公开(公告)号：US20160212367A1

公开(公告)日：2016-07-21

申请号：US15082913

申请日：2016-03-28

Applicant: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION

Inventor： Hiroto UTSUNOMIYA ,  Katsumi DOSAKA ,  Hiroshi KATO ,  Fukashi MORISHITA ,  Fumiyasu SASAKI

IPC: H04N5/3745 ,  H04N5/376 ,  H03M1/66 ,  H04N5/378

CPC classification number: H04N5/37455 ,  H03M1/1205 ,  H03M1/144 ,  H03M1/403 ,  H03M1/66 ,  H03M2201/16 ,  H04N5/374 ,  H04N5/3742 ,  H04N5/3765 ,  H04N5/378

Abstract: There is provided a solid-state image pickup device including ADCs that can be arranged in a limited space. The potential of a pixel signal outputted through a vertical readout line is held at a node. A plurality of capacitors are capacitively coupled to the node at which the pixel signal is held. The potential of the node is decreased in a stepwise manner by sequentially switching the voltages of the counter electrodes of the capacitors by the control of transistors. A comparator compares the potential of the node with the potential of the dark state of the pixel, and determines the upper bits of a digital value when the potential of the node becomes lower than the potential of the dark state. Following this, the conversion of the lower bits of the digital value is started. Therefore, it is possible to simplify the configuration of each ADC and arrange each ADC in a limited space.

Abstract translation: 提供了包括可以在有限空间中布置的ADC的固态图像拾取装置。 通过垂直读出线输出的像素信号的电位被保持在节点处。 多个电容器电容耦合到保持像素信号的节点。 通过晶体管的控制，通过依次切换电容器对置电极的电压，逐步降低节点的电位。 比较器将节点的电位与像素的暗状态的电位进行比较，并且当节点的电位变得低于黑暗状态的电位时，确定数字值的高位。 此后，开始数字值的低位的转换。 因此，可以简化每个ADC的配置，并将每个ADC排列在有限的空间内。

公开(公告)号：US20180054578A1

公开(公告)日：2018-02-22

申请号：US15597312

申请日：2017-05-17

Applicant: Renesas Electronics Corporation

Inventor： Tatsuya KITAMORI ,  Fumiyasu SASAKI ,  Fumihide MURAO

IPC: H04N5/361 ,  H04N5/378 ,  H04N5/376 ,  H04N5/347 ,  H04N5/232

CPC classification number: H04N5/361 ,  H04N5/23245 ,  H04N5/347 ,  H04N5/3696 ,  H04N5/3742 ,  H04N5/37457 ,  H04N5/3765 ,  H04N5/378

Abstract: To solve the problem of conventional image sensing devices that require much time for reading pixel signals, an image sensing device according to an embodiment includes a first pixel unit coupled to a first vertical read line, a second pixel unit coupled to a second vertical read line and placed in the column of the first pixel unit, a first transfer switch provided at an end of the first read line, and a second transfer switch provided at an end of the second read line. When the first transfer switch is controlled to be closed and the second transfer switch is controlled to be conductive, the image sensing device performs a reset process of the vertical read line by a dark level signal output from the second pixel unit, and a conversion process of the dark level read from the first pixel unit, and the pixel signal into digital values.

公开(公告)号：US20140226049A1

公开(公告)日：2014-08-14

申请号：US14256680

申请日：2014-04-18

Applicant: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION

Inventor： Hiroto UTSUNOMIYA ,  Katsumi DOSAKA ,  Hiroshi KATO ,  Fukashi MORISHITA ,  Fumiyasu SASAKI

IPC: H04N5/369

CPC classification number: H04N5/37455 ,  H03M1/1205 ,  H03M1/144 ,  H03M1/403 ,  H03M1/66 ,  H03M2201/16 ,  H04N5/374 ,  H04N5/3742 ,  H04N5/3765 ,  H04N5/378

Abstract: There is provided a solid-state image pickup device including ADCs that can be arranged in a limited space. The potential of a pixel signal outputted through a vertical readout line is held at a node. A plurality of capacitors are capacitively coupled to the node at which the pixel signal is held. The potential of the node is decreased in a stepwise manner by sequentially switching the voltages of the counter electrodes of the capacitors by the control of transistors. A comparator compares the potential of the node with the potential of the dark state of the pixel, and determines the upper bits of a digital value when the potential of the node becomes lower than the potential of the dark state. Following this, the conversion of the lower bits of the digital value is started. Therefore, it is possible to simplify the configuration of each ADC and arrange each ADC in a limited space.

Abstract translation: 提供了包括可以在有限空间中布置的ADC的固态图像拾取装置。 通过垂直读出线输出的像素信号的电位保持在节点处。 多个电容器电容耦合到保持像素信号的节点。 通过晶体管的控制，通过依次切换电容器对置电极的电压，逐步降低节点的电位。 比较器将节点的电位与像素的暗状态的电位进行比较，并且当节点的电位变得低于黑暗状态的电位时，确定数字值的高位。 此后，开始数字值的低位的转换。 因此，可以简化每个ADC的配置，并将每个ADC排列在有限的空间内。