Imaging element, control method, and imaging apparatus

A control method of an imaging element, comprising:

• causing a plurality of comparing units to compare analog signals supplied from pixels including photoelectric conversion elements through a vertical signal line with reference signals of ramp waves having different inclinations and output comparison results;
• causing a plurality of counters to execute counts until the comparison results are inverted for the different comparing units and output count values as digital data;
• and
• causing a sample-and-hold unit to hold the analog signals supplied through the vertical signal line before the comparing units comparing the analog signals and the reference signals of the ramp waves other than the ramp wave having the most moderate inclination start the comparisons and electrically cut the vertical signal line and the comparing units and supply the held analog signals to the comparing units while the comparing units execute the comparisons.

An imaging apparatus comprising:

• an imaging element having a plurality of comparing units that compare analog signals supplied from pixels including photoelectric conversion elements through a vertical signal line with reference signals of ramp waves having different inclinations and output comparison results, a plurality of counters that execute counts until the comparison results are inverted for the different comparing units and output count values as digital data, and a sample-and-hold unit that holds the analog signals supplied through the vertical signal line before the comparing units comparing the analog signals and the reference signals of the ramp waves other than the ramp wave having the most moderate inclination start the comparisons and electrically cuts the vertical signal line and the comparing units and supplies the held analog signals to the comparing units while the comparing units execute the comparisons;
• an image processing unit that executes image processing on digital data of an imaging image output from the imaging element;
• and
• a storage unit that stores the digital data of the imaging image subjected to the image processing by the image processing unit.

An imaging element comprising:

• a plurality of reference signal generating units that generate reference signals of ramp waves having different inclinations at different timings;
• a plurality of comparing units that compare analog signals supplied from pixels including photoelectric conversion elements through a vertical signal line with the reference signals generated by the different reference signal generating units and output comparison results;
• and
• a plurality of counters that execute counts until the comparison results are inverted for the different comparing units and output count values as digital data.

A control method of an imaging element, comprising:

• causing a plurality of reference signal generating units to generate reference signals of ramp waves having different inclinations at different timings;
• causing a plurality of comparing units to compare analog signals supplied from pixels including photoelectric conversion elements through a vertical signal line with the reference signals generated by the different reference signal generating units and output comparison results;
• and
• causing a plurality of counters to execute counts until the comparison results are inverted for the different comparing units and output count values as digital data.

An imaging apparatus comprising:

• an imaging element having a plurality of reference signal generating units that generate reference signals of ramp waves having different inclinations at different timings, a plurality of comparing units that compare analog signals supplied from pixels including photoelectric conversion elements through a vertical signal line with the reference signals generated by the different reference signal generating units and output comparison results, and a plurality of counters that execute counts until the comparison results are inverted for the different comparing units and output count values as digital data;
• an image processing unit that executes image processing on digital data of an imaging image output from the imaging element;
• and
• a storage unit that stores the digital data of the imaging image subjected to the image processing by the image processing unit.