Analog-to-digital converter and semiconductor device

A semiconductor device for sensing a physical quantity distribution comprising:

• a timing controller which generates a clock signal;
• a reference signal generator which receives said clock signal and generates a sloped reference signal in synchronization therewith;
• a plurality of unit elements;
• a charge generator operable to generate a charge corresponding to incident electromagnetic waves;
• a unit signal generator operable to generate an analog unit signal in accordance with the charge generated by the charge generator;
• a plurality of comparators each of which is arranged to receive as inputs said reference signal, an analog unit signal and said clock signal;
• a reference signal interface unit operative to receive said reference signal and to redistribute same to said comparators;
• and
• a plurality of counters, each of which is associated with a respective one of said comparators,
• wherein,
• each comparator is operative to compare an analog unit signal against said reference signal in synchronization with said clock signal,
• the reference signal supply interface unit supplies the reference signal to said comparators via separate signal lines,
• the reference signal generator receives control data from said timing controller containing information indicating the slope of the reference signal,
• the reference signal generator provides the reference signal with color-dependant variation characteristics and initial values to at least one comparator via the reference signal supply interface unit,
• each counter is operable to measure a comparison time of its respective comparator and to hold a count value at the time of completion of comparison performed by the comparator, and
• each counter receives at least one data signal from the timing controller indicating up-counting or down-counting.

A CMOS image sensor comprising:

• a timing controller which generates a clock signal;
• a reference signal generator which receives said clock signal and generates a sloped reference signal in synchronization therewith;
• an imaging region providing an image signal;
• a plurality of comparators each of which is arranged to receive as inputs said reference signal, an image signal and said clock signal;
• a reference signal interface unit operative to receive said reference signal and to redistribute same to said comparators;
• and
• a plurality of counters, each of which is associated with a respective one of said comparators,
• wherein,
• each comparator is operative to compare an image signal against said reference signal in synchronization with said clock signal,
• the reference signal supply interface unit supplies the reference signal to said comparators via separate signal lines,
• the reference signal generator receives control data from said timing controller containing information indicating the slope of the reference signal,
• the reference signal generator provides the reference signal with color-dependant variation characteristics and initial values to at least one comparator via the reference signal supply interface unit,
• each counter is operable to measure a comparison time of its respective comparator and to hold a count value at the time of completion of comparison performed by the comparator, and
• each counter receives at least one data signal from the timing controller indicating up-counting or down-counting.

An electronic apparatus comprising:

• a CMOS image sensor including a imaging region;
• a timing controller which generates a clock signal;
• a reference signal generator which receives said clock signal and generates a sloped reference signal in synchronization therewith;
• a signal processor operable to process an image signal from the CMOS image sensor;
• a plurality of comparators arranged to receive as inputs said reference signal, an image signal and said clock signal;
• a reference signal interface unit operative to receive said reference signal and to redistribute same to said comparators;
• and
• a plurality of counters, each of which is associated with a respective one of said comparators,
• wherein,
• each comparator is operative to compare an image signal against said reference signal in synchronization with said clock signal,
• the reference signal supply interface unit supplies the reference signal to said comparators via separate signal lines,
• the reference signal generator receives control data from said timing controller containing information indicating the slope of the reference signal,
• the reference signal generator provides the reference signal with color-dependant variation characteristics and initial values to at least one comparator via the reference signal supply interface unit,
• each counter is operable to measure a comparison time of its respective comparator and to hold a count value at the time of completion of comparison performed by the comparator, and
• each counter receives at least one data signal from the timing controller indicating up-counting or down-counting.