US2018352200A1PendingUtilityA1

Solid-state imaging device, driving method, and electronic device

Assignee: SONY CORPPriority: Feb 27, 2013Filed: Jul 20, 2018Published: Dec 6, 2018
Est. expiryFeb 27, 2033(~6.6 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
H04N 25/701H04N 25/77H04N 25/76H04N 25/616H04N 25/44H01L 27/14645H04N 9/045H04N 5/378H01L 27/14614H04N 5/3575H04N 5/3692H04N 5/357H01L 27/14621H04N 5/37455H04N 25/78H04N 25/65H04N 25/67H10F 39/80373H10F 39/8053H10F 39/182G06V 40/1318
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Claims

Abstract

Provided is a solid-state imaging device including: a pixel section configured to include a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix form, the plurality of pixels performing photoelectric conversion; column signal lines configured to transmit pixel signals output from the pixels in units of columns; an AD converting section configured to include a comparator that compares a reference signal serving as a ramp wave with the pixel signals transmitted via the column signal line and convert a reference level and a signal level of the pixel signals into digital signals independently based on a comparison result of the comparator; a switch configured to be connected with the column signal lines; and a control section configured to turn on the switch only during a certain period of time in a period of time in which the comparator is reset and cause the column signal lines to be short-circuited.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A solid-state imaging device comprising:
 a pixel section configured to include a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix form, the plurality of pixels performing photoelectric conversion;   column signal lines configured to transmit pixel signals output from the pixels in units of columns;   an AD converting section configured to include a comparator that compares a reference signal serving as a ramp wave with the pixel signals transmitted via the column signal line and convert a reference level and a signal level of the pixel signals into digital signals independently based on a comparison result of the comparator;   a switch configured to be connected with the column signal lines; and   a control section configured to turn on the switch only during a certain period of time in a period of time in which the comparator is reset and cause the column signal lines to be short-circuited.   
     
     
         2 . The solid-state imaging device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the plurality of pixels are arranged in the pixel section to correspond to a color filter in which colors are arranged in a certain repetitive unit, and wherein the switch is connected to each column signal line of pixels of the same color.   
     
     
         3 . The solid-state imaging device according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the control section adjusts an ON period of time of the switch according to a gain of AD conversion performed by the AD converting section.   
     
     
         4 . The solid-state imaging device according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the control section adjusts a reset period of the comparator according to the gain of the AD conversion performed by the AD converting section.   
     
     
         5 . The solid-state imaging device according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the gain of the AD conversion performed by the AD converting section has a value corresponding to the reference signal differing according to each color.   
     
     
         6 . The solid-state imaging device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the switch is a transistor, and   wherein the transistor includes a gate connected to the control section via a control line and a source and a drain that are connected to a row signal line connected to the column signal line in a row direction.   
     
     
         7 . The solid-state imaging device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the switch is a transistor, and   wherein the transistor includes a gate connected to the control section via a control line, a source connected to the column signal line, and a drain connected to a row signal line in a row direction.   
     
     
         8 . The solid-state imaging device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the switch is connected with all the column signal lines.   
     
     
         9 . The solid-state imaging device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the column signal lines are divided into blocks in a certain unit, and wherein the switch is connected with the column signal lines in units of the blocks.   
     
     
         10 . The solid-state imaging device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the plurality of pixels arranged in the pixel section in the matrix form share at least an amplifying transistor and the column signal lines with other pixels.   
     
     
         11 . The solid-state imaging device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a noise adding section configured to add a noise that is temporally unchanging and is irregular in a two-dimensional space to the pixel signals transmitted via the column signal lines.   
     
     
         12 . A driving method of a solid-state imaging device, the solid-state imaging device including
 a pixel section configured to include a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix form, the plurality of pixels performing photoelectric conversion,   column signal lines configured to transmit pixel signals output from the pixels in units of columns,   an AD converting section configured to include a comparator that compares a reference signal serving as a ramp wave with the pixel signals transmitted via the column signal line and convert a reference level and a signal level of the pixel signals into digital signals independently based on a comparison result of the comparator, and   a switch configured to be connected with the column signal lines,   the driving method comprising:   a step of, by the solid-state imaging device, turning on the switch only during a certain period of time in a period of time in which the comparator is reset and causing the column signal lines to be short-circuited.   
     
     
         13 . An electronic device comprising:
 a solid-state imaging device including   a pixel section configured to include a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix form, the plurality of pixels performing photoelectric conversion,   column signal lines configured to transmit pixel signals output from the pixels in units of columns,   an AD converting section configured to include a comparator that compares a reference signal serving as a ramp wave with the pixel signals transmitted via the column signal line and convert a reference level and a signal level of the pixel signals into digital signals independently based on a comparison result of the comparator,   a switch configured to be connected with the column signal lines, and   a control section configured to turn on the switch only during a certain period of time in a period of time in which the comparator is reset and cause the column signal lines to be short-circuited.

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