Semiconductor device, and operating device, signal converter, and signal processing system using the semiconductor device.

A correlation calculating device for performing an arithmetic operations, comprising a semiconductor device which comprises:

• a plurality of input terminals;
• a plurality of capacitors each having one terminal connected to said input terminals through a switch, and each having a second terminal;
• a sense amplifier commonly connected to said second terminals of said capacitors;
• and
• reset means commonly connected to said second terminals in order to set said second terminals at a predetermined voltage.

A signal converter serving as an A/D converter including a semiconductor device comprising:

• a plurality of input terminals;
• a plurality of capacitors each having one terminal connected to said input terminals through a switch, and each having a second terminal;
• a sense amplifier commonly connected to said second terminals of said capacitors;
• and
• reset means commonly connected to said second terminals in order to set said second terminals at a predetermined voltage,
• wherein analog signals are input to multiple input terminals of said semiconductor device, and a digital signal corresponding to the analog signals is output.

A signal converter serving as a D/A converter including a semiconductor device comprising:

• a plurality of input terminals;
• a plurality of capacitors each having one terminal connected to said input terminals through a switch, and each having a second terminal;
• a sense amplifier commonly connected to said second terminals of said capacitors;
• and
• reset means commonly connected to said second terminals in order to set said second terminals at a predetermined voltage,
• wherein digital signals are input to multiple input terminals of said semiconductor device, and an analog signal corresponding to the digital signals is output.

A signal processing system including one of a correlation calculating device, a first signal converter, and a second signal converter,

• wherein said correlation calculating device comprises:
• a plurality of input terminals;
• a plurality of capacitors each having one terminal connected to said input terminals through a switch, and each having a second terminal;
• a sense amplifier commonly connected to said second terminals of said capacitors;
• and
• reset means commonly connected to said second terminals in order to set said second terminals at a predetermined voltage, and
• wherein said first signal converter comprises:
• a plurality of input terminals;
• a plurality of capacitors each having one terminal connected to said input terminals of said first signal converter through a switch, and each having a second terminal;
• a sense amplifier commonly connected to said second terminals of said capacitors of said first signal converter;
• and
• reset means commonly connected to said second terminals of said capacitors of said first signal converter in order to set said second terminals at a predetermined voltage,
• wherein analog signals are input to multiple input terminals of said first signal convertor, and a digital signal corresponding to the analog signals is output, and
• wherein said second signal converter comprises:
• a plurality of input terminals;
• a plurality of capacitors each having one terminal connected to said input terminals of said second signal converter through a switch, and each having a second terminal;
• a sense amplifier commonly connected to said second terminals of said capacitors of said second signal converter;
• and
• reset means commonly connected to said second terminals of said capacitors of said second signal converter in order to set said second terminals at a predetermined voltage,
• wherein digital signals are input to multiple input terminals of said second signal convertor, and an analog signal corresponding to the digital signals is output.

A signal processing system including a semiconductor device and an image input device for inputting an image signal, said semiconductor device comprising:

• a plurality of input terminals;
• a plurality of capacitors each having one terminal connected to said input terminals through a switch, and each having a second terminal;
• a sense amplifier commonly connected to said second terminals of said capacitors;
• and
• reset means commonly connected to said second terminals in order to set said second terminals at a predetermined voltage.

A signal processing system including a semiconductor device and a memory for storing information, said semiconductor device comprising:

• a plurality of input terminals;
• a plurality of capacitors each having one terminal connected to said input terminals through a switch, and each having a second terminal;
• a sense amplifier commonly connected to said second terminals of said capacitors;
• and
• reset means commonly connected to said second terminals in order to set said second terminals at a predetermined voltage.

A semiconductor device comprising:

• a plurality of input terminals;
• a plurality of capacitor means each having a terminal connected to said input terminals, and each having a second terminal;
• comparing and determining means having an input section to which said second terminals of said plurality of capacitor means are commonly connected, at a predetermined reference potential;
• switch means for electrically connecting the input section of said comparing and determining means and an output section from which a result of a determination by said comparing and determining means is output.

A method of driving a semiconductor device which has a plurality of input terminals and in which the plurality of input terminals are commonly connected through capacitance means, a comparison/determination means has an input portion connected to the common connection terminal and has an output portion, and switch means is arranged between the output portion and the input portion of the comparison/determination means, comprising the steps of:

• turning on the switch means to set the input portion of the comparison/determination means and the output portion of the comparison/determination means to the same potential;
• turning off the switch means to set the input portion of the comparison/determination means in a floating state;
• applying a voltage through at least one input terminal of the plurality of input terminals;
• shifting a potential of the input portion of the comparison/determination means, which is set in the floating state, from an intermediate level to a desired level;
• and
• applying voltages through remaining input terminals of the plurality of input terminals to cause the comparison/determination means to perform an inverting operation.

A semiconductor circuit comprising a plurality of semiconductor devices, each said semiconductor device comprising:

• a plurality of input terminals;
• a plurality of capacitors each having one terminal connected to said input terminals through a switch, and each having a second terminal;
• a sense amplifier commonly connected to said second terminals of said capacitors;
• and
• reset means commonly connected to said second terminals in order to set said second terminals at a predetermined voltage,
• wherein an output from a first semiconductor device of said plurality of semiconductor devices and/or an inverted output from said first semiconductor device is input to a second semiconductor device of said plurality of semiconductor devices.