# US 11,451,723 B2 · Image sensor and electronic camera > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,451,723 B2 - Document ID: US11451723B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/318,112 - Filed: 2021-05-12 - Published: 2021-08-26 - Granted: 2022-09-20 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-28 - Assignees: Nikon Corporation - Applicants: Nikon Corporation - Inventors: Atsushi Komai - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11451723B2 ## CPC - H04N 25/46: by combining or binning pixels - H04N 25/76: Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors - H04N 25/77: Pixel circuitry, e.g. memories, A/D converters, pixel amplifiers, shared circuits or shared components - H04N 25/78: Readout circuits for addressed sensors, e.g. output amplifiers or A/D converters - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An image sensor, includes: a plurality of pixels arranged along a first direction, each of which includes a photoelectric conversion unit that generates an electric charge through photoelectric conversion of light, and outputs a signal generated based upon the electric charge generated in the photoelectric conversion unit; a first signal line to which signals from one or more pixels among the plurality of pixels are output; a second signal line to which a signal from another pixel among the plurality of pixels is output; and an arithmetic unit that executes an arithmetic operation with a signal generated by combining the signals from the one or more pixels output to the first signal line and the signal output to the second signal line. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image sensor, comprising: a first pixel having a first photoelectric conversion unit, which generates an electric charge through photoelectric conversion of light, and a first output unit that outputs a first signal generated based upon the electric charge generated in the first photoelectric conversion unit; a second pixel having a second photoelectric conversion unit, which generates an electric charge through photoelectric conversion of light, and a second output unit that outputs a second signal generated based upon the electric charge generated in the second photoelectric conversion unit; a first signal line electrically connectable to the first output unit and the second output unit; a second signal line electrically connectable to the first output unit and the second output unit; and an arithmetic unit that is electrically connectable to the first signal line and the second signal line and that performs an operation between the first signal and the second signal; and a control unit that performs a first control to read out the first signal and the second signal and performs a second control that causes the arithmetic unit to calculate and read out the first signal and the second signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image sensor of claim 1, wherein in the first control, the control unit (i) electrically connects the first output unit and the first signal line and (ii) electrically connects the second output unit and the second signal line, and the image sensor reads out the first signal and the second signal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The image sensor of claim 2, wherein in the second control, the control unit (i) electrically connects the first output unit and the first signal line and (ii) electrically connects the second output unit and the second signal line, and the image sensor calculates and reads out the first signal and the second signal by electrically connecting the first signal line, the second signal line, and the arithmetic unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image sensor of claim 1, wherein the first pixel and the second pixel are arranged in a first direction, and the first signal line and the second signal line are wired in the first direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The image sensor of claim 1, further comprising a third pixel having a third photoelectric conversion unit, which generates an electric charge through photoelectric conversion of light, and a third output unit that outputs a third signal generated based upon the electric charge generated in the third photoelectric conversion unit, wherein in the first control, the control unit reads out the first signal, the second signal, and the third signal, and in the second control, the control unit causes the arithmetic unit to calculate and read out the first signal, the second signal, and the third signal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The image sensor of claim 5, wherein in the second control, the control unit (i) electrically connects the first output unit and the first signal line and (ii) electrically connects the second output unit and the second signal line, and the first signal line and the second line are electrically connected by electrically connecting the third output unit and the first signal line and by electrically connecting the first signal line, the second signal line, and the arithmetic unit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The image sensor of claim 6, wherein the second pixel is located between the first pixel and the third pixel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The image sensor of claim 5, wherein in the second control, the control unit (i) electrically connects the first output unit and the first signal line and (ii) electrically connects the second output unit and the second signal line, and the first signal line and the second line are electrically connected by electrically connecting the third output unit and the second signal line and by electrically connecting the first signal line, the second signal line, and the arithmetic unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The image sensor of claim 8, wherein the second pixel is located between the first pixel and the third pixel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The image sensor of claim 1, further comprising: a third pixel having a third photoelectric conversion unit, which generates an electric charge through photoelectric conversion of light, and a third output unit that outputs a third signal generated based upon the electric charge generated in the third photoelectric conversion unit; and a third signal line electrically connectable to the third output unit, wherein: the arithmetic unit is electrically connectable to the first signal line, the second signal line, and the third signal line; in the first control, the control unit reads out the first signal, the second signal, and the third signal; and in the second control, the control unit causes the arithmetic unit to calculate and read out the first signal, the second signal, and the third signal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The image sensor of claim 10, wherein in the first control, the control unit (i) electrically connects the first output unit and the first signal line and (ii) electrically connects the second output unit and the second signal line, and the image sensor reads out the first signal and the second signal by electrically connecting the third output unit and the third signal line. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The image sensor of claim 11, wherein: in the second control, the control unit (i) electrically connects the first output unit and the first signal line and (ii) electrically connects the second output unit and the second signal line; the third output unit and the third signal line are electrically connected; the first signal line, the second signal line, the third signal line, and the arithmetic unit are electrically connected to each other; and the image sensor calculates and reads out the first signal, the second signal, and the third signal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The image sensor of claim 12, wherein the second pixel is located between the first pixel and the third pixel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The image sensor of claim 12, wherein the first pixel and the second pixel are arranged in a first direction, and the first pixel and the third pixel are arranged in a second direction different than the first direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The image sensor of claim 1, wherein the arithmetic unit adds the first and second signals. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The image sensor of claim 15, wherein the arithmetic unit performs weighed addition on the first and second signals. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The image sensor of claim 1, further comprising: a first current source connected to the first signal line and supplied with a first current; and a second current source connected to the second signal line and supplied with a second current of different magnitude than the first current. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The image sensor of claim 1, further comprising a conversion unit that converts a signal calculated by the arithmetic unit into a digital signal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The image sensor of claim 1, further comprising a generator that generates image data based on a signal output from the image sensor.