# US 12,010,445 B2 · Imaging element and imaging device with comparison units for comparing photoelectric signals with a reference signal > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,010,445 B2 - Document ID: US12010445B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/442,911 - Filed: 2020-03-27 - Published: 2022-06-09 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2019-03-29 - Assignees: Nikon Corporation - Applicants: Nikon Corporation - Inventors: Shigeru Matsumoto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12010445B2 ## CPC - H04N 25/46: by combining or binning pixels - H04N 25/616: involving a correlated sampling function, e.g. correlated double sampling [CDS] or triple sampling - H04N 25/704: Pixels specially adapted for focusing, e.g. phase difference pixel sets - H04N 25/772: comprising A/D, V/T, V/F, I/T or I/F converters - 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: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An imaging element includes a first photoelectric conversion unit and a second photoelectric conversion unit that generates electric charges by photoelectric conversion, a first comparison unit that outputs a first signal based on a result of comparing a signal based on electric charges generated by the first photoelectric conversion unit and a reference signal, a first storage unit that stores a signal based on the first signal that is output by the first comparison unit, a second comparison unit that outputs a second signal based on a result of comparing a signal based on electric charges generated by the second photoelectric conversion unit and a reference signal, a second storage unit that stores a signal based on the second signal that is output from the second comparison unit, and a connection unit that connects or disconnect the first comparison unit and the second storage unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An imaging element comprising: a first photoelectric conversion unit and a second photoelectric conversion unit that generate electric charges by photoelectric conversion; a first comparison unit that outputs a first signal based on a result of comparing a signal based on electric charges generated by the first photoelectric conversion unit and a reference signal; a first storage unit that stores a signal based on the first signal that is output by the first comparison unit; a second comparison unit that outputs a second signal based on a result of comparing a signal based on electric charges generated by the second photoelectric conversion unit and the reference signal; a second storage unit that stores a signal based on the second signal that is output by the second comparison unit; and a first connection unit (i) that is provided in an area where the first photoelectric conversion unit and the second photoelectric conversion unit are arranged and (ii) that connects or disconnects the first comparison unit and the second storage unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The imaging element according to claim 1, wherein the second storage unit stores a signal based on the first signal when the second storage unit is connected to the first comparison unit by the first connection unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The imaging element according to claim 1, further comprising: a control unit that controls the first connection unit and controls whether the first signal is output to the first storage unit or the second storage unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The imaging element according to claim 3, wherein the control unit causes the first connection unit to connect the first comparison unit and the second storage unit and causes the first signal to be output to the second storage unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The imaging element according to claim 3, further comprising: a second connection unit that connects or disconnects the first comparison unit and the first storage unit; and a third connection unit that connects or disconnects the second comparison unit and the second storage unit, wherein the control unit controls the second connection unit and the third connection unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The imaging element according to claim 5, wherein the control unit causes the second connection unit to disconnect the first comparison unit and the first storage unit and causes the third connection unit to disconnect the second comparison unit and the second storage unit while the first connection unit connects the first comparison unit and the second storage unit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The imaging element according to claim 5, wherein the control unit causes the second connection unit to connect the first comparison unit and the first storage unit and causes the third connection unit to connect the second comparison unit and the second storage unit while the first connection unit disconnects the first comparison unit and the second storage unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The imaging element according to claim 3, further comprising: a first signal line from which a signal stored in the first storage unit is output; and a second signal line from which a signal stored in the second storage unit is output, wherein a signal based on the first signal stored in the second storage unit is output to the second signal line when the first connection unit connects the first comparison unit and the second storage unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The imaging element according to claim 8, wherein the control unit causes the first connection unit to connect the first comparison unit and the second storage unit when a signal based on the first signal is output using the second signal line. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The imaging element according to claim 8, wherein a signal based on the first signal stored in the first storage unit is output to the first signal line and a signal based on the second signal stored in the second storage unit is output to the second signal line when the first connection unit disconnects the first comparison unit and the second storage unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The imaging element according to claim 8, wherein the control unit causes the first connection unit to disconnect the first comparison unit and the second storage unit when a signal based on the first signal is output using the first signal line and a signal based on the second signal is output using the second signal line. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The imaging element according to claim 8, further comprising: a third photoelectric conversion unit that generates electric charges by photoelectric conversion; a third comparison unit that outputs a third signal based on a result of comparing a signal based on electric charges generated by the third photoelectric conversion unit and the reference signal; and a third storage unit that stores a signal based on the third signal that is output by the third comparison unit, wherein the control unit causes the first connection unit to connect the first comparison unit and the second storage unit and outputs a signal based on the first signal using the second signal line when a signal based on the third signal is output using the first signal line. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The imaging element according to claim 12, wherein the control unit causes the first connection unit to connect the first comparison unit and the second storage unit and outputs a signal based on the first signal stored in the second storage unit to the second signal line when a signal based on the third signal stored in the third storage unit is output to the first signal line. ### Claim 14 (depends on 3) The imaging element according to claim 3, further comprising: an accumulation unit that accumulates electric charges generated by the first photoelectric conversion unit; and a reset unit that resets electric charges accumulated in the accumulation unit, wherein the first comparison unit outputs a fourth signal based on a result of comparing a signal after electric charges accumulated in the accumulation unit are reset and the reference signal, and the control unit controls the first connection unit and controls whether to output the fourth signal to the first storage unit or the second storage unit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The imaging element according to claim 14, wherein the control unit causes the first connection unit to connect the first comparison unit and the second storage unit and outputs the fourth signal to the second storage unit when the first signal is output to the first storage unit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The imaging element according to claim 15, wherein the second storage unit stores a signal based on the fourth signal when the fourth signal is output. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The imaging element according to claim 14, wherein the control unit causes the first connection unit to connect the first comparison unit and the second storage unit and outputs the first signal to the second storage unit when the fourth signal is output to the first storage unit. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The imaging element according to claim 17, wherein the first storage unit stores a signal based on the fourth signal when the fourth signal is output. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The imaging element according to claim 1, further comprising: a first substrate that is provided with the first photoelectric conversion unit and the second photoelectric conversion unit; and a second substrate that is laminated on the first substrate and is provided with the first storage unit and the second storage unit. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) An imaging device comprising: the imaging element according to claim 1; and a generation unit that generates image data on the basis of a signal output from the imaging element. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The imaging element according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of conversion units comprising (i) a first conversion unit, which includes the first comparison unit and the first storage unit, and (ii) a second conversion unit, which includes the second comparison unit and the second storage unit, wherein the plurality of conversion units are provided in a row direction and in a column direction. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The imaging element according to claim 21, further comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion units including the first photoelectric conversion unit and the second photoelectric conversion unit, wherein a conversion unit of the plurality of conversion units is provided for each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units.