# US 2021/0243396 A1 · Image sensor and electronic camera > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0243396 A1 - Document ID: US20210243396A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/237,621 - Filed: 2021-04-22 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-30 - Assignees: Nikon Corporation - Applicants: Nikon Corporation - Inventors: Osamu SARUWATARI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210243396A1 ## CPC - H04N 25/709: Circuitry for control of the power supply - G01N 21/6458: {Fluorescence microscopy (fluorescence microscopes per se G02B21/0076 and G02B21/16)} - G02B 21/08: Condensers - G02B 21/16: adapted for ultraviolet illumination {; Fluorescence microscopes (G02B21/0076 takes precedence)} - H04N 25/58: involving two or more exposures - H04N 25/616: involving a correlated sampling function, e.g. correlated double sampling [CDS] or triple sampling - H04N 25/76: Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors - H04N 25/77: Pixel circuitry, e.g. memories, A/D converters, pixel amplifiers, shared circuits or shared components - H10F 39/12: Image sensors - H10F 99/00: Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass - G01N 2021/8887: {based on image processing techniques} - H10F 39/182: {Colour image sensors} - H10F 39/199: {Back-illuminated image sensors} - H10F 39/8053: {Colour filters} - H10F 39/8063: {Microlenses} - H10F 39/809: {of hybrid image sensors} - H10F 39/811: {Interconnections} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION ## Abstract An image sensor includes a first voltage source that supplies a first voltage and a plurality of pixels supplied with the first voltage. The pixel includes a photoelectric conversion unit that photoelectrically converts incident light, an accumulation unit to which an electric charge resulting from photoelectric conversion by the photoelectric conversion unit is transferred and accumulated, a transfer unit that transfers the electric charge from the photoelectric conversion unit to the accumulation unit; a second voltage source that supplies a second voltage, and a supply unit that supplies the transfer unit with a transfer signal based on either the first voltage supplied by the first voltage source or the second voltage supplied by the second voltage source. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image sensor comprising: a plurality of pixels, each of the pixels having a photoelectric conversion unit that photoelectrically converts light to generate a charge, an accumulation unit that accumulates the charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit, and a transfer unit that transfers the charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit to the accumulation unit; and a supply unit that is provided for each of the pixels and supplies the transfer unit with a signal to control the transfer unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image sensor according to claim 1, wherein: the timings at which the charges generated by the photoelectric conversion unit are transferred to the accumulation unit are different between a part of the supply units and another part of the supply units. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image sensor according to claim 1, wherein: a part of the supply units supplysignals to the transfer unit o transfer the charges generated by the photoelectric conversion unit during a first period; and another part of the supply units supply signals to the transfer unit to transfer the charges generated by the photoelectric conversion unit during a second period different from the first period. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image sensor according to claim 1, wherein: the transfer unit electrically connects the photoelectric conversion unit and the accumulation unit and transfers the electric charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit to the accumulation unit; and the supply unit supplies the transfer unit with a signal for electrically connecting the photoelectric conversion unit and the accumulation unit, and supplies the transfer unit with a signal for electrically disconnecting the photoelectric conversion unit and the accumulation unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The image sensor according to claim 1, wherein: the supply unit supplies the transfer unit with a signal based on the first voltage and the second voltage for electrically connecting the photoelectric conversion unit and the accumulation unit, and supplies the transfer unit with a signal based on the first voltage and the predetermined voltage for electrically disconnecting the photoelectric conversion unit and the accumulation unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The image sensor according to claim 5, further comprising: a first voltage source that supplies the first voltage; and a second voltage source that supplies the second voltage. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The image sensor according to claim 6, wherein: the first voltage source is shared by the plurality of pixels ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The image sensor according to claim 6, wherein: the second voltage source is provided for each of the plurality of pixels. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The image sensor according to claim 6, wherein: the first voltage is lower than the predetermined voltage; and the second voltage is higher than the predetermined voltage. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The image sensor according to claim 6, wherein: a switching unit that electrically connect or disconnect between the first voltage source and the second voltage source or the predetermined voltage. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The image sensor according to claim 6, wherein: the supply unit includes a first resistor arranged between the first voltage source and the transfer unit and a second resistor arranged between the second voltage source and the transfer unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The image sensor according to claim 11, further comprising: a first substrate provided with the plurality of the pixels; and a second substrate stacked with the first substrate and provided with an A/D conversion unit for each of the plurality of pixels that converts an analog signal based on the amount of charge accumulated in the accumulation unit into a digital signal, wherein: the first resistor includes a connection portion that connects the first substrate and the second substrate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The image sensor according to claim 6, wherein: the supply unit includes a capacitor arranged between the first voltage source and the transfer unit, and a second resistor arranged between the second voltage source and the transfer unit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The image sensor according to claim 1, further comprising: a first substrate provided with the plurality of the pixels; and a second substrate stacked with the first substrate and provided with an A/D conversion unit for each of the plurality of pixels that converts an analog signal based on the amount of charge accumulated in the accumulation unit into a digital signal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 5) The image sensor according to claim 5, wherein: the predetermined voltage is a ground voltage. ### Claim 16 An image sensor comprising: a plurality of pixels, each of the pixels having a photoelectric conversion unit that photoelectrically converts light to generate a charge, a reset unit that resets the electric charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit; and a supply unit that is provided for each of the pixels and supplies a signal to control the reset unit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The image sensor according to claim 16, wherein: the reset unit electrically connects the photoelectric conversion unit and a predetermined voltage source and resets the electric charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit; and the supply unit supplies the reset unit with a signal based on the first voltage and the second voltage for electrically connecting the photoelectric conversion unit and the predetermined voltage source, and supplies the reset unit with a signal based on the first voltage and the predetermined voltage for electrically disconnecting the photoelectric conversion unit and the predetermined voltage so ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The image sensor according to claim 17, further comprising: a first voltage source that supplies the first voltage; and a second voltage source that supplies the second voltage, wherein: the first voltage source is shared by the plurality of pixels. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The image sensor according to claim 18, further comprising: the supply unit includes a first resistor arranged between the first voltage source and the reset unit and a second resistor arranged between the second voltage source and the reset unit. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) An electronic camera comprising the image sensor according to claim 1.