of pixels share a floating diffusion, and

wherein the switching unit performs analog addition of analog signals of two or more pixels sharing the same floating diffusion by the floating diffusion and outputs the analog-added signals to the signal lines.

6. The solid state imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pixels is provided with a color filter array in which colors of filters are classified corresponding to the respective pixels, on a light reception face side, and

wherein white filters of the color filter array are disposed in a checkerboard shape, red and blue filters are arranged in a checkerboard shape at a pitch of two pixels vertically and horizontally, the red and blue filters are arranged to obliquely deviate by one pixel, and the remaining pixels are green filters.

7. The solid state imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pixels are provided with a color filter array in which colors of filters are classified corresponding to the respective pixels, on the light reception face side, and

wherein in the color filter array, the color filters are arranged in a Bayer arrangement.

8. A method of controlling a solid state imaging device including a pixel array unit that has a plurality of pixels 2-dimensionally arranged in a matrix and a plurality of signal lines arranged along a column direction, and A/D conversion units that are provided corresponding to the signal lines and convert an analog signal output from a pixel through the signal line into a digital signal, the method comprising:

switching conversion of the analog signal output through each signal line into a digital signal using any of an A/D conversion unit provided corresponding to the signal line through which the analog signal is transmitted, and an A/D conversion unit provided corresponding to a signal line other than the signal line through which the analog signal is transmitted.

9. A program for controlling a solid state imaging device including a pixel array unit that has a plurality of pixels 2-dimensionally arranged in a matrix and a plurality of signal lines arranged along a column direction, and A/D conversion units that are provided corresponding to the signal lines and convert an analog signal output from a pixel through the signal line into a digital signal, the program comprising:

a switching function of switching conversion of the analog signal output through each signal line into a digital signal using any of an A/D conversion unit provided corresponding to the signal line through which the analog signal is transmitted, and an A/D conversion unit provided corresponding to a signal line other than the signal line through which the analog signal is transmitted.