# US 2020/0404204 A1 · Imaging device and diagnosis method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0404204 A1 - Document ID: US20200404204A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/956,810 - Filed: 2018-10-15 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-28 - Assignees: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation - Applicants: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation - Inventors: NAOKI KAWAZU; KEITA SASAKI; TAKUMI OKA; MOHAMMAD MUNIR HAQUE; YUICHI MOTOHASHI; ATSUSHI SUZUKI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200404204A1 ## CPC - H04N 25/585: with pixels having different sensitivities within the sensor, e.g. fast or slow pixels or pixels having different sizes - H04N 25/704: Pixels specially adapted for focusing, e.g. phase difference pixel sets - H04N 25/134: {based on three different wavelength filter elements} - H04N 25/621: for the control of blooming - H04N 25/683: by defect estimation performed on the scene signal, e.g. real time or on the fly detection - H04N 25/702: SSIS architectures characterised by non-identical, non-equidistant or non-planar pixel layout - H04N 25/778: comprising amplifiers shared between a plurality of pixels, i.e. at least one part of the amplifier must be on the sensor array itself - H04N 25/78: Readout circuits for addressed sensors, e.g. output amplifiers or A/D converters - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An imaging device according to the present disclosure includes: a plurality of pixels each including a first light-receiving element and a second light-receiving element, the plurality of pixels including a first pixel; a generating section that is able to generate a first detection value on a basis of a light-receiving result by the first light-receiving element of each of the plurality of pixels, and is able to generate a second detection value on a basis of a light-receiving result by the second light-receiving element of each of the plurality of pixels; and a diagnosis section that is able to perform a diagnosis processing on a basis of a detection ratio that is a ratio between the first detection value and the second detection value in the first pixel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An imaging device comprising: a plurality of pixels each including a first light-receiving element and a second light-receiving element, the plurality of pixels including a first pixel; a generating section that is able to generate a first detection value on a basis of a light-receiving result by the first light-receiving element of each of the plurality of pixels, and is able to generate a second detection value on a basis of a light-receiving result by the second light-receiving element of each of the plurality of pixels; and a diagnosis section that is able to perform a diagnosis processing on a basis of a detection ratio that is a ratio between the first detection value and the second detection value in the first pixel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the diagnosis section is able to perform the diagnosis processing also on a basis of whether the first detection value in the first pixel is saturated and whether the second detection value in the first pixel is saturated, in addition to the detection ratio in the first pixel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The imaging device according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of pixels further include a second pixel, and the diagnosis section is able to perform the diagnosis processing further on a basis of the detection ratio in the second pixel, whether the second detection value in the second pixel is saturated, and whether the second detection value in the second pixel is saturated. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The imaging device according to claim 2, wherein the diagnosis section is able to perform the diagnosis processing by generating a detection pattern on a basis of whether the detection ratio is within a predetermined detection ratio range, whether the first detection value is saturated, and whether the second detection value is saturated, in each of the plurality of pixels, and by comparing the detection pattern with a predetermined reference pattern. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising a first control line, wherein the plurality of pixels each further include a first accumulation section that is able to accumulate an electric charge, a first transistor that is able to couple the first light-receiving element to the first accumulation section on a basis of a voltage in the first control line, and an output section that is able to output a signal corresponding to a voltage in the first accumulation section. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The imaging device according to claim 5, further comprising: a second control line; a third control line; a fourth control line; and a fifth control line, wherein the plurality of pixels each further include a second transistor that is able to apply a predetermined voltage to a predetermined node on a basis of a voltage in the second control line, a third transistor that is able to couple the predetermined node and the first accumulation section with each other on a basis of a voltage in the third control line, a second accumulation section that is able to accumulate an electric charge, a fourth transistor that is able to couple the second light-receiving element and the second accumulation section with each other on a basis of a voltage in the fourth control line, and a fifth transistor that is able to couple the second accumulation section and the predetermined node with each other on a basis of a voltage in the fifth control line. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein a size of a light-receiving region of the first light-receiving element is different from a size of a light-receiving region of the second light-receiving element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein, in each of the pixels, a color of light receivable by the first light-receiving element is same as a color of light receivable by the second light-receiving element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the diagnosis section is able to perform the diagnosis processing in a case where illuminance is within a predetermined range. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the generating section includes a conversion circuit that is able to generate the first detection value by performing an AD conversion on the basis of the light-receiving result by the first light-receiving element of each of the plurality of pixels, and is able to generate the second detection value by performing the AD conversion on the basis of the light-receiving result by the second light-receiving element of each of the plurality of pixels. ### Claim 11 An imaging device comprising: a plurality of pixels each including a light-receiving element, the plurality of pixels being divided into a first pixel group and a second pixel group; a generating section that is able to generate a first detection value on a basis of a light-receiving result by the light-receiving element of each of the plurality of pixels belonging to the first pixel group, and is able to generate a second detection value on a basis of a light-receiving result by the light-receiving element of each of the plurality of pixels belonging to the second pixel group; and a diagnosis section, wherein the plurality of pixels belonging to the first pixel group and the plurality of pixels belonging to the second pixel group are associated with each other respectively to form a plurality of pixel pairs, the plurality of pixel pairs include a first pixel pair, and the diagnosis section is able to perform a diagnosis processing on a basis of a detection ratio that is a ratio between the first detection value and the second detection value in the first pixel pair. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The imaging device according to claim 11, wherein the diagnosis section is able to perform the diagnosis processing also on a basis of whether the first detection value in the first pixel pair is saturated and whether the second detection value in the first pixel pair is saturated, in addition to the detection ratio in the first pixel pair. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The imaging device according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of pixel pairs include a second pixel pair, and the diagnosis section is able to perform the diagnosis processing further on a basis of the detection ratio in the second pixel pair, whether the first detection value in the second pixel pair is saturated, and whether the second detection value in the second pixel pair is saturated. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The imaging device according to claim 12, wherein the diagnosis section is able to perform the diagnosis processing by generating a detection pattern on a basis of whether the detection ratio is within a predetermined detection ratio range, whether the first detection value is saturated, and whether the second detection value is saturated, in each of the plurality of pixel pairs, and by comparing the detection pattern with a predetermined reference pattern. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The imaging device according to claim 11, further comprising a signal line, wherein each of two pixels of the first pixel pair each further include an accumulation section that is able to accumulate an electric charge, a transistor that is able to couple the light-receiving element to the accumulation section by being brought into an ON state, and an output section that is able to output to the signal line a signal corresponding to a voltage in the accumulation section. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The imaging device according to claim 11, wherein colors of light beams receivable by the respective light-receiving elements of the two pixels in each of the pixel pairs are same as each other. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The imaging device according to claim 11, further comprising a control line, wherein the plurality of pixels belonging to the first pixel group each further include an accumulation section that is able to accumulate an electric charge, a transistor that is able to couple the light-receiving element to the accumulation section on a basis of a voltage in the control line, and an output section that is able to output a signal corresponding to a voltage in the accumulation section. ### Claim 18 A diagnosis method comprising: generating a first detection value on a basis of a light-receiving result by a first light-receiving element of each of a plurality of pixels each including the first light-receiving element and a second light-receiving element; generating a second detection value on a basis of a light-receiving result by the second light-receiving element of each of the plurality of pixels; and performing a diagnosis processing on a basis of a detection ratio that is a ratio between the first detection value and the second detection value in a first pixel of the plurality of pixels. ### Claim 19 A diagnosis method comprising: generating a first detection value on a basis of a light-receiving result by a light-receiving element of each of a plurality of pixels belonging to a first pixel group of a plurality of pixels that each include the light-receiving element and are divided into the first pixel group and a second pixel group; generating a second detection value on a basis of a light-receiving result by the light-receiving element of each of a plurality of pixels belonging to the second pixel group; and performing a diagnosis processing on a basis of a detection ratio that is a ratio between the first detection value and the second detection value in a first pixel pair of a plurality of pixel pairs formed by the plurality of pixels belonging to the first pixel group and the plurality of pixels belonging to the second pixel group that are associated with each other respectively.