Photoelectric conversion apparatus
A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a first pixel and a second pixel. The first pixel includes a first photoelectric converter, a first detection circuit that outputs a first detection signal, a first output circuit that outputs a first pixel signal in accordance with the first detection signal, and a first control circuit that controls whether the first detection signal is input into the first output circuit. The second pixel includes a second photoelectric converter, a second detection circuit that outputs a second detection signal, a second output circuit that outputs a second pixel signal in accordance with the second detection signal, and a second control circuit that controls whether the second detection signal is input into the second output circuit. The first control circuit controls whether the first detection signal is input into the first output circuit in accordance with the second detection signal.
1 . A photoelectric conversion apparatus comprising:
a pixel region including a plurality of pixels arranged in an array pattern,
wherein the plurality of pixels includes a first pixel, a second pixel, and a third pixel,
wherein the first pixel includes
a first photoelectric converter,
a first detection circuit that outputs a first detection signal based on a photon incident on the first photoelectric converter,
a first output circuit that outputs a first pixel signal to outside of the first pixel in accordance with the first detection signal, and
a first control circuit that controls whether the first detection signal is input into the first output circuit,
wherein the second pixel includes
a second photoelectric converter,
a second detection circuit that outputs a second detection signal based on a photon incident on the second photoelectric converter,
a second output circuit that outputs a second pixel signal to outside of the second pixel in accordance with the second detection signal, and
a second control circuit that controls whether the second detection signal is input into the second output circuit,
wherein the third pixel includes
a third photoelectric converter,
a third detection circuit that outputs a third detection signal based on a photon incident on the third photoelectric converter,
a third output circuit that outputs a third pixel signal to outside of the third pixel in accordance with the third detection signal, and
a third control circuit that controls whether the third detection signal is input into the third output circuit,
wherein the first control circuit controls whether the first detection signal is input into the first output circuit in accordance with the second detection signal, and
wherein the third control circuit determines whether the third detection signal is output to the third output circuit in accordance with the second detection signal.
2 . The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein each of the first photoelectric converter and the second photoelectric converter is an avalanche photodiode.
3 . The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first output circuit includes a memory that holds the first detection signal or a counter circuit that counts the first detection signal.
4 . The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first control circuit is a logic circuit that calculates logical AND of the first detection signal and the second detection signal.
5 . The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the second control circuit determines whether the second detection signal is input into the second output circuit in accordance with the first detection signal.
6 . The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first pixel and the second pixel are arranged in a first direction, and
wherein the second pixel and the third pixel are arranged in a second direction intersecting with the first direction.
7 . The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first control circuit determines whether the first detection signal is output to the first output circuit in accordance with the third detection signal.
8 . The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a fourth pixel,
wherein the fourth pixel includes
a fourth photoelectric converter,
a fourth detection circuit that outputs a fourth detection signal based on a photon incident on the fourth photoelectric converter,
a fourth output circuit that outputs a fourth pixel signal to outside of the fourth pixel in accordance with the fourth detection signal, and
a fourth control circuit that controls whether the fourth detection signal is input into the fourth output circuit, and
wherein the first control circuit determines whether the first detection signal is output to the first output circuit in accordance with the second detection signal and the fourth detection signal.
9 . The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 8 ,
wherein the first pixel and the second pixel are arranged in a first direction, and
wherein the second pixel and the fourth pixel are arranged in a third direction intersecting with the first direction.
10 . The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the second pixel, among the plurality of pixels included in the pixel region, is not a pixel closest to the first pixel.
11 . The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first detection circuit includes a first selection circuit that selects a detection period during which the first detection signal is detected and a non-detection period during which the first detection signal is not detected.
12 . The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first pixel includes a first quench element,
wherein the first detection circuit includes a first latch circuit, and
wherein the first latch circuit and the first quench element are controlled with a common reset signal.
13 . The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first detection circuit includes a monostable circuit that outputs the first detection signal having a pulse width shorter than a pulse width of an input signal into the first detection circuit.
14 . The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein a number of pixels from which detection signals that are controlled by the first control circuit are output is the same as a number of pixels including output circuits that are controlled by the first control circuit.
15 . The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein a number of detection signals that control control circuits of pixels that are, among the plurality of pixels, arranged on an outermost periphery of the pixel region is smaller than a number of detection signals that control control circuits of pixels that are, among the plurality of pixel, not arranged on the outermost periphery of the pixel region.
16 . The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein, when the photon is detected at the first pixel before the photon is detected at the second pixel within a unit time, the first detection signal is input into the first output circuit.
17 . The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein, when the photon is detected at the second pixel before the photon is detected at the first pixel within a unit time, the first detection signal is input into the first output circuit.
18 . The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the photoelectric conversion apparatus is capable of operating in a first drive mode in which the first detection signal is input into the first control circuit in accordance with the second detection signal and in a second drive mode in which the first detection signal is input into the first control circuit regardless of the second detection signal.
19 . The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the photoelectric conversion apparatus is a multilayer sensor having a sensor substrate and a circuit substrate laminated therein,
wherein the first photoelectric converter is arranged on the sensor substrate, and
wherein the first output circuit is arranged on the circuit substrate.
20 . The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 19 ,
wherein the first control circuit is arranged on the circuit substrate.
21 . A photoelectric conversion system including a plurality of photoelectric conversion apparatuses each being the photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 ,
the photoelectric conversion system comprising:
a light emitter that emits light detected by the plurality of photoelectric conversion apparatuses; and
a distance acquisition unit configured to calculate a distance using digital signals held in the plurality of photoelectric conversion apparatuses.
22 . A movable body comprising:
the photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 ;
a distance acquisition unit configured to acquire distance information to a target object from a parallax image based on a signal from the photoelectric conversion apparatus; and
a control unit configured to control the movable body based on the distance information.
23 . A photoelectric conversion apparatus comprising:
a pixel region including a plurality of pixels arranged in an array pattern,
wherein the plurality of pixels includes a first pixel, a second pixel, and a fourth pixel,
wherein the first pixel includes
a first photoelectric converter,
a first detection circuit that outputs a first detection signal based on a photon incident on the first photoelectric converter,
a first output circuit that outputs a first pixel signal to outside of the first pixel in accordance with the first detection signal, and
a first control circuit that controls whether the first detection signal is input into the first output circuit,
wherein the second pixel includes
a second photoelectric converter,
a second detection circuit that outputs a second detection signal based on a photon incident on the second photoelectric converter,
a second output circuit that outputs a second pixel signal to outside of the second pixel in accordance with the second detection signal, and
a second control circuit that controls whether the second detection signal is input into the second output circuit,
wherein the fourth pixel includes
a fourth photoelectric converter,
a fourth detection circuit that outputs a fourth detection signal based on a photon incident on the fourth photoelectric converter,
a fourth output circuit that outputs a fourth pixel signal to outside of the fourth pixel in accordance with the fourth detection signal, and
a fourth control circuit that controls whether the fourth detection signal is input into the fourth output circuit,
wherein the first control circuit controls whether the first detection signal is input into the first output circuit in accordance with the second detection signal, and
wherein the first control circuit determines whether the first detection signal is output to the first output circuit in accordance with the second detection signal and the fourth detection signal.
24 . A photoelectric conversion apparatus comprising:
a pixel region including a plurality of pixels arranged in an array pattern,
wherein the plurality of pixels includes a first pixel and a second pixel,
wherein the first pixel includes
a first photoelectric converter,
a first detection circuit that outputs a first detection signal based on a photon incident on the first photoelectric converter,
a first output circuit that outputs a first pixel signal to outside of the first pixel in accordance with the first detection signal, and
a first control circuit that controls whether the first detection signal is input into the first output circuit,
wherein the second pixel includes
a second photoelectric converter,
a second detection circuit that outputs a second detection signal based on a photon incident on the second photoelectric converter,
a second output circuit that outputs a second pixel signal to outside of the second pixel in accordance with the second detection signal, and
a second control circuit that controls whether the second detection signal is input into the second output circuit, and
wherein the photoelectric conversion apparatus is capable of operating in a first drive mode in which the first detection signal is input into the first control circuit in accordance with the second detection signal and in a second drive mode in which the first detection signal is input into the first control circuit regardless of the second detection signal are provided.