Comparator, AD converter, solid-state imaging apparatus, electronic apparatus, and method of controlling comparator

An AD converter, comprising:

• a comparator including
• a differential input circuit operating at a first power source voltage, and outputting a signal when a voltage of an input signal is higher than a voltage of a reference signal,
• a positive feedback circuit operating at a second power source voltage lower than the first power source voltage, and speeding up a transition speed when a comparison result signal representing a result of comparison in voltage between the input signal and the reference signal is inverted on the basis of an output signal from the differential input circuit, and
• a voltage converting circuit converting the output signal from the differential input circuit into a signal corresponding to the second power source voltage,
• in which a source voltage of the differential input circuit is a voltage lower than 0 V;
• and
• a data storing section storing a time code when the comparison result signal is inversed.

A solid-state imaging apparatus, comprising:

• an AD converter including
• a comparator including
• a differential input circuit operating at a first power source voltage, and outputting a signal when a voltage of an input signal is higher than a voltage of a reference signal,
• a positive feedback circuit operating at a second power source voltage lower than the first power source voltage, and speeding up a transition speed when a comparison result signal representing a result of comparison in voltage between the input signal and the reference signal is inverted on the basis of an output signal from the differential input circuit, and
• a voltage converting circuit converting the output signal from the differential input circuit into a signal corresponding to the second power source voltage,
• in which a source voltage of the differential input circuit is a voltage lower than 0 V, and
• a data storing section storing a time code when the comparison result signal is inversed;
• and
• a pixel circuit outputting an electric charge signal produced by receiving light incident to a pixel and then subjecting the light to photoelectric conversion as the input signal to the differential input circuit.

An electronic apparatus, comprising:

• a solid-state imaging apparatus including
• an AD converter including
• a comparator including
• a differential input circuit operating at a first power source voltage, and outputting a signal when a voltage of an input signal is higher than a voltage of a reference signal,
• a positive feedback circuit operating at a second power source voltage lower than the first power source voltage, and speeding up a transition speed when a comparison result signal representing a result of comparison in voltage between the input signal and the reference signal is inverted on the basis of an output signal from the differential input circuit, and
• a voltage converting circuit converting the output signal from the differential input circuit into a signal corresponding to the second power source voltage,
• in which a source voltage of the differential input circuit is a voltage lower than 0 V, and
• a data storing section storing a time code when the comparison result signal is inversed;
• and
• a pixel circuit outputting an electric charge signal produced by receiving light incident to a pixel and then subjecting the light to photoelectric conversion as the input signal to the differential input circuit.

A method of controlling a comparator, the comparator including a differential input circuit operating at a first power source voltage, a positive feedback circuit operating at a second power source voltage lower than the first power source voltage, and a voltage converting circuit, a source voltage of the differential input circuit being lower than 0 V, the method comprising:

• the differential input circuit outputting a signal when a voltage of an input signal is higher than a voltage of a reference signal;
• the voltage converting circuit converting an output signal from the differential input circuit into a signal corresponding to the second power source voltage;
• and
• the positive feedback circuit speeding up a transition speed when a comparison result signal representing a result of comparison in voltage between the input signal and the reference signal is inverted on the basis of the output signal from the differential input signal obtained by conversion in the voltage converting circuit.