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US 11,902,686 B2Granted
Photodetection device and electronic apparatus
AssigneeSony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
InventorsYouhei Oosako, Yosuke Ueno, Masahiro Segami
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A photodetection device according to the present disclosure includes: a first pixel that is configured to generate a first pixel signal; a reference signal generator that is configured to generate a reference signal; and a first converter that includes a first buffer circuit and a first comparison circuit and is configured to convert the first pixel signal into a digital code, the first buffer circuit configured to output a first signal corresponding to the reference signal from an output terminal, and the first comparison circuit configured to perform a comparison operation on the basis of the first pixel signal and the first signal.
Claims21
A photodetection device comprising:
- a first pixel that is configured to generate a first pixel signal;
- a reference signal generator that is configured to generate a reference signal;
- and
- a first converter that includes a first buffer circuit and a first comparison circuit and that is configured to convert the first pixel signal into a digital code, the first buffer circuit configured to output a first signal corresponding to the reference signal from an output terminal, and the first comparison circuit configured to perform a comparison operation on a basis of the first pixel signal and the first signal, wherein
- the first pixel is configured to output the first pixel signal from an output terminal, and
- the first comparison circuit includes
- a first transistor having a gate and a drain,
- a first capacitor having a first terminal coupled to the output terminal of the first buffer circuit, and a second terminal coupled to the gate of the first transistor,
- a second capacitor having a first terminal coupled to the output terminal of the first pixel, and a second terminal coupled to the gate of the first transistor,
- a first switch that is configured to couple the gate of the first transistor and the drain of the first transistor to each other by being turned on, and
- a load circuit coupled to the drain of the first transistor.
8 more elements
A photodetection device comprising:
- a first pixel that is configured to generate a first pixel signal;
- a reference signal generator that is configured to generate a reference signal;
- and
- a first converter that includes a first buffer circuit and a first comparison circuit and that is configured to convert the first pixel signal into a digital code, the first buffer circuit configured to output a first signal corresponding to the reference signal from an output terminal, and the first comparison circuit configured to perform a comparison operation on a basis of the first pixel signal and the first signal, wherein
- the first pixel is configured to output the first pixel signal from an output terminal, and
- the first comparison circuit includes
- a first transistor having a gate, a drain, and a source,
- a fifth transistor having a gate, a drain, and a source,
- a current source coupled to the source of the first transistor and the source of the fifth transistor,
- a first capacitor having a first terminal coupled to the output terminal of the first buffer circuit, and a second terminal coupled to the gate of the first transistor,
- a second capacitor having a first terminal coupled to the output terminal of the first pixel, and a second terminal coupled to the gate of the fifth transistor,
- a first switch that is configured to couple the gate of the first transistor and the drain of the first transistor to each other by being turned on,
- a third switch that is configured to couple the gate of the fifth transistor and the drain of the fifth transistor to each other by being turned on, and
- a load circuit coupled to the drain of the first transistor and the drain of the fifth transistor.
11 more elements
A photodetection device comprising:
- a first pixel that is configured to generate a first pixel signal;
- a reference signal generator that is configured to generate a reference signal;
- and
- a first converter that includes a first buffer circuit and a first comparison circuit and that is configured to convert the first pixel signal into a digital code, the first buffer circuit configured to output a first signal corresponding to the reference signal from an output terminal, and the first comparison circuit configured to perform a comparison operation on a basis of the first pixel signal and the first signal, wherein
- the reference signal generator is configured to output the reference signal from an output terminal, and
- the first buffer circuit includes a first buffer transistor having a gate coupled to the output terminal of the reference signal generator, and a source coupled to the output terminal of the first buffer circuit, and a first current source coupled to the source of the first buffer transistor.
3 more elements
A photodetection device according comprising:
- a first pixel that is configured to generate a first pixel signal;
- a reference signal generator that is configured to generate a reference signal;
- a first converter that includes a first buffer circuit and a first comparison circuit and that is configured to convert the first pixel signal into a digital code, the first buffer circuit configured to output a first signal corresponding to the reference signal from an output terminal, and the first comparison circuit configured to perform a comparison operation on a basis of the first pixel signal and the first signal;
- a second pixel that is configured to generate a second pixel signal;
- and
- a second converter that includes a second buffer circuit and a second comparison circuit and is configured to convert the second pixel signal into a digital code, the second buffer circuit configured to output a second signal corresponding to the reference signal from an output terminal, and the second comparison circuit configured to perform the comparison operation on a basis of the second pixel signal and the second signal, wherein
- the output terminal of the second buffer circuit is coupled to the output terminal of the first buffer circuit.
4 more elements
A photodetection device comprising:
- a first pixel that is configured to generate a first pixel signal;
- a reference signal generator that is configured to generate a reference signal;
- a first converter that includes a first buffer circuit and a first comparison circuit and that is configured to convert the first pixel signal into a digital code, the first buffer circuit configured to output a first signal corresponding to the reference signal from an output terminal, and the first comparison circuit configured to perform a comparison operation on a basis of the first pixel signal and the first signal;
- a second pixel that is configured to generate a second pixel signal;
- and
- a second converter that includes a second buffer circuit and a second comparison circuit and is configured to convert the second pixel signal into a digital code, the second buffer circuit configured to output a second signal corresponding to the reference signal from an output terminal, and the second comparison circuit configured to perform the comparison operation on a basis of the second pixel signal and the second signal;
- and
- a variable resistor having a first terminal coupled to the output terminal of the first buffer circuit, and a second terminal coupled to the output terminal of the second buffer circuit.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.