Imaging device

Abstract

In one example, an imaging device including a plurality of pixel circuits, a first control line, a second control line, a first voltage supply line, a second voltage supply line, a first light-receiving element, and a diagnosis unit is disclosed. The pixel circuits each include a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, an accumulation unit, a first transistor, a second transistor, and an output unit. The first transistor is couples the third terminal to the accumulation unit on the basis of a voltage of the first terminal. The second transistor supplies a predetermined voltage to the accumulation unit on the basis of a voltage of the second terminal. The output unit outputs a signal corresponding to a voltage in the accumulation unit.

1 . An imaging device comprising:
 a plurality of circuits including
 a first dummy circuit that has a first amplifier transistor with a first gate coupled to a first voltage supply line that supplies a first voltage, the first dummy circuit configured to output a first signal, 
 a second dummy circuit that has a second amplifier transistor with a second gate coupled to a second voltage supply line different from the first voltage supply line, the second dummy circuit configured to output a second signal, and 
 a first pixel circuit that has a third amplifier transistor with a third gate coupled to a first light-receiving element; and 
   a diagnosis unit configured to perform a diagnosis process based on the first signal and the second signal.   
     
     
         2 . The imaging device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an address generation section configured to generate an address signal, wherein   the diagnosis unit performs the diagnosis process based on the address signal, the first signal, and the second signal.   
     
     
         3 . The imaging device according to  claim 2 , wherein the diagnosis unit includes
 a conversion circuit configured to generate a first digital code by performing AD conversion based on the first signal, and generate a second digital code by performing AD conversion based on the second signal, and   the diagnosis unit is configured to perform the diagnosis process based on the address signal, the first digital code, and the second digital code.   
     
     
         4 . The imaging device according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the first voltage supply line, the second voltage supply line, the plurality of circuits, and the first light-receiving element are formed on a first semiconductor substrate, and   the address generation section is formed on a second semiconductor substrate, the second semiconductor substrate being bonded to the first semiconductor substrate.   
     
     
         5 . The imaging device according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the plurality of circuits includes a plurality of pixel lines,   the first dummy circuit, the second dummy circuit, and the first pixel circuit are connected to a first pixel line of the plurality of pixel lines,   the diagnosis unit is further configured to
 generate line identification information of the first pixel line based on the first digital code and the second digital code, and 
 perform the diagnosis process based on the address signal and the line identification information. 
   
     
     
         6 . The imaging device according to  claim 1 , wherein a first terminal of the third amplifier transistor is coupled to the second voltage supply line. 
     
     
         7 . The imaging device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first voltage supply line and the second voltage supply line extend in a first direction. 
     
     
         8 . The imaging device according to  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of circuits includes a second pixel circuit that has a fourth amplifier transistor with a fourth gate coupled to a second light-receiving element shielded from light, and
 the first dummy circuit, the second dummy circuit, the first pixel circuit and the second pixel circuit are disposed in the first direction.   
     
     
         9 . The imaging device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a driving unit coupled to the first dummy circuit, the second dummy circuit, and the first pixel circuit via a control signal line,   wherein the first pixel circuit is disposed between the driving unit and the first dummy circuit along the control signal line.   
     
     
         10 . The imaging device according to  claim 1 , further comprising: a communication interface configured to communicate with a vehicular electronic control unit (ECU). 
     
     
         11 . An imaging device comprising:
 a pixel array comprising a plurality of pixel circuits, the pixel array comprising:
 a dummy circuit region including a first dummy circuit configured to output a first signal and a second dummy circuit configured to output a second signal; 
 a normal pixel region including a first pixel circuit that includes a first light-receiving element; 
 a first light-shielded pixel region including a second pixel circuit that includes a second light-receiving element different from the first light-receiving element, the second light-receiving element being shielded from light; 
   a first voltage supply line coupled to the first dummy circuit, the first voltage supply line extending in a first direction and supplying a first voltage;   a second voltage supply line coupled to the second dummy circuit, the second voltage supply line different from the first voltage supply line, the second voltage supply line extending in the first direction and supplying a second voltage; and   a diagnosis unit configured to perform a diagnosis process based on the first signal and the second signal.   
     
     
         12 . The imaging device according to  claim 11 , wherein
 in the first direction, the first light-shielded pixel region, the normal pixel region, and the dummy circuit region are disposed in this order.   
     
     
         13 . The imaging device according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the pixel array further includes a second light-shielded pixel region including a third pixel circuit that includes a third light-receiving element different from the first light-receiving element and the second light-receiving element, the third light-receiving element being shielded from light.   
     
     
         14 . The imaging device according to  claim 13 , wherein
 in the first direction, the normal pixel region, the second light-shielded pixel region, and the dummy circuit region are disposed in this order.   
     
     
         15 . The imaging device according to  claim 13 , wherein
 in the first direction, the first light-shielded pixel region, the normal pixel region, the second light-shielded pixel region, and the dummy circuit region are disposed in this order.   
     
     
         16 . The imaging device according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the second voltage supply line is coupled to the first pixel circuit and the second pixel circuit.   
     
     
         17 . The imaging device according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a driving unit coupled to the first dummy circuit, the second dummy circuit, and the first pixel circuit via a control signal line,   wherein the first pixel circuit is disposed between the driving unit and the first dummy circuit along the control signal line.   
     
     
         18 . The imaging device according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an address generation section configured to generate an address signal, wherein   the diagnosis unit performs the diagnosis process based on the address signal, the first signal, and the second signal.   
     
     
         19 . The imaging device according to  claim 18 , wherein the diagnosis unit includes a conversion circuit configured to generate a first digital code by performing a first analog-to-digital (AD) conversion based on the first signal, and generate a second digital code by performing a second analog-to-digital (AD) conversion based on the second signal, and
 the diagnosis unit is configured to perform the diagnosis process based on the address signal, the first digital code, and the second digital code.   
     
     
         20 . The imaging device according to  claim 19 , wherein
 the pixel array includes a plurality of pixel lines,   the first dummy circuit, the second dummy circuit, and the first pixel circuit are connected to a first pixel line of the plurality of pixel lines, and   the diagnosis unit is further configured to
 generate line identification information of the first pixel line based on the first digital code and the second digital code, and 
 perform the diagnosis process based on the address signal and the line identification information.