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US 2013/0258131 A1Published application
Photoelectric conversion apparatus and image pickup system
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsSeiji Hashimoto, Takeru Suzuki, Yasushi Matsuno, Takashi Muto
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Abstract
When a level of a signal output from a pixel is higher than a comparison level, the signal output from the pixel is converted into a digital signal during a first period by using a first reference signal. If the level of the signal output from the pixel is lower than the comparison level, the signal output from the pixel is converted into a digital signal during a second period that is longer than the first period by using a second reference signal.
Claims9
A photoelectric conversion apparatus comprising:
- a pixel configured to generate a signal through photoelectric conversion;
- a reference signal generation unit configured to generate a first reference signal that changes at a first rate of change with respect to time and a second reference signal that changes at a second rate of change, the second rate of change being smaller than the first rate of change;
- an analog-to-digital conversion unit;
- and
- a control unit configured to cause
- the analog-to-digital conversion unit to
- convert the signal output from the pixel into a digital signal by using the first reference signal during a first period if a level of the signal output from the pixel is higher than a comparison level, and
- convert the signal output from the pixel into a digital signal by using the second reference signal during a second period if the level of the signal output from the pixel is lower than the comparison level, and
- configured to make the second period longer than the first period.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.