Photon counting device and photon counting method

A method for converting a digital value output from a CMOS image sensor, in which the CMOS image sensor includes:

• a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion element configured to convert input light to charge, and an amplifier configured to amplify the charge converted by the photoelectric conversion element and convert the charge to a voltage;
• and
• an A/D converter configured to convert the voltage output from the amplifier of each of the plurality of pixels to a digital value and output the digital value, the method comprising:
• a summing step of summing the digital value corresponding to at least two pixels that are targets of binning among the plurality of pixels and outputting a summed value;
• a conversion step of converting the summed value by referring to threshold data corresponding to a size of the binning;
• and
• a data processing step of outputting a conversion result from the conversion step.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program, the program causing the computer to:

• acquire a digital value output from a CMOS image sensor including a plurality of pixels and an A/D converter, wherein each pixel of the plurality of pixels includes a photoelectric conversion element configured to convert input light to charge, and an amplifier configured to amplify the charge converted by the photoelectric conversion element and convert the charge to a voltage, and wherein the A/D converter is configured to convert the voltage output from the amplifier of each of the plurality of pixels to a digital value and output the digital value;
• output a summed value obtained by summing the digital value in at least two pixels that are targets of binning among the plurality of pixels;
• convert the summed value by referring to threshold data corresponding to a size of the binning;
• and
• output a conversion result of the summed value converted.