Solid-state imaging element and method for controlling solid-state imaging element
AssigneeSony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
InventorsHiromu Kato, Hanae Hasegawa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solid-state imaging device includes a pixel signal generating section, first and second sample and hold circuits, and a vertical scanning circuit. The pixel signal generating section sequentially generates the first and second pixel signals. The first sample and hold circuit holds the first pixel signal. The second sample and hold circuit holds the second pixel signal. The vertical scanning circuit controls the first and second sample and hold circuits to generate a combined signal of the first and second pixel signals.
Claims16
A solid-state imaging element comprising:
- a pixel signal generating section that sequentially generates first and second pixel signals;
- a first sample and hold circuit that holds the first pixel signal;
- a second sample and hold circuit that holds the second pixel signal;
- and
- a vertical scanning circuit that controls the first and second sample and hold circuits to generate a combined signal of the first and second pixel signals.
A method for controlling a solid-state imaging element, the method comprising:
- a pixel signal generating procedure of sequentially generating first and second pixel signals;
- a first sample and hold procedure of holding the first pixel signal by a first sample and hold circuit;
- a second sample and hold procedure of holding the second pixel signal by a second sample and hold circuit;
- and
- a vertical scanning procedure of controlling the first and second sample and hold circuits to generate a combined signal of the first and second pixel signals.
A solid-state imaging element comprising:
- a predetermined number of pixels that sequentially hold and sequentially output a first signal level and a second signal level according to an exposure amount, generate a reset level, and sequentially output the second signal level and the reset level;
- a differentiation circuit that obtains a difference between the first signal level and the second signal level;
- a comparison section that compares an absolute value of the difference with a predetermined threshold and outputs a comparison result;
- a region determination section that determines whether or not each of the pixels is in a region of a mobile object on a basis of the difference and the comparison result;
- and
- an analog-to-digital converter that sequentially converts the second signal level and the reset level into a digital signal.
A method for controlling a solid-state imaging element, the method comprising:
- a procedure in which a predetermined number of pixels sequentially hold and sequentially output a first signal level and a second signal level according to an exposure amount, generate a reset level, and sequentially output the second signal level and the reset level;
- a differentiation procedure of obtaining a difference between the first signal level and the second signal level;
- a comparison procedure of comparing an absolute value of the difference with a predetermined threshold and outputting a comparison result;
- a region determination procedure of determining whether or not each of the pixels is in a region of the mobile object on a basis of the difference and the comparison result;
- and
- an analog-to-digital conversion procedure of sequentially converting the second signal level and the reset level into a digital signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.