Signal processing apparatus and method, imaging element, and electronic apparatus

1. A signal processing apparatus, comprising:

a first D/A (Digital to Analog) converter configured to:

receive a gain control signal that controls a gain of a plurality of analog signals;

generate a first current based on the received gain control signal;

divide the generated first current into a plurality of output currents and a first non-output current based on a value of an input digital signal; and

output the plurality of output currents as the plurality of analog signals; and

a plurality of resistors configured to output a plurality of voltages corresponding to the plurality of output currents, wherein

each resistor of the plurality of resistors is configured to convert each output current of the plurality of output currents into a voltage, and

a resistance value of each resistor of the plurality of resistors is different.

2. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first D/A converter is further configured to:

divide the generated first current into a first output current and the first non-output current based on the value of the input digital signal;

divide the first non-output current into a second output current and a second non-output current based on the value of the input digital signal; and

output the first output current and the second output current, individually.

3. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 2 ,

wherein the value of the input digital signal varies in a time direction such that the first output current increases in the time direction and the second output current reduces in the time direction.

4. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 2 ,

wherein the value of the input digital signal varies in a time direction such that each of the first output current and the second output current increases in the time direction.

5. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a current source configured to generate the first current based on the gain control signal.

6. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein

the first D/A converter includes a switch,

the switch is configured to be driven based on the value of the input digital signal as a control signal, and

the switch is further configured to control connection between each of a plurality signal lines connected to each of a plurality of output terminals that outputs the plurality of analog signals with the current source, and each of a plurality of signal lines connected to a voltage source with the current source.

7. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein

the first D/A converter includes a plurality of switches configured in parallel, and

the first D/A converter is further configured to divide the generated first current into the plurality of output currents and the first non-output current based on a ratio of a number of switches of the plurality of switches that connects each of the plurality of signal lines with the current source.

8. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a second D/A converter configured to:

generate a second current based on the gain control signal;

divide the generated second current into a single output current and a second non-output current based on the value of the input digital signal; and

utilize the single output current to control a signal level of an analog signal of the plurality of analog signals.

9. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a gain control unit configured to:

generate the gain control signal; and

supply the generated gain control signal to the first D/A converter.

10. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a digital signal generation unit configured to:

generate the input digital signal; and

supply the generated input digital signal to the first D/A converter.

11. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an A/D (Analog to Digital) converter configured to convert an analog signal corresponding to a plurality of unit pixels of a pixel array into a digital signal based on the plurality of analog signals output as reference signals.

12. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 11 ,

wherein the A/D converter is further configured to adaptively switch the gain based on the plurality of analog signals.

13. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of A/D converters, wherein

the plurality of analog signals is used by each of the plurality of A/D converters, and

the plurality of A/D converters is mutually different.

14. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of A/D converters, wherein

each A/D converter of the plurality of A/D converters is provided for each column of a plurality of columns of the pixel array,

the pixel array includes the plurality of unit pixels arranged in a matrix, and

each A/D converter of the plurality of A/D converters is configured to convert a pixel signal read from each of the plurality of unit pixels of the corresponding column into the digital signal.

15. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of A/D converters, wherein

each A/D converter of the plurality of A/D converters is provided for each of a plurality of areas of the pixel array,

the pixel array includes the plurality of unit pixels arranged in a matrix, and

each A/D converter of the plurality of A/D converters is configured to convert a pixel signal read from each of the plurality of unit pixels of the corresponding area into the digital signal.

16. A signal processing method, comprising:

in a signal processing apparatus:

receiving a gain control signal that controls a gain of a plurality of analog signals;

generating a current based on the received gain control signal;

dividing the generated current into a plurality of output currents and a non-output current based on a value of an input digital signal;

outputting the plurality of output currents as the plurality of analog signals;

converting, by each resistor of a plurality of resistors, each output current of the plurality of output currents into a voltage, wherein a resistance value of each resistor of the plurality of resistors is different; and

outputting a plurality of voltages corresponding to the plurality of output currents.

17. An imaging element, comprising:

a pixel array including a plurality of unit pixels arranged in a matrix;

a D/A (Digital to Analog) converter configured to:

receive a gain control signal that controls a gain of a plurality of analog signals;

generate a current based on the received gain control signal;

divide the generated current into a plurality of output currents and a non-output current based on a value of an input digital signal; and

output the plurality of output currents as the plurality of analog signals;

a plurality of resistors configured to output a plurality of voltages corresponding to the plurality of output currents, wherein

each resistor of the plurality of resistors is configured to convert each output current of the plurality of output currents into a voltage, and

a resistance value of each resistor of the plurality of resistors is different; and

an A/D (Analog to Digital) converter configured to:

utilize the plurality of analog signals output from the D/A converter as reference signals; and

convert a pixel signal read from the pixel array into a digital signal, wherein the pixel signal corresponds to a specific analog signal.

18. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

an imaging element configured to capture a subject; and

a processor configured to process image data obtained from the imaging element,

wherein the imaging element includes:

a pixel array including a plurality of unit pixels arranged in a matrix;

a D/A (Digital to Analog) converter configured to:

receive a gain control signal that controls a gain of a plurality of analog signals;

generate a current based on the received gain control signal;

divide the generated current into a plurality of output currents and a non-output current based on a value of an input digital signal; and

output the plurality of output currents as the plurality of analog signals;

a plurality of resistors configured to output a plurality of voltages corresponding to the plurality of output currents, wherein

each resistor of the plurality of resistors is configured to convert each output current of the plurality of output currents into a voltage, and

a resistance value of each resistor of the plurality of resistors is different; and

an A/D (Analog to Digital) converter configured to:

utilize the plurality of analog signals output from the D/A converter as reference signals; and

convert a pixel signal read from the pixel array into a digital signal, wherein the pixel signal corresponds to a specific analog signal.

19. A signal processing apparatus, comprising:

a D/A (Digital to Analog) converter configured to:

receive a gain control signal that controls a gain of a plurality of analog signals;

generate a first current based on the received gain control signal;

divide the generated first current into a first output current and a first non-output current based on a value of an input digital signal;

divide the first non-output current into a second output current and a second non-output current based on the value of the input digital signal, wherein the value of the input digital signal varies in a time direction such that the first output current increases in the time direction and the second output current reduces in the time direction; and

output the first output current and the second output current, individually as the analog signals.

20. A signal processing apparatus, comprising:

a D/A (Digital to Analog) converter configured to:

receive a gain control signal that controls a gain of a plurality of analog signals;

generate a first current based on the received gain control signal;

divide the generated first current into a first output current and a first non-output current based on a value of an input digital signal;

divide the first non-output current into a second output current and a second non-output current based on the value of the input digital signal, wherein the value of the input digital signal varies in a time direction such that each of the first output current and the second output current increases in the time direction; and

output the first output current and the second output current, individually as the analog signals.

21. A signal processing apparatus, comprising:

a first D/A (Digital to Analog) converter configured to:

receive a gain control signal that controls a gain of a plurality of analog signals;

generate a first current based on the received gain control signal;

divide the generated first current into a plurality of output currents and a first non-output current based on a value of an input digital signal; and

output the plurality of output currents as the plurality of analog signals; and

a second D/A (Digital to Analog) converter configured to:

generate a second current based on the gain control signal;

divide the generated second current into a single output current and a second non-output current based on the value of the input digital signal; and

utilize the single output current to control a signal level of an analog signal of the plurality of analog signals output from the first D/A converter.