# US 2008/0186388 A1 · Solid-state imaging apparatus and imaging apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0186388 A1 - Document ID: US20080186388A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/024,195 - Filed: 2008-02-01 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-05 - Assignees: Sony Corporation - Inventors: Yuuki Yamagata; Ken Koseki; Masaru Kikuchi; Yoshiaki Inada; Junichi Inutsuka; Akari Tajima - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080186388A1 ## CPC - H04N 25/00: Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof - H04N 25/78: Readout circuits for addressed sensors, e.g. output amplifiers or A/D converters - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A solid-state imaging apparatus includes comparing means for comparing a pixel signal obtained by a pixel section and a reference signal the value of which varies in a stepwise manner, analog-digital converting means for outputting, as a digital value, the amount of time when the pixel signal and the reference signal change levels by the comparing means, reset signal generating means for generating a reset signal that triggers a reset operation to be input to the comparing means in order to adjust the reference in the analog-digital converting means, and waveform processing means provided between the reset signal generating means and the comparing means for increasing the degree of dullness of a waveform of the reset signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A solid-state imaging apparatus comprising: comparing means for comparing a pixel signal obtained by a pixel section and a reference signal the value of which varies in a stepwise manner; analog-digital converting means for outputting, as a digital value, the amount of time when the pixel signal and the reference signal change levels by the comparing means; reset signal generating means for generating a reset signal that triggers a reset operation to be input to the comparing means in order to adjust the reference in the analog-digital converting means; and waveform processing means provided between the reset signal generating means and the comparing means for increasing the degree of dullness of a waveform of the reset signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The solid-state imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the comparing means is provided at each column of the pixel section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The solid-state imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the waveform processing means uses the load of a capacitor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The solid-state imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the waveform processing means uses the load of a resistance. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The solid-state imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the waveform processing means uses a CMOS inverter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The solid-state imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the waveform processing means uses a CMOS inverter; and the numbers of P-channel MOS and N-channel MOS included in the CMOS inverter differ. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The solid-state imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the waveform processing means uses a CMOS inverter; and a switch for operation control is provided in either P-channel MOS or N-channel MOS included in the CMOS inverter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The solid-state imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the waveform processing means uses a CMOS inverter; and the CMOS inverter drives a direct current source. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The solid-state imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the waveform processing means uses the load of a wire provided between the reset signal generating means and the comparing means. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The solid-state imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the waveform processing means is configured to increase the load of a wire as the distance from the reset signal generating means decreases in a wiring path from the reset signal generating means to the comparing means. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The solid-state imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the comparing means is provided at each column of the pixel section; and the lengths of the wiring paths from the reset signal generating means to the comparing means at the columns are equal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The solid-state imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wave form processing means uses a capacitor within the comparing means. ### Claim 13 An imaging apparatus comprising: comparing means for comparing a pixel signal obtained by a pixel section and a reference signal the value of which varies in a stepwise manner; analog-digital converting means for outputting, as a digital value, the amount of time when the pixel signal and the reference signal change levels by the comparing means; reset signal generating means for generating a reset signal that triggers a reset operation to be input to the comparing means in order to adjust the reference in the analog-digital converting means; waveform processing means provided between the reset signal generating means and the comparing means for increasing the degree of dullness of a waveform of the reset signal; and control means for controlling at least the analog-digital converting means and the reset signal generating means. ### Claim 14 A solid-state imaging apparatus comprising: a comparing section comparing a pixel signal obtained by a pixel section and a reference signal the value of which varies in a stepwise manner; an analog-digital converting section outputting, as a digital value, the amount of time when the pixel signal and the reference signal change levels by the comparing section; a reset signal generating section generating a reset signal that triggers a reset operation to be input to the comparing section in order to adjust the reference in the analog-digital converting section; and a waveform processing section provided between the reset signal generating section and the comparing section, the waveform processing section increasing the degree of dullness of a waveform of the reset signal. ### Claim 15 An imaging apparatus comprising: a comparing section comparing a pixel signal obtained by a pixel section and a reference signal the value of which varies in a stepwise manner; an analog-digital converting section outputting, as a digital value, the amount of time when the pixel signal and the reference signal change levels by the comparing section; a reset signal generating section generating a reset signal that triggers a reset operation to be input to the comparing section in order to adjust the reference in the analog-digital converting section; a waveform processing section provided between the reset signal generating section and the comparing section, the waveform processing section increasing the degree of dullness of a waveform of the reset signal; and a control section controlling at least the analog-digital converting section and the reset signal generating section.