Signal processing apparatus, image capturing apparatus, control apparatus, signal processing method, and control method

An image capturing apparatus comprising:

• an image sensor;
• an analog-digital converter that converts an analog signal output from a pixel section of the image sensor to a digital signal using a plurality of reference signals having different slopes from each other;
• and
• a determination unit that determines a signal level at which the plurality of reference signals are changed based on a distribution of the converted digital signal,
• wherein the analog-digital converter performs the conversion using a reference signal having a steeper slope when the analog signal is equal to or greater than the signal level than when the analog signal is smaller than the signal level.

A control apparatus for controlling an analog-digital converter that converts an analog signal output from a pixel section of an image sensor to a digital signal using a plurality of reference signals having different slopes from each other, the control apparatus comprising:

• a determination unit that determines a signal level at which the plurality of reference signals are changed based on a distribution of a converted digital signal;
• and
• a notification unit that notifies the analog-digital converter of the determined signal level,
• wherein the analog-digital converter performs the conversion using a reference signal having a steeper slope when the analog signal is equal to or greater than the signal level than when the analog signal is smaller than the signal level.

A signal processing method comprising:

• converting an analog signal output from a pixel section of an image sensor to a digital signal using a plurality of reference signals having different slopes from each other;
• and
• determining a signal level at which the plurality of reference signals are changed based on a distribution of the converted digital signal,
• wherein upon converting the analog signal to the digital signal, the conversion is performed using a reference signal having a steeper slope when the analog signal is equal to or greater than the signal level than when the analog signal is smaller than the signal level.

A control method for controlling an analog-digital converter that converts an analog signal output from a pixel section of an image sensor to a digital signal using a plurality of reference signals having different slopes from each other, the method comprising:

• determining a signal level at which the plurality of reference signals are changed based on a distribution of a converted digital signal;
• and
• notifying the analog-digital converter of the determined signal level,
• wherein the analog-digital converter is controlled to perform the conversion using a reference signal having a steeper slope when the analog signal is equal to or greater than the signal level than when the analog signal is smaller than the signal level.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer included in an image capturing apparatus to execute the steps of a control method for controlling an analog-digital converter that converts an analog signal output from a pixel section of an image sensor to a digital signal using a plurality of reference signals having different slopes from each other, the method comprises:

• determining a signal level at which the plurality of reference signals are changed based on a distribution of a converted digital signal;
• and
• notifying the analog-digital converter of the determined signal level,
• wherein the analog-digital converter is controlled to perform the conversion using a reference signal having a steeper slope when the analog signal is equal to or greater than the signal level than when the analog signal is smaller than the signal level.