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US 10,097,196 B2Granted
Image element, processing method, and electronic device
AssigneeSony Corporation
InventorMamoru Sato
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present technology relates to an imaging element, a processing method, and an electronic device which are capable of reducing deterioration in an image quality of a captured image caused by power fluctuation. A counting unit includes a counting operation unit that performs a counting operation of counting the count value and a dummy operation unit that performs a dummy counting operation at a timing complementary to the counting operation of the counting operation unit. The present technology can be applied to, for example, an imaging element that counts a count value and performs AD conversion.
Claims9
An imaging element, comprising:
- a pixel including a photoelectric converting element,
- wherein the photoelectric converting element is configured to convert incident light into an electric signal, and
- wherein the pixel is configured to output the electric signal;
- a reference signal generating unit configured to generate a reference signal, wherein a signal level of the reference signal is changeable from a first value to a second value;
- a comparing unit configured to compare the electric signal with the reference signal;
- and
- a counting unit that includes a counting operation unit and a dummy operation unit, wherein the counting unit is configured to:
- count a count value based on the comparison of the electric signal with the reference signal;
- and
- convert, via analog to digital (AD) conversion, the electric signal to a digital signal,
- wherein the counting operation unit is configured to count the count value based on a counting operation, and
- wherein the dummy operation unit is configured to count the count value at a time complementary to the counting operation based on a dummy counting operation.
9 more elements
A processing method, comprising:
- in an imaging element:
- converting, by a photoelectric converting element of a pixel, incident light into an electric signal;
- outputting, by the pixel, the electric signal;
- generating, by a reference signal generating unit, a reference signal, wherein a signal level of the reference signal is changeable from a first value to a second value;
- comparing, by a comparing unit, the electric signal with the reference signal;
- counting, by a counting unit, a count value based on the comparison of the electric signal with the reference signal,
- wherein the counting unit includes a counting operation unit and a dummy counting operation unit;
- converting, by the counting unit, the electric signal from an analog signal to a digital signal;
- counting, by the counting operation unit, the count value based on a counting operation;
- and
- counting, by the dummy operation unit, the count value at a time complementary to the counting operation of the counting operation unit based on a dummy counting operation.
8 more elements
An electronic device, comprising:
- an optical system configured to collect light;
- and
- an imaging element configured to receive the light and capture an image,
- wherein the imaging element including:
- a pixel including a photoelectric converting element,
- wherein the photoelectric converting element is configured to convert incident light into an electric signal, and
- wherein the pixel is configured to output the electric signal,
- a reference signal generating unit configured to generate a reference signal, wherein a signal level of the reference signal is changeable from a first value to a second value,
- a comparing unit configured to compare the electric signal with the reference signal, and
- a counting unit that includes a counting operation unit and a dummy operation unit, wherein the counting unit is configured to:
- count a count value based on the comparison of the electric signal with the reference signal, and
- convert, via analog to digital (AD) conversion, the electric signal to a digital signal,
- wherein the counting operation unit is configured to count the count value based on a counting operation, and
- wherein the dummy operation unit is configured to count the count value at a time complementary to the counting operation based on a dummy counting operation.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.