# US 12,111,215 B2 · Imaging device and calibration method

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- Number: US 12,111,215 B2
- Document ID: US12111215B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/309,873
- Filed: 2019-12-09
- Published: 2022-03-10
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2019-01-10
- Assignees: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
- Applicants: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
- Inventors: Takuro Kosaka; Naoki Kawazu; Takumi Oka
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12111215B2

## CPC

- G01K 15/005: {Calibration}
- G01K 7/01: using semiconducting elements having PN junctions (G01K7/02, G01K7/16, G01K7/30 take precedence)
- H04N 23/11: for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
- H04N 25/63: applied to dark current
- H04N 25/75: Circuitry for providing, modifying or processing image signals from the pixel array
- H04N 25/77: Pixel circuitry, e.g. memories, A/D converters, pixel amplifiers, shared circuits or shared components
- G01J 2001/444: {Compensating; Calibrating, e.g. dark current, temperature drift, noise reduction or baseline correction; Adjusting}
- G01K 2219/00: Thermometers with dedicated analog to digital converters
- G01S 7/497: Means for monitoring or calibrating
- G01K: MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (radiation pyrometry G01J5/00)
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N)
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES

## Abstract

An imaging device (1) according to the present disclosure includes a pixel array unit (10) that includes a pixel, an analog signal generation unit, an A/D conversion unit (23), and a switch. The analog signal generation unit generates an analog signal based on a temperature around the pixel array unit (10). The A/D conversion unit (23) converts the analog signal into a digital signal. The switch cuts off the analog signal to be supplied to the A/D conversion unit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An imaging device, comprising:
a pixel array unit including pixels;
an analog signal generation unit configured to generate an analog signal based on a temperature around the pixel array unit;
an analog to digital (A/D) conversion unit configured to convert the analog signal into a digital signal;
a switch configured to cut off the analog signal to be supplied to the A/D conversion unit; and
a correction unit configured to calculate a parameter of a correction calculation expression for correction of the digital signal based on a first digital signal obtained through A/D conversion from the analog signal cut off by the switch and based on a second digital signal obtained through the A/D conversion from the analog signal generated by the analog signal generation unit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the switch is provided between the analog signal generation unit and the A/D conversion unit.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein
each of the pixels generates image data which is the analog signal, and
the A/D conversion unit is configured to perform A/D conversion on the image data.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising the correction unit configured to correct the digital signal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein
a plurality of A/D conversion units are provided, wherein the plurality of A/D conversion units includes the A/D conversion unit, and
the correction unit is configured to calculate the parameter of the correction calculation expression based on the first digital signal and the second digital signal each converted by the plurality of A/D conversion units.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The imaging device according to claim 4, wherein the correction unit is configured to correct the digital signal based on a measurement value of a power voltage.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the analog signal is a current value.

### Claim 8

A calibration method, comprising:
cutting off an analog signal generated based on a temperature;
converting the cutoff analog signal into a first digital signal;
outputting the analog signal;
converting the analog signal into a second digital signal; and
calculating a parameter of a correction calculation expression for correcting a digital signal obtained through analog to digital (A/D) conversion from the analog signal generated based on the temperature around a pixel array unit,
wherein the calculation of the parameter of the correction calculation expression for the correction of the digital signal is based on the first digital signal and the second digital signal.