# US 12,015,864 B2 · Comparator, AD converter, solid-state imaging device, electronic apparatus, and method of controlling comparator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,015,864 B2 - Document ID: US12015864B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/354,917 - Filed: 2023-07-19 - Published: 2023-11-09 - Granted: 2024-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2014-07-14 - Assignees: Sony Group Corporation - Applicants: Sony Group Corporation - Inventors: Masaki Sakakibara; Kenichi Aoyagi; Seiji Yamada - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12015864B2 ## CPC - H04N 25/77: Pixel circuitry, e.g. memories, A/D converters, pixel amplifiers, shared circuits or shared components - H03K 5/24: the characteristic being amplitude - H03K 5/2481: {with at least one differential stage} - H04N 25/618: for random or high-frequency noise - 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 - H10F 39/182: {Colour image sensors} - H10F 39/199: {Back-illuminated image sensors} - H10F 39/8033: {Photosensitive area} - H10F 39/8037: {the integrated elements comprising a transistor} - H10F 39/8053: {Colour filters} - H10F 39/8063: {Microlenses} - H10F 39/809: {of hybrid image sensors} - H10F 39/811: {Interconnections} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION ## Abstract The present disclosure relates to a comparator, an AD converter, a solid-state imaging device, an electronic apparatus, and a comparator control method that can reduce power consumption while increasing the determination speed of the comparator. The comparator includes a comparison unit, a positive feedback circuit, and a current limiting unit. The comparison unit compares the voltage of an input signal and the voltage of a reference signal, and outputs a comparison result signal. The positive feedback circuit increases the transition speed at the time when the comparison result signal is inverted. The current limiting unit limits the current flowing in the comparison unit after the inversion of the comparison result signal. The present disclosure can be applied to comparators, for example. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A light detecting device, comprising: a first substrate; a second substrate laminated to the first substrate; and a third substrate laminated to the second substrate, wherein: the first substrate includes: a pixel circuit having a photodiode, and a first part of a differential amplification circuit coupled to the pixel circuit, the second substrate includes a second part of the differential amplification circuit coupled to the first part of the differential amplification circuit, and the third substrate includes a latch storage unit coupled to the second part of the differential amplification circuit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The light detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the second substrate further includes a feedback circuit coupled to the second part of the differential amplification circuit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The light detecting device according to claim 2, wherein the second substrate further includes an inverter coupled to the feedback circuit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The light detecting device according to claim 1, wherein: the first part of the differential amplification circuit includes a first input and a second input, the first input is coupled to the pixel circuit, and the second input is coupled to a digital-to-analog converter that controls a voltage of a reference signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The light detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the second part of the differential amplification circuit includes a current mirror having a first p-channel metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) transistor and a second PMOS transistor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The light detecting device according to claim 1, wherein: the first substrate and the second substrate are electrically connected by a first metal bonding, and the second substrate and the third substrate are electrically connected by a second metal bonding. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The light detecting device according to claim 6, wherein the first part of the differential amplification circuit and the second part of the differential amplification circuit are electrically connected by the first metal bonding. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The light detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the latch storage unit is configured to receive a signal from the second part of the differential amplification circuit and a time code. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The light detecting device according to claim 8, wherein the time code is a Gray code. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The light detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the first substrate further includes a reset transistor coupled to a transistor of the first part of the differential amplification circuit. ### Claim 11 Alight detecting device, comprising: a first substrate; a second substrate laminated to the first substrate; and a third substrate laminated to the second substrate, wherein: the first substrate includes: a pixel circuit having a photodiode, and a first part of a comparator coupled to the pixel circuit, the second substrate includes a second part of the comparator coupled to the first part of the comparator, and the third substrate includes a latch storage unit coupled to the second part of the comparator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The light detecting device according to claim 11, wherein the first part of the comparator comprises a first part of a differential amplification circuit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The light detecting device according to claim 12, wherein the second part of the comparator comprises a second part of the differential amplification circuit, a feedback circuit, and an inverter. ### Claim 14 An electric apparatus, comprising: a digital signal processor; and a light detecting device that output a pixel signal to the digital signal processor, the light detecting device comprising: a first substrate; a second substrate laminated to the first substrate; and a third substrate laminated to the second substrate, wherein: the first substrate includes: a pixel circuit having a photodiode, and a first part of a differential amplification circuit coupled to the pixel circuit, the second substrate includes a second part of the differential amplification circuit coupled to the first part of the differential amplification circuit, and the third substrate includes a latch storage unit coupled to the second part of the differential amplification circuit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The electric apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the second substrate further includes a feedback circuit coupled to the second part of the differential amplification circuit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The electric apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the second substrate further includes an inverter coupled to the feedback circuit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The electric apparatus according to claim 14, wherein: the first part of the differential amplification circuit includes a first input and a second input, the first input is coupled to the pixel circuit, and the second input is coupled to a digital-to-analog converter that controls a voltage of a reference signal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The electric apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the second part of the differential amplification circuit includes a current mirror having a first p-channel metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) transistor and a second PMOS transistor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The electric apparatus according to claim 14, wherein: the first substrate and the second substrate are electrically connected by a first metal bonding, and the second substrate and the third substrate are electrically connected by a second metal bonding. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The electric apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the first part of the differential amplification circuit and the second part of the differential amplification circuit are electrically connected by the first metal bonding.