# US 11,122,231 B2 · Image sensor and control method thereof, image capturing apparatus, and image processing apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,122,231 B2 - Document ID: US11122231B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/805,969 - Filed: 2020-03-02 - Published: 2020-09-10 - Granted: 2021-09-14 - Earliest claimed: 2019-03-05 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Norio Negishi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11122231B2 ## CPC - H04N 25/445: by skipping some contiguous pixels within the read portion of the array - H04N 25/533: by using differing integration times for different sensor regions - H04N 25/535: by dynamic region selection - H04N 25/70: SSIS architectures; Circuits associated therewith - H04N 25/766: comprising control or output lines used for a plurality of functions, e.g. for pixel output, driving, reset or power - H04N 25/77: Pixel circuitry, e.g. memories, A/D converters, pixel amplifiers, shared circuits or shared components - H04N 25/772: comprising A/D, V/T, V/F, I/T or I/F converters - H04N 25/773: comprising photon counting circuits, e.g. single photon detection [SPD] or single photon avalanche diodes [SPAD] - H04N 25/78: Readout circuits for addressed sensors, e.g. output amplifiers or A/D converters - H04N 25/79: Arrangements of circuitry being divided between different or multiple substrates, chips or circuit boards, e.g. stacked image sensors - H04N 25/17: Colour separation based on photon absorption depth, e.g. full colour resolution obtained simultaneously at each pixel location - H04N 25/7795: {Circuitry for generating timing or clock signals} - H10F 39/182: {Colour image sensors} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION ## Abstract An image sensor comprises: a plurality of pixels each having an avalanche photodiode; and a control unit that controls, for each of a plurality of pixel groups which are obtained by dividing the plurality of pixels, to supply either of a first voltage and a second voltage as a reverse bias voltage of the avalanche photodiodes, wherein the first voltage is greater than a breakdown voltage of the avalanche photodiodes and the second voltage is smaller than the breakdown voltage. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image sensor comprising: a plurality of pixels each including an avalanche photodiode; and a control unit that controls, for each of a plurality of pixel groups which are obtained by dividing the plurality of pixels, to supply either of a first voltage and a second voltage as a reverse bias voltage of the avalanche photodiodes, wherein the first voltage is greater than a breakdown voltage of the avalanche photodiodes and the second voltage is smaller than the breakdown voltage, wherein the control unit includes a plurality of logic circuits, each having a plurality of input terminals, that have different configurations from each other and correspond to the plurality of pixel groups, respectively, wherein the plurality of logic circuits output different output signals with respect to a same combination of signals input to the plurality of input terminals as control signals for controlling the reverse bias voltage, and wherein the control unit is implemented by (a) one or more processors, (b) circuitry, or (c) a combination thereof. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image sensor according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls to perform thinning readout of signals from the plurality of pixels by (a) supplying the first voltage to the pixels that belong to one of the plurality of pixel groups, and (b) supplying the second voltage to other pixels of the plurality of pixels. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image sensor according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls to sequentially read out signals from the plurality of pixels by (1) performing control of (a) supplying the first voltage to the pixels that belong to a selected one of the plurality of pixel groups and (b) supplying the second voltage to the pixels that belong to other of the plurality of pixel groups and (2) repeating the performing while sequentially shifting the selection from pixel group to pixel group of the plurality of pixel groups. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The image sensor according to claim 3, wherein the control unit assigns weights to the plurality of pixel groups, and sets a period of time when the first voltage is supplied to each of the plurality of pixel groups in accordance with the weights. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The image sensor according to claim 4, wherein the control unit discretely sets the period of time when the first voltage is supplied. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image sensor according to claim 1, further comprising: a first supply circuit that supplies the first voltages; and a second supply circuit that supplies the second voltage, wherein the control unit selects either of the first supply circuit and the second supply circuit such that either of the first voltage and the second voltage is supplied. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The image sensor according to claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of pixels includes (a) a first switch that selects the first supply circuit and (b) a second switch that selects the second supply circuit, and wherein the first switch and the second switch are controlled by the control unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The image sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a counter that (a) counts a number of pulse signals generated based on output of each avalanche photodiode and (b) outputs a count value. ### Claim 9 An image capturing apparatus comprising: an image sensor comprising: (1) a plurality of pixels each including an avalanche photodiode; and (2) a control unit that controls, for each of a plurality of pixel groups which are obtained by dividing the plurality of pixels, to supply either of a first voltage and a second voltage as a reverse bias voltage of the avalanche photodiodes, wherein the first voltage is greater than a breakdown voltage of the avalanche photodiodes and the second voltage is smaller than the breakdown voltage, and wherein the control unit includes a plurality of logic circuits, each having a plurality of input terminals, that have different configurations from each other and correspond to the plurality of pixel groups, respectively, wherein the plurality of logic circuits output different output signals with respect to a same combination of signals input to the plurality of input terminals as control signals for controlling the reverse bias voltage, and a unit that supplies the signals to be input to the plurality of input terminals of each of the plurality of logic circuits, wherein each unit is implemented by (a) one or more processors, (b) circuitry, or (c) a combination thereof. ### Claim 10 An image processing apparatus comprising: an image sensor comprising: (1) a plurality of pixels each including an avalanche photodiode; (2) a control unit that controls, for each of a plurality of pixel groups which are obtained by dividing the plurality of pixels, to supply either of a first voltage and a second voltage as a reverse bias voltage of the avalanche photodiodes, wherein the first voltage is greater than a breakdown voltage of the avalanche photodiodes and the second voltage is smaller than the breakdown voltage, wherein the control unit includes a plurality of logic circuits, each having a plurality of input terminals, that have different configurations from each other and correspond to the plurality of pixel groups, respectively, wherein the plurality of logic circuits output different output signals with respect to a same combination of signals input to the plurality of input terminals as control signals for controlling the reverse bias voltage; and (3) counters that (a) count numbers of pulse signals generated based on output of the avalanche photodiodes and (b) output count values; and a processing unit that processes the count values output from the image sensor and generates image data, wherein each unit is implemented by (a) one or more processors, (b) circuitry, or (c) a combination thereof. ### Claim 11 A control method of controlling an image sensor that comprises a plurality of pixels each including an avalanche photodiode, the method comprising: controlling, for each of a plurality of pixel groups which are obtained by dividing the plurality of pixels, to supply either of a first voltage and a second voltage as a reverse bias voltage of the avalanche photodiodes, wherein the first voltage is greater than a breakdown voltage of the avalanche photodiodes and the second voltage is smaller than the breakdown voltage, wherein the controlling uses a plurality of logic circuits, each having a plurality of input terminals, that have different configurations from each other and correspond to the plurality of pixel groups, respectively, wherein the plurality of logic circuits output different output signals with respect to a same combination of signals input to the plurality of input terminals as control signals for controlling the reverse bias voltage. ### Claim 12 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the storage medium storing a program that is executable by the computer, wherein the program includes program code for causing the computer to perform a control method of controlling an image sensor that comprises a plurality of pixels each including an avalanche photodiode, the method comprising: controlling, for each of a plurality of pixel groups which are obtained by dividing the plurality of pixels, to supply either of a first voltage and a second voltage as a reverse bias voltage of the avalanche photodiodes, wherein the first voltage is greater than a breakdown voltage of the avalanche photodiodes and the second voltage is smaller than the breakdown voltage, wherein the controlling uses a plurality of logic circuits, each having a plurality of input terminals, that have different configurations from each other and correspond to the plurality of pixel groups, respectively, wherein the plurality of logic circuits output different output signals with respect to a same combination of signals input to the plurality of input terminals as control signals for controlling the reverse bias voltage.