Image sensor, image capturing apparatus, and cellular phone
First Claim
1. An image sensor comprising:
- a pixel unit in which a plurality of first pixel columns and a plurality of second pixel columns are arranged, wherein a plurality of pixels of a first color and a plurality of pixels of a second color are arranged in each first pixel column and a plurality of pixels of the second color and a plurality of pixels of a third color are arranged in each second pixel column;
a plurality of first signal output lines each of which a pixel signal of each of the first pixel columns is output to from the pixel unit;
a plurality of second signal output lines each of which a pixel signal of each of the second pixel columns is output to from the pixel unit;
a reference signal generator which generates a first reference signal and a second reference signal which is different from the first reference signal;
a plurality of first comparators each of which compares a signal level of a pixel signal output to each of the plurality of first signal output lines with a signal level of the first reference signal;
a plurality of first counters each of which counts until the signal level of the pixel signal coincides with the signal level of the first reference signal by the first comparator;
a plurality of second comparators each of which compares a signal level of a pixel signal output to each of the plurality of second signal output lines with a signal level of the second reference signal; and
a plurality of second counters each of which counts until the signal level of the pixel signal coincides with the signal level of the second reference signal by the second comparator,wherein the reference signal generator provides the first reference signal to one of the first comparators that compares a signal level of a pixel signal of one of the first pixel columns nearest to each other and simultaneously provides the second reference signal to another of the first comparators that compares a signal level of a pixel signal of the other of the first pixel columns in a case where the pixel signals of the first pixel columns are output to the first signal output lines, respectively, and provides the first reference signal to one of the second comparators that compares a signal level of a pixel signal of one of the second pixel columns nearest to each other and simultaneously provides the second reference signal to another of the second comparators that compares a signal level of a pixel signal of the other of the second pixel columns in a case where the pixel signals of the second pixel columns are output to the second signal output lines, respectively.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An image sensor in which a first chip and a second chip are stacked comprises: a pixel unit; output lines each configured to output a pixel signal from the pixel unit; and an analog-digital converter provided for each of the output lines. The analog-digital converter comprises a plurality of sets of the following configuration: reference signal generation units configured to generate a reference signal, a comparison unit configured to compare a signal level of a pixel signal output to one of the output lines with a signal level of the reference signal, a counter configured to count until the signal level of the pixel signal coincides with the signal level of the reference signal compared by the comparison unit. The pixel unit is arranged in the first chip and the analog-digital converter is arranged in the second chip.
12 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An image sensor comprising:
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a pixel unit in which a plurality of first pixel columns and a plurality of second pixel columns are arranged, wherein a plurality of pixels of a first color and a plurality of pixels of a second color are arranged in each first pixel column and a plurality of pixels of the second color and a plurality of pixels of a third color are arranged in each second pixel column; a plurality of first signal output lines each of which a pixel signal of each of the first pixel columns is output to from the pixel unit; a plurality of second signal output lines each of which a pixel signal of each of the second pixel columns is output to from the pixel unit; a reference signal generator which generates a first reference signal and a second reference signal which is different from the first reference signal; a plurality of first comparators each of which compares a signal level of a pixel signal output to each of the plurality of first signal output lines with a signal level of the first reference signal; a plurality of first counters each of which counts until the signal level of the pixel signal coincides with the signal level of the first reference signal by the first comparator; a plurality of second comparators each of which compares a signal level of a pixel signal output to each of the plurality of second signal output lines with a signal level of the second reference signal; and a plurality of second counters each of which counts until the signal level of the pixel signal coincides with the signal level of the second reference signal by the second comparator, wherein the reference signal generator provides the first reference signal to one of the first comparators that compares a signal level of a pixel signal of one of the first pixel columns nearest to each other and simultaneously provides the second reference signal to another of the first comparators that compares a signal level of a pixel signal of the other of the first pixel columns in a case where the pixel signals of the first pixel columns are output to the first signal output lines, respectively, and provides the first reference signal to one of the second comparators that compares a signal level of a pixel signal of one of the second pixel columns nearest to each other and simultaneously provides the second reference signal to another of the second comparators that compares a signal level of a pixel signal of the other of the second pixel columns in a case where the pixel signals of the second pixel columns are output to the second signal output lines, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An image capturing apparatus comprising an image sensor comprising:
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a pixel unit in which a plurality of first pixel columns and a plurality of second pixel columns are arranged, wherein a plurality of pixels of a first color and a plurality of pixels of a second color are arranged in each first pixel column and a plurality of pixels of the second color and a plurality of pixels of a third color are arranged in each second pixel column; a plurality of first signal output lines each of which a pixel signal of each of the first pixel columns is output to from the pixel unit;
a reference signal generator which generates a first reference signal and a second reference signal which is different from the first reference signal;a plurality of first comparators each of which compares a signal level of a pixel signal output to each of the plurality of first signal output lines with a signal level of the first reference signal; a plurality of first counters each of which counts until the signal level of the pixel signal coincides with the signal level of the first reference signal by the first comparator; a plurality of second comparators each of which compares a signal level of a pixel signal output to each of the plurality of second signal output lines with a signal level of the second reference signal; and a plurality of second counters each of which counts until the signal level of the pixel signal coincides with the signal level of the second reference signal by the second comparator, wherein the reference signal generator provides the first reference signal to one of the first comparators that compares a signal level of a pixel signal of one of the first pixel columns nearest to each other and simultaneously provides the second reference signal to another of the first comparators that compares a signal level of a pixel signal of the other of the first pixel columns in a case where the pixel signals of the first pixel columns are output to the first signal output lines, respectively, and provides the first reference signal to one of the second comparators that compares a signal level of a pixel signal of one of the second pixel columns nearest to each other and simultaneously provides the second reference signal to another of the second comparators that compares a signal level of a pixel signal of the other of the second pixel columns in a case where the pixel signals of the second pixel columns are output to the second signal output lines, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A cellular phone comprising an image sensor comprising:
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a pixel unit in which a plurality of first pixel columns and a plurality of second pixel columns are arranged, wherein a plurality of pixels of a first color and a plurality of pixels of a second color are arranged in each first pixel column and a plurality of pixels of the second color and a plurality of pixels of a third color are arranged in each second pixel column; a plurality of first signal output lines each of which a pixel signal of each of the first pixel columns is output to from the pixel unit; a plurality of second signal output lines each of which a pixel signal of each of the second pixel columns is output to from the pixel unit; a reference signal generator which generates a first reference signal and a second reference signal which is different from the first reference signal; a plurality of first comparators each of which compares a signal level of a pixel signal output to each of the plurality of first signal output lines with a signal level of the first reference signal; a plurality of first counters each of which counts until the signal level of the pixel signal coincides with the signal level of the first reference signal by the first comparator; a plurality of second comparators each of which compares a signal level of a pixel signal output to each of the plurality of second signal output lines with a signal level of the second reference signal; and a plurality of second counters each of which counts until the signal level of the pixel signal coincides with the signal level of the second reference signal by the second comparator, wherein the reference signal generator provides the first reference signal to one of the first comparators that compares a signal level of a pixel signal of one of the first pixel columns nearest to each other and simultaneously provides the second reference signal to another of the first comparators that compares a signal level of a pixel signal of the other of the first pixel columns in a case where the pixel signals of the first pixel columns are output to the first signal output lines, respectively, and provides the first reference signal to one of the second comparators that compares a signal level of a pixel signal of one of the second pixel columns nearest to each other and simultaneously provides the second reference signal to another of the second comparators that compares a signal level of a pixel signal of the other of the second pixel columns in a case where the pixel signals of the second pixel columns are output to the second signal output lines, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification