Solid state imaging device and electronic device
The present disclosure relates to a solid state imaging device and an electronic device from which a holding unit for holding information in a pixel can be eliminated. When a charge distribution unit distributes a pixel signal SIG to a first ADC, a pixel signal representing only reflection light is divided for allocation. When the charge distribution unit distributes a pixel signal SIG to a second ADC, a pixel signal representing background light and reflection light (partial) is divided for allocation. When the charge distribution unit distributes a pixel signal SIG to a third ADC, a pixel signal representing background light and reflection light (the rest) is divided for allocation. During a period in which no signal is acquired, a discharge transistor functions as an overflow portion for releasing electrical charge. The present disclosure can be applied to, for example, a solid state imaging device used for an imaging device.
1. A light detecting device comprising:
a plurality of pixels, wherein a first pixel of the plurality of pixels comprises:
a photoelectric conversion region;
a dividing circuit that receives a pixel signal from the photoelectric conversion region and divides the pixel signal into a first pixel signal and a second pixel signal;
a first analog-digital converter that converts the first pixel signal to a first digital signal; and
a second analog-digital converter that converts the second pixel signal to a second digital signal,
wherein the first digital signal and the second digital signal are output from the first pixel of the plurality of pixels to a data bus.
2. The light detecting device according to claim 1 , wherein the first analog-digital converter converts the first pixel signal to the first digital signal in terms of signal level on a basis of a first conversion efficiency and the second analog-digital converter converts the second pixel signal to the second digital signal in terms of signal level on a basis of a second conversion efficiency different from the first conversion efficiency.
3. The light detecting device according to claim 1 , wherein the dividing circuit divides the pixel signal by controlling emission timing of infrared light received by the photoelectric conversion region from outside the photoelectric conversion region, wherein dividing the pixel signal represents reflection light resulting from reflection of the infrared light.
4. The light detecting device according to claim 3 , wherein the dividing circuit divides the pixel signal into four divided pixel signals for allocation.
5. The light detecting device according to claim 4 , wherein the dividing circuit divides the pixel signal for application to three analog-digital converters and one discharge unit.
6. The light detecting device according to claim 3 , further comprising
an in-phase component removal unit configured to remove an in-phase component from the pixel signal.
7. The light detecting device according to claim 3 , wherein the first analog-digital converter includes
a comparison unit configured to compare the pixel signal with a reference signal and output a comparison result, and
a storage unit configured to store a signal upon reversal of the comparison result as a digital value.
8. The light detecting device according to claim 7 , wherein the storage unit has a dynamic latch.
9. The light detecting device according to claim 7 , wherein the storage unit has a static latch.
10. The light detecting device according to claim 7 , wherein the storage unit has an up-down counter.
11. The light detecting device according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of semiconductor substrates.
12. The light detecting device according to claim 1 , wherein each pixel of the plurality of pixels is illuminated from a backside.
13. The light detecting device according to claim 1 , wherein the dividing circuit includes a transfer transistor.
14. The light detecting device according to claim 1 , wherein the dividing circuit divides an electrical charge signal from the photoelectric conversion region by time division for allocation.
15. The light detecting device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first pixel signal is a background light pixel signal and the second pixel signal is a reflection light pixel signal, and
wherein the background light pixel signal and the reflection light pixel signal to perform distance measurement output to the data bus.
16. The light detecting device according to claim 15 , wherein the first digital signal and the second digital signal are associated with the background light pixel signal and the reflection light pixel signal, respectively, and are sequentially output from each pixel of the plurality of pixels to a data bus.
17. A device comprising:
a light detecting device including a plurality of pixels, wherein a first pixel of the plurality of pixels comprises:
a photoelectric conversion region;
a dividing unit circuit that receives a pixel signal from the photoelectric conversion region and divides the pixel signal into a first pixel signal and a second pixel signal;
a first analog-digital converter that converts the first pixel signal to a first digital signal; and
a second analog-digital converter that convert the second pixel signal to a second digital signal,
wherein the first digital signal and the second digital signal are output from the first pixel of the plurality of pixels to a data bus;
a signal processing circuit that processes an output signal output from the light detecting device; and
an optical system that inputs incident light to the light detecting device.
18. The device according to claim 17 , wherein the first analog-digital converter converts the first pixel signal to the first digital signal in terms of signal level on a basis of a first conversion efficiency and the second analog-digital converter converts the second pixel signal to the second digital signal in terms of signal level on a basis of a second conversion efficiency different from the first conversion efficiency.
19. The device according to claim 17 , wherein the dividing unit circuit divides the pixel signal by controlling emission timing of infrared light received by the photoelectric conversion region from outside the photoelectric conversion region, wherein dividing the pixel signal represents reflection light resulting from reflection of the infrared light.
20. The device according to claim 19 , wherein the dividing unit circuit divides the pixel signal into four divided pixel signals for allocation.