Image sensor, image capturing device and capacitance device

Abstract

An image sensor includes: a pixel that generates a pixel signal based upon incident light having entered therein; and a generation unit that includes a first input unit to which the pixel signal is input, a second input unit to which a first reference signal with a shifting voltage is input, and an output unit that outputs an output signal generated based upon the pixel signal and the first reference signal, wherein: the generation unit further includes a first capacitance disposed between the first input unit and the output unit, a second capacitance disposed between the second input unit and the output unit, and a third capacitance connected to either one of the first capacitance and the second capacitance.

1 . An image sensor, comprising:
 a photoelectric conversion unit that generates an electric charge by photoelectric conversion of light;   a first input unit to which a signal based upon the electric charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit is input;   a second input unit to which a first reference signal with a shifting voltage is input;   an output unit that outputs a signal generated based upon the signal input to the first input unit and the first reference signal;   a first capacitance disposed between the first input unit and the output unit;   a second capacitance disposed between the second input unit and the output unit; and   a third capacitance connected to the first capacitance or the second capacitance.   
     
     
         2 . The image sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 one electrode of the first capacitance is electrically connected to the first input unit;   another electrode of the first capacitance is electrically connected to the output unit;   one electrode of the second capacitance is electrically connected to the second input unit;   another electrode of the second capacitance is electrically connected to the output unit; and   the third capacitance is connected to the first capacitance or the second capacitance.   
     
     
         3 . The image sensor according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a switch unit that connects the third capacitance to the first input unit or the second input unit.   
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The image sensor according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first storage unit in which information indicating whether the third capacitance is to be connected to the first input unit or the second input unit, is stored.   
     
     
         6 . The image sensor according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first storage unit in which information indicating whether the third capacitance is currently connected to the first input unit or the second input unit, is stored.   
     
     
         7 . The image sensor according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a comparator unit that compares the signal output from the output unit with a second reference signal.   
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The image sensor according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 the first capacitance, the second capacitance, the third capacitance and the comparator unit are provided in correspondence to the photoelectric conversion unit.   
     
     
         11 . The image sensor according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 the image sensor includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion units each corresponding to the photoelectric conversion unit; and   the first capacitance, the second capacitance, the third capacitance and the comparator unit are provided in correspondence to the plurality of photoelectric conversion units.   
     
     
         12 . The image sensor according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 the third capacitance is connected to the first input unit or the second input unit based upon comparison results provided by the comparator unit.   
     
     
         13 . The image sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the output unit outputs the signal with an amplification factor which is different between when the third capacitance is connected to the first capacitance and when the third capacitance is connected to the second capacitance.   
     
     
         14 . The image sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the output unit outputs the signal with a signal level which is different between when the third capacitance is connected to the first capacitance and when the third capacitance is connected to the second capacitance.   
     
     
         15 . The image sensor according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a switch unit that connects the third capacitance with the first capacitance or the second capacitance.   
     
     
         16 . The image sensor according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fourth capacitance that is connected to the first capacitance or the second capacitance.   
     
     
         17 . The image sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 a first semiconductor substrate at which the photoelectric conversion unit provided and   a second semiconductor substrate at which the output unit is provided are laminated one on top of another.   
     
     
         18 . The image sensor according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 a first semiconductor substrate at which the first capacitance, the second capacitance, the third capacitance and the comparator unit are provided and   a second semiconductor substrate at which a second storage unit in which a signal generated based upon comparison results provided by the comparator unit is stored, is provided are laminated one on top of the other.   
     
     
         19 . An image capturing device, comprising:
 an image sensor according to  claim 1 ; and   a generation unit that generates image data based upon the signal based upon the electric charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit.   
     
     
         20 . A capacitance device, comprising:
 a first input unit to which a first signal is input,   a second input unit to which a second signal is input,   an output unit that outputs a signal generated based upon the first signal and the second signal,   a first capacitance connected between the first input unit and the output unit,   a second capacitance connected between the second input unit and the output unit; and   a third capacitance connected to the first capacitance or the second capacitance.   
     
     
         21 . The image sensor according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a switch unit that connects the first capacitance to the first input unit or the second input unit.   
     
     
         22 . The image sensor according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a reference signal generation unit that generates the first reference signal.   
     
     
         23 . The image sensor according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the third capacitance is connected in parallel to the first capacitance or the second capacitance.