Photoelectric conversion device

A photoelectric conversion device comprising:

• a plurality of pixels;
• a plurality of output lines, to which signals from corresponding pixels are output, respectively;
• a comparison unit arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of output lines and having a first input terminal and a second input terminal, a signal corresponding to an output of the output line being input to the first input terminal, a reference signal being input to the second input terminal;
• a second input capacitor arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of output lines;
• and
• a switch having a first terminal and a second terminal,
• wherein the reference signal is input to the second input terminal via the second input capacitor,
• wherein the plurality of output lines includes a first output line and a second output line,
• wherein the first terminal is connected to a second input capacitor corresponding to the first output line,
• wherein the second terminal is connected to a second input capacitor corresponding to the second output line,
• wherein the comparison unit is configured to perform an offset clamping operation of setting an offset based on potentials input to the first input terminal and the second input terminal,
• wherein during a period before the offset clamping operation is completed, the switch is turned on, and
• wherein after the offset clamping operation is completed, the switch is turned off.

A photoelectric conversion device comprising:

• a plurality of pixels;
• a plurality of output lines, to which signals from corresponding pixels are output, respectively;
• an amplification unit arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of output lines and configured to amplify a signal output to a corresponding output line;
• a comparison unit arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of output lines and having a first input terminal and a second input terminal, a signal corresponding to an output of the amplification unit being input to the first input terminal, a reference signal being input to the second input terminal;
• a switch having a first terminal and a second terminal;
• a first input capacitor arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of output lines;
• and
• an output line connection switch having a third terminal and a fourth terminal,
• wherein a signal corresponding to an output of the amplification unit is input to the first input terminal via the first input capacitor,
• wherein the plurality of output lines includes a first output line and a second output line,
• wherein the first terminal is connected to a node between an amplification unit corresponding to the first output line and a first input capacitor corresponding to the first output line,
• wherein the second terminal is connected to a node between an amplification unit corresponding to the second output line and a first input capacitor corresponding to the second output line,
• wherein the comparison unit is configured to perform an offset clamping operation of setting an offset based on potentials input to the first input terminal and the second input terminal,
• wherein the comparison unit is configured to perform a comparison operation between the signal corresponding to the output of the amplification unit and the reference signal,
• wherein during a period before the offset clamping operation is completed, the switch is turned on,
• wherein during a period after the offset clamping operation is completed and before the comparison operation begins for the first time from a completion of the offset clamping operation, the switch is turned off,
• wherein the third terminal is connected to a node between a pixel corresponding to the first output line and the amplification unit corresponding to the first output line, and
• wherein the fourth terminal is connected to a node between a pixel corresponding to the second output line and the amplification unit corresponding to the second output line.