Photoelectric conversion device and electronic device
A photoelectric conversion device capable of operations corresponding to the amplitude of a signal read out to a vertical signal line is disclosed. The device comprises a pixel that generates a signal via photoelectric conversion and a determination circuit that determines an amplitude of a signal read out from the pixel to a vertical signal line. A reset signal and a data signal are read out from the pixel. The determination circuit performs a first determination on the data signal while the pixel is being selected for reading out a signal and performs a second determination on the reset signal.
1 . A photoelectric conversion device, comprising:
a pixel that generates a data signal via photoelectric conversion and generates a reset signal;
a determination circuit that determines an amplitude of a signal read out from the pixel to a vertical signal line; and
an A/D conversion circuit that converts a signal based on one or both of the reset signal and the data signal into a corresponding digital signal,
wherein the determination circuit performs a first determination on the data signal while the pixel is being selected for reading out a signal and performs a second determination on the reset signal, and
based on a result of the first determination, the photoelectric conversion device sets an analog gain applied to the signal and a digital gain applied to the digital signal.
2 . The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the determination circuit includes a determinator that performs the first determination and the second determination.
3 . The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the determination circuit performs the first determination in a first period and performs the second determination in a second period.
4 . The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the determination circuit uses a first reference value in the first determination and uses a second reference value in the second determination.
5 . The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the determination circuit uses an identical reference value in the first determination and the second determination.
6 . The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 5 ,
wherein a result of the first determination is used by the photoelectric conversion device, and a result of the second determination is output outside of the photoelectric conversion device.
7 . The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the determination circuit is an auto-zero differential amplifier with a function that takes the signal and a reference value for determination of an amplitude of the signal as input and cancels input offset.
8 . The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the determination circuit is driven by a current source connected to the vertical signal line of the pixel.
9 . The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 8 ,
wherein the determination circuit includes a holding circuit that holds an electric potential of a reset signal read out to the vertical signal line and determines an amplitude of the signal using a reference value that is obtained based on an electric potential of the reset signal held by the holding circuit.
10 . The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the determination circuit holds a result of the determination of an amplitude of the signal with the result being readable from outside of the determination circuit.
11 . The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the second determination is a determination of whether or not the pixel is blackened.
12 . A photoelectric conversion device, comprising:
a pixel that generates a data signal via photoelectric conversion and generates a reset signal; and
a determination circuit that performs a determination of an amplitude of a signal read out from the pixel to a vertical signal line,
wherein the determination circuit performs a first determination on the data signal while the pixel is being selected for reading out a signal and performs a second determination on the reset signal, and
a result of the first determination is used by the photoelectric conversion device, and a result of the second determination is output outside of the photoelectric conversion device.
13 . A substrate stacked on a substrate provided with a pixel that generates a data signal via photoelectric conversion and generates a reset signal, comprising:
a determination circuit that determines an amplitude of a signal read out from the pixel to a vertical signal line; and
an A/D conversion circuit that converts a signal based on one or both of the reset signal and the data signal into a corresponding digital signal,
wherein the determination circuit performs a first determination on the data signal while the pixel is being selected for reading out a signal and performs a second determination on the reset signal, and
based on a result of the first determination, the photoelectric conversion device sets an analog gain applied to the signal and a digital gain applied to the digital signal.
14 . The substrate according to claim 13 ,
wherein the second determination is a determination of whether or not the pixel is blackened.
15 . The substrate according to claim 13 ,
wherein the determination circuit uses an identical reference value in the first determination and the second determination.
16 . The substrate according to claim 13 ,
wherein a result of the first determination is used by the photoelectric conversion device, and a result of the second determination is output outside of the photoelectric conversion device.