Image sensor and imaging apparatus

Abstract

An image sensor is provided, the image sensor including: an imaging unit that has a first imaging region and a second imaging region, and outputs: a first pixel signal generated according to light incident on the first imagine region; and a second pixel signal generated according to light incident on the second imaging region; a first ramp generating unit that generates a first ramp signal; a second ramp generating unit that generates a second ramp signal; a first signal converting unit that converts the first pixel signal into a first digital image signal based on a result of comparison between the first pixel signal and the first ramp signal; and a second signal converting unit that converts the second pixel signal into a second digital image signal based on a result of comparison between the second pixel signal and the second ramp signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An image sensor comprising:
 a plurality of pixels;   a first signal converting unit that converts a first signal into a first digital signal based on a result of comparison between the first signal and a first ramp signal, the first signal output from a first pixel among the plurality of pixels;   a second signal converting unit that converts a second signal into a second digital signal based on a result of comparison between the second signal and a second ramp signal, the second signal output from a second pixel, among the plurality of pixels, that is arranged in a column direction side of the first pixel, the first ramp signal and the second ramp signal having different inclinations.   
     
     
         2 . The image sensor according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first ramp generating unit that generates the first ramp signal; and   a second ramp generating unit that generates the second ramp signal.   
     
     
         3 . The image sensor according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first signal line, to which the first signal is output, that is connected to the first pixel; and   a second signal line, to which the second signal is output, that is connected to the second pixel.   
     
     
         4 . The image sensor according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the first signal line is connected to each pixel among the plurality of pixels arranged in a first region on which light is incident, the first region including the first pixel, and   the second signal line is connected to each pixel among the plurality of pixels arranged in a second region on which light is incident, the second region including the second pixel.   
     
     
         5 . The image sensor according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the pixels arranged in the first region are arranged side by side in the column direction and in a row direction, and   the pixels arranged in the second region are arranged side by side in the column direction and in the row direction.   
     
     
         6 . The image sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first pixel and the second pixel are arranged in an imaging chip having a first semiconductor substrate, and   the first signal converting unit and the second signal converting unit are arranged in a signal processing chip having a second semiconductor substrate.   
     
     
         7 . The image sensor according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the imaging chip is stacked on the signal processing chip.   
     
     
         8 . An imaging apparatus comprising:
 the image sensor according to  claim 1 ; and   an image processing unit that performs an image processing to the first digital signal and the second digital signal converted by the image sensor.