Solid-state image sensor and image capture apparatus
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsHirokazu Kobayashi, Satoshi Suzuki, Satoshi Kumaki
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Abstract
A solid-state image sensor and an image capture apparatus are provided that can realize image acquisition and distance measurement while restraining the circuit scale from increasing. The solid-state image sensor includes a plurality of pixels each including a sensor unit that generates a pulse with a frequency that is based on a reception frequency of a photon, and a counter that can operate in a first mode of counting the number of pulses of a signal generated by the sensor unit, and a second mode of counting the number of pulses of a predetermined signal that is based on an elapsed time from a timing at which light is emitted from a light emitting unit.
Claims11
A solid-state image sensor comprising a plurality of pixels, wherein each of the plurality of pixels includes:
- a sensor unit that generates a pulse signal upon reception of a photon;
- a low pass filter to which the pulse signal generated by the sensor unit is input;
- a comparator that compares output of the low pass filter with a threshold;
- and
- a counter configured to selectively switch between operating in a first mode of counting the number of pulses of the pulse signal generated by the sensor unit when a light emitting unit does not emit light, and operating in a second mode of counting the number of pulses of a predetermined signal, the number depending on an elapsed time from a timing at which light is emitted from the light emitting unit,
- wherein when operating in the second mode, the counter counts the number of pulses of the predetermined signal from a timing at which light is emitted from the light emitting unit until a timing at which output of the comparator is inverted.
An image capture apparatus comprising:
- a solid-state image sensor comprising a plurality of pixels;
- and
- one or more processors that, when executing a program stored in a memory, function as a signal processing unit that processes a signal output from the solid-state image sensor,
- wherein each of the plurality of pixels includes:
- a sensor unit that generates a pulse signal upon reception of a photon;
- a low pass filter to which the pulse signal generated by the sensor unit is input;
- a comparator that compares output of the low pass filter with a threshold;
- and
- a counter configured to selectively switch between operating in a first mode of counting the number of pulses of the pulse signal generated by the sensor unit when a light emitting unit does not emit light, and operating in a second mode of counting the number of pulses of a predetermined signal, the number depending on an elapsed time from a timing at which light is emitted from the light emitting unit,
- wherein when operating in the second mode, the counter counts the number of pulses of the predetermined signal from a timing at which light is emitted from the light emitting unit until a timing at which output of the comparator is inverted.
An image capture apparatus comprising:
- a solid-state image sensor comprising a plurality of pixels, wherein each of the plurality of pixels includes a sensor unit that generates a pulse signal upon a reception of a photon, a low pass filter to which the pulse signal generated by the sensor unit is input, a comparator that compares output of the low pass filter with a threshold, and a counter;
- and
- one or more processors that, when executing a program stored in a memory, function as a control unit that drives and controls the solid-state image sensor so as to selectively switch between operating in a first mode of capturing an image of a subject and a second mode of acquiring information regarding the distance to the subject,
- wherein in the first mode of capturing, the control unit controls the counter so as to count the number of pulses of the pulse signal generated by the sensor unit when a light emitting unit does not emit light,
- wherein in the second mode of acquiring information regarding the distance to the subject, the control unit controls the counter so as to count the number of pulses of a predetermined signal, the number depending on an elapsed time from a timing at which light is emitted from the light emitting unit, and
- wherein when in the second mode, the control unit controls the counter so as to count the number of pulses of the predetermined signal from a timing at which light is emitted from the light emitting unit until a timing at which output of the comparator is inverted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.