Image sensor, image-capturing apparatus, and semiconductor memory

Abstract

A first circuit constituting a plurality of first circuit in a first direction, which stores a signal output from a pixel having a photoelectric conversion unit; a first control unit to which the plurality of first circuits are connected and outputs a first signal for outputting signals stored in the plurality of first circuits; a readout unit that reads out the signal output from the first circuit; a plurality of second circuits that are connected to the first control unit, a plurality of sets of the plurality of second circuits in the first direction; and a second control unit that controls a readout of the signal by the readout unit. The first control unit outputs a second signal to the plurality of second circuits together with the first signal; and the second control unit controls the readout of the signal by the readout unit, based on the second signal.

1 . An image sensor, comprising:
 an output unit constituting a plurality of output units provided in a first direction, which outputs a signal based upon an electric charge generated by a photoelectric conversion unit;   a first control unit to which the plurality of output units are connected and which outputs a first signal for outputting signals stored in the plurality of output units;   a readout unit that reads out the signal output from the output unit;   a plurality of second circuits that are connected to the first control unit, a plurality of sets of the plurality of second circuits being provided in the first direction; and   a second control unit that controls a readout of the signal by the readout unit, wherein:   the first control unit outputs a second signal to the plurality of second circuits together with the first signal; and   the second control unit controls the readout of the signal by the readout unit, based on the second signal.   
     
     
         2 . The image sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of second circuits are connected to the first control unit via a signal line; and   the second control unit is connected to the signal line after at least one of the plurality of second circuits is connected in the first direction.   
     
     
         3 . The image sensor according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the second control unit is connected to the signal lines via connection units, the connection units being located between the plurality of output units.   
     
     
         4 . The image sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the number of the second circuits provided in the first direction is same as the number of the output units provided in the first direction.   
     
     
         5 . The image sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the output unit and the second circuit are circuits having same configuration or circuits having same resistance value.   
     
     
         6 . The image sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 a plurality of sets of the plurality of output units arranged in the first direction, are arranged in a direction intersecting the first direction; and   the first control unit sequentially outputs the first signals to the plurality of output units provided in a direction intersecting the first direction, and outputs the second signals to the plurality of second circuits provided in the first direction.   
     
     
         7 . The image sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 a plurality of readout units containing the readout unit are provided; and   the plurality of readout units read out the signals output from the plurality of respective output units.   
     
     
         8 . The image sensor according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 the plurality of readout units are provided in the first direction; and   the second control unit controls the plurality of readout units provided in the first direction based on the second signal.   
     
     
         9 . The image sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second control unit controls a timing of the readout of the signal by the readout unit based on the second signal.   
     
     
         10 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The image sensor according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an amplifying unit that amplifies a signal output from the output unit; and   a third control unit that controls an amplification of the signal by the amplifying unit, wherein:   the first control unit outputs a second signal to the plurality of second circuits together with the first signal; and   the third control unit controls the amplification of the signal by the amplifying unit based on the second signal.   
     
     
         16 . The image sensor according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 a plurality of amplifying units containing the amplifying unit are provided; and   the plurality of amplifying units respectively amplify signals output from the plurality of output units.   
     
     
         17 . The image sensor according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 a plurality of amplifying units containing the amplifying unit are provided in the first direction; and   the third control unit controls the plurality of amplifying units provided in the first direction based on the second signal.   
     
     
         18 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The image sensor according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 a plurality of third control units containing the third control unit are provided in a direction intersecting the first direction.   
     
     
         23 . The image sensor according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 the third control unit is a delay circuit.   
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The image sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least one third circuit which is provided between at least one of the plurality of first circuits provided in the first direction and the first control unit and to which the first signal is input.   
     
     
         26 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . An image sensor, comprising:
 a plurality of output units storing signals each output from a pixel having a photoelectric conversion unit;   a first control unit to which the plurality of output units are connected and which outputs a first signal for outputting the signals stored in the plurality of output units;   an amplifying unit that amplifies the signals output from the output units;   a plurality of second circuits that are connected to the first control unit, a plurality of sets of the plurality of second circuits being provided in the first direction; and   a second control unit that controls an amplification of the signals by the amplifying unit, wherein:   the first control unit outputs a second signal to the plurality of second circuits together with the first signal; and   the second control unit controls the amplification of the signals by the amplifying unit based on the second signal.   
     
     
         32 . An image-capturing apparatus, comprising:
 the image sensor according to  claim 1 ; and   an image generation unit that generates image data based on a signal from the image sensor.   
     
     
         33 . A semiconductor memory, comprising:
 a plurality of first circuits provided in a first direction, which store signals;   a first control unit to which the plurality of first circuits are connected and which outputs a first signal for outputting the signals stored in the plurality of first circuits;   a readout unit that reads out the signals output from the first circuits;   a plurality of second circuits that are connected to the first control unit, a plurality of sets of the plurality of second circuits being provided in the first direction; and   a second control unit that controls a readout of the signals by the readout unit, wherein:   the first control unit outputs a second signal to the plurality of second circuits together with the first signal; and   the second control unit controls the readout of the signals by the readout unit based on the second signal.   
     
     
         34 . The image sensor according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of pixels provided in a first direction, each of which includes the photoelectric conversion unit and the output unit.   
     
     
         35 . The image sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the output unit outputs the signal based upon the electric charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit which a storage unit stores, therefrom.