IP Library Granted Patent US 11,431,935
Granted Patent B2
US 11,431,935 · App. 17/383,318 · Granted Aug 30, 2022

Synchronized solid-state imaging element, imaging device, and electronic device

Inventors: Kunihiko Izuhara (Kanagawa, JP); Yuuko Sonoda (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: Sony Corporation
H04N5/3765H04N5/335H04N5/341H04N5/379H04N5/37455H04N5/361
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,431,935
App. No.
17/383,318
Granted
Aug 30, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

There is provided a solid-state imaging element in which a first substrate in which a pixel circuit including a pixel array unit is formed and a second substrate in which a plurality of signal processing circuits are formed are laminated, and a common reference clock is supplied to the plurality of signal processing circuits that are formed on the second substrate.

Claims (63)

1. A light detecting device comprising:

a pixel circuit including a pixel array unit configured to output a pixel signal; and

a plurality of separate signal processing circuits configured to receive the pixel signal, each separate signal processing circuit including a separate and distinct row decoder and a separate and distinct column decoder,

wherein the plurality of separate signal processing circuits are physically separated from each other,

wherein a common reference clock is configured to supply to the plurality of separate signal processing circuits, and

wherein the pixel circuit overlaps the plurality of separate signal processing circuits.

2. The light detecting device according to claim 1 , further comprising

a multiplier unit configured to multiply a reference clock supplied to the plurality of separate signal processing circuits,

wherein the plurality of separate signal processing circuits use a clock signal multiplied by the reference clock by the multiplier unit for signal processing.

3. The light detecting device according to claim 2 ,

wherein the multiplier unit is included in one signal processing circuit of the plurality of separate signal processing circuits, and

a reference clock is supplied to the one signal processing circuit of the plurality of separate signal processing circuits, and a clock signal multiplied by the multiplier unit is supplied to a signal processing circuit other than the one signal processing circuit of the plurality of separate signal processing circuits.

4. The light detecting device according to claim 3 ,

wherein the reference clock and the clock signal multiplied by the reference clock are supplied to the plurality of separate signal processing circuits.

5. The light detecting device according to claim 1 ,

wherein a reference clock is supplied to one of the plurality of separate signal processing circuits and a signal processing circuit to which the reference clock is supplied supplies the reference clock to another signal processing circuit.

6. The light detecting device according to claim 1 , further comprising

a multiplier unit configured to multiply a reference clock supplied to the plurality of separate signal processing circuits,

wherein at least one of the plurality of separate signal processing circuits includes

an analog signal processing unit configured to perform analog signal processing on a clock signal multiplied by the reference clock by the multiplier unit, and

a digital signal processing unit configured to perform digital signal processing on a clock signal multiplied by the multiplier unit in another signal processing circuit to which the reference clock is supplied.

7. An imaging device comprising:

a pixel circuit including a pixel array unit configured to output a pixel signal; and

a plurality of separate signal processing circuits configured to receive the pixel signal, each separate signal processing circuit including a separate and distinct row decoder and a separate and distinct column decoder,

wherein the plurality of separate signal processing circuits are physically separated from each other,

wherein a common reference clock is configured to supply to the plurality of separate signal processing circuits, and

wherein the pixel circuit overlaps the plurality of separate signal processing circuits.

8. The imaging device according to claim 7 , further comprising

a multiplier unit configured to multiply a reference clock supplied to the plurality of separate signal processing circuits,

wherein the plurality of separate signal processing circuits use a clock signal multiplied by the reference clock by the multiplier unit for signal processing.

9. The imaging device according to claim 8 ,

wherein the multiplier unit is included in one signal processing circuit of the plurality of separate signal processing circuits, and

a reference clock is supplied to the one signal processing circuit of the plurality of separate signal processing circuits, and a clock signal multiplied by the multiplier unit is supplied to a signal processing circuit other than the one signal processing circuit of the plurality of separate signal processing circuits.

10. The imaging device according to claim 9 ,

wherein the reference clock and the clock signal multiplied by the reference clock are supplied to the plurality of separate signal processing circuits.

11. The imaging device according to claim 7 ,

wherein a reference clock is supplied to one of the plurality of separate signal processing circuits and a signal processing circuit to which the reference clock is supplied supplies the reference clock to another signal processing circuit.

12. The imaging device according to claim 7 , further comprising

a multiplier unit configured to multiply a reference clock supplied to the plurality of separate signal processing circuits,

wherein at least one of the plurality of separate signal processing circuits includes

an analog signal processing unit configured to perform analog signal processing on a clock signal multiplied by the reference clock by the multiplier unit, and

a digital signal processing unit configured to perform digital signal processing on a clock signal multiplied by the multiplier unit in another signal processing circuit to which the reference clock is supplied.

13. An electronic device comprising:

a pixel circuit including a pixel array unit configured to output a pixel signal; and

a plurality of separate signal processing circuits configured to receive the pixel signal, each separate signal processing circuit including a separate and distinct row decoder and a separate and distinct column decoder,

wherein the plurality of separate signal processing circuits are physically separated from each other,

wherein a common reference clock is configured to supply to the plurality of separate signal processing circuits, and

wherein the pixel circuit overlaps the plurality of separate signal processing circuits.

14. The electronic device according to claim 13 , further comprising

a multiplier unit configured to multiply a reference clock supplied to the plurality of separate signal processing circuits,

wherein the plurality of separate signal processing circuits use a clock signal multiplied by the reference clock by the multiplier unit for signal processing.

15. The electronic device according to claim 14 ,

wherein the multiplier unit is included in one signal processing circuit of the plurality of separate signal processing circuits, and

a reference clock is supplied to the one signal processing circuit of the plurality of separate signal processing circuits, and a clock signal multiplied by the multiplier unit is supplied to a signal processing circuit other than the one signal processing circuit of the plurality of separate signal processing circuits.

16. The electronic device according to claim 15 ,

wherein the reference clock and the clock signal multiplied by the reference clock are supplied to the plurality of separate signal processing circuits.

17. The electronic device according to claim 13 ,

wherein a reference clock is supplied to one of the plurality of separate signal processing circuits and a signal processing circuit to which the reference clock is supplied supplies the reference clock to another signal processing circuit.

18. The electronic device according to claim 13 , further comprising

a multiplier unit configured to multiply a reference clock supplied to the plurality of separate signal processing circuits,

wherein at least one of the plurality of separate signal processing circuits includes

an analog signal processing unit configured to perform analog signal processing on a clock signal multiplied by the reference clock by the multiplier unit, and

a digital signal processing unit configured to perform digital signal processing on a clock signal multiplied by the multiplier unit in another signal processing circuit to which the reference clock is supplied.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 16, 2021
From: SONY CORPORATION
To: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 058521/0233 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2021
From: IZUHARA, KUNIHIKO; SONODA, YUUKO
To: SONY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 058532/0817 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2016-072954 · Mar 31, 2016 · national
Continuity (2)
Division 16086902
Related Publication 20210409635A1 · Dec 30, 2021