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US 10,834,348 B2Granted
Imaging sensor, chip, imaging system, and moving body
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsDaisuke Yoshida, Takahiro Shirai
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An imaging sensor includes a pixel, an amplifier, and a successive approximation analog-to-digital (AD) converter. The pixel is configured to output a pixel signal. The amplifier is configured to output an amplification signal obtained by amplifying the pixel signal. The successive approximation AD converter detects whether or not the amplification signal is within a predetermined signal range.
Claims23
An imaging sensor comprising:
- a pixel configured to output a pixel signal;
- an amplifier configured to output an amplification signal obtained by amplifying the pixel signal;
- and
- a successive approximation analog-to-digital (AD) converter configured to generate a digital signal having a plurality of bits by performing AD conversion of the amplification signal,
- wherein the AD converter performs a comparison of the digital signal and a predetermined digital signal value,
- wherein, in a case where a result of the comparison indicates that an amplitude of the digital signal is smaller than the predetermined digital signal value, the amplifier sets a gain to be applied to the pixel signal as a first gain and outputs the amplification signal, and the AD converter performs the AD conversion of the amplification signal amplified at the first gain,
- wherein, in a case where the result of the comparison indicates that the amplitude of the digital signal is larger than the predetermined digital signal value, the amplifier sets the gain to be applied to the pixel signal as a second gain that is lower than the first gain and outputs the amplification signal, and the AD converter performs the AD conversion of the amplification signal amplified at the second gain, and
- wherein the pixel is arranged in a first chip, the amplifier and the AD converter are arranged in a second chip, and the first chip and the second chip are stacked on each other.
5 more elements
An imaging sensor comprising:
- a pixel configured to output a pixel signal;
- an amplifier configured to output an amplification signal obtained by amplifying the pixel signal;
- and
- a successive approximation analog-to-digital (AD) converter configured to perform AD conversion of the amplification signal,
- wherein the AD converter detects whether or not the amplification signal is within a predetermined signal range,
- wherein, in a case where a result of the detection indicates that an amplitude of the amplification signal is smaller than a predetermined value, the amplifier sets a gain to be applied to the pixel signal as a first gain and outputs the amplification signal, and the AD converter performs the AD conversion of the amplification signal amplified at the first gain,
- wherein, in a case where the result of the detection indicates that the amplitude of the amplification signal is larger than the predetermined value, the amplifier sets the gain to be applied to the pixel signal as a second gain that is lower than the first gain and outputs the amplification signal, and the AD converter performs the AD conversion of the amplification signal amplified at the second gain,
- wherein the pixel is arranged in a first chip, the amplifier and the AD converter are arranged in a second chip, and the first chip and the second chip are stacked on each other,
- wherein the detection corresponds to a comparison between a threshold having a predetermined value and the amplification signal,
- wherein the AD converter includes a digital-to-analog converter configured to output a comparison signal and a comparator configured to compare the comparison signal with the amplification signal, and
- wherein the threshold is generated by the digital-to-analog converter.
8 more elements
An imaging sensor further comprising:
- a pixel configured to output a pixel signal;
- an amplifier configured to output an amplification signal obtained by amplifying the pixel signal;
- and
- a successive approximation analog-to-digital (AD) converter configured to perform AD conversion of the amplification signal,
- wherein the AD converter detects whether or not the amplification signal is within a predetermined signal range,
- wherein, in a case where a result of the detection indicates that an amplitude of the amplification signal is smaller than a predetermined value, the amplifier sets a gain to be applied to the pixel signal as a first gain and outputs the amplification signal, and the AD converter performs the AD conversion of the amplification signal amplified at the first gain,
- wherein, in a case where the result of the detection indicates that the amplitude of the amplification signal is larger than the predetermined value, the amplifier sets the gain to be applied to the pixel signal as a second gain that is lower than the first gain and outputs the amplification signal, and the AD converter performs the AD conversion of the amplification signal amplified at the second gain,
- wherein the pixel is arranged in a first chip, the amplifier and the AD converter are arranged in a second chip, and the first chip and the second chip are stacked on each other, the imaging sensor further comprising:
- a multiplex circuit;
- and
- a plurality of amplifiers,
- wherein the plurality of amplifiers are connected to an input node of the multiplex circuit, and the AD converter is connected to an output node of the multiplex circuit.
9 more elements
A chip stacked on a pixel chip, where a pixel is arranged, and configured to perform analog-to-digital (AD) conversion of a pixel signal output by the pixel chip, the chip comprising:
- an amplifier configured to output an amplification signal obtained by amplifying the pixel signal;
- and
- a successive approximation AD converter configured to generate a digital signal having a plurality of bits by performing AD conversion of the amplification signal,
- wherein the AD converter performs a comparison of the digital signal and a predetermined digital signal value,
- wherein, in a case where a result of the comparison indicates that an amplitude of the digital signal is smaller than the predetermined digital signal value, the amplifier sets a gain to be applied to the pixel signal as a first gain and outputs the amplification signal, and the AD converter performs the AD conversion of the amplification signal amplified at the first gain, and
- wherein, in a case where the result of the comparison indicates that the amplitude of the digital signal is larger than the predetermined digital signal value, the amplifier sets the gain to be applied to the pixel signal as a second gain that is lower than the first gain and outputs the amplification signal, and the AD converter performs the AD conversion of the amplification signal amplified at the second gain.
3 more elements
A chip stacked on a pixel chip, where a pixel is arranged, and configured to perform analog-to-digital (AD) conversion of a pixel signal output by the pixel chip, the chip comprising:
- an amplifier configured to output an amplification signal obtained by amplifying the pixel signal;
- and
- a successive approximation analog-to-digital (AD) converter configured to perform AD conversion of the amplification signal,
- wherein the AD converter detects whether or not the amplification signal is within a predetermined signal range,
- wherein, in a case where a result of the detection indicates that an amplitude of the amplification signal is smaller than a predetermined value, the amplifier sets a gain to be applied to the pixel signal as a first gain and outputs the amplification signal, and the AD converter performs the AD conversion of the amplification signal amplified at the first gain,
- wherein, in a case where the result of the detection indicates that the amplitude of the amplification signal is larger than the predetermined value, the amplifier sets the gain to be applied to the pixel signal as a second gain that is lower than the first gain and outputs the amplification signal, and the AD converter performs the AD conversion of the amplification signal amplified at the second gain,
- wherein the pixel is arranged in a first chip, the amplifier and the AD converter are arranged in a second chip, and the first chip and the second chip are stacked on each other,
- wherein the detection corresponds to a comparison between a threshold having a predetermined value and the amplification signal,
- wherein the AD converter includes a digital-to-analog converter configured to output a comparison signal and a comparator configured to compare the comparison signal with the amplification signal, and
- wherein the threshold is generated by the digital-to-analog converter.
7 more elements
A chip stacked on a pixel chip, where a pixel is arranged, and configured to perform analog-to-digital (AD) conversion of a pixel signal output by the pixel chip, the chip comprising:
- an amplifier configured to output an amplification signal obtained by amplifying the pixel signal;
- and
- a successive approximation analog-to-digital (AD) converter configured to perform AD conversion of the amplification signal,
- wherein the AD converter detects whether or not the amplification signal is within a predetermined signal range,
- wherein, in a case where a result of the detection indicates that an amplitude of the amplification signal is smaller than a predetermined value, the amplifier sets a gain to be applied to the pixel signal as a first gain and outputs the amplification signal, and the AD converter performs the AD conversion of the amplification signal amplified at the first gain,
- wherein, in a case where the result of the detection indicates that the amplitude of the amplification signal is larger than the predetermined value, the amplifier sets the gain to be applied to the pixel signal as a second gain that is lower than the first gain and outputs the amplification signal, and the AD converter performs the AD conversion of the amplification signal amplified at the second gain,
- wherein the pixel is arranged in a first chip, the amplifier and the AD converter are arranged in a second chip, and the first chip and the second chip are stacked on each other,
- the imaging sensor further comprising:
- a multiplex circuit;
- and
- a plurality of amplifiers,
- wherein the plurality of amplifiers are connected to an input node of the multiplex circuit, and the AD converter is connected to an output node of the multiplex circuit.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.