Granted Patent B2

US 12,407,955 · App. 18/350,065 · Granted Sep 2, 2025

Inventors: Hiroyuki Muto (Kanagawa, JP); Hideo Kobayashi (Tokyo, JP)

Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha

H04N25/77

Abstract

Claims (53)

1. A photoelectric conversion apparatus comprising:

a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix; and

a control circuit configured to control the plurality of pixels,

wherein each of the plurality of pixels include a photoelectric conversion unit configured to generate a signal charge, a floating diffusion unit, a transfer transistor configured to transfer the signal charge to the floating diffusion unit, and a transistor configured to be electrically connected to the floating diffusion unit,

wherein the control circuit outputs a row selection pulse configured to select the pixel arranged in a row direction, and a pixel control pulse having a rise time longer than a rise time of the row selection pulse, and

wherein the pixel control pulse is entered to a gate of the transistor.

2. A photoelectric conversion apparatus comprising:

a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix; and

a control circuit configured to control the plurality of pixels,

wherein the control circuit outputs a row selection pulse configured to select the pixel arranged in a row direction, and a pixel control pulse having a rise time longer than a rise time of the row selection pulse, and having a fall time longer than a fall time of the row selection pulse.

3. The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the transistor is a transistor configured to switch a capacitance value of the floating diffusion unit included in the pixel.

4. The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the pixel control pulse includes a control signal that controls a transistor configured to switch a capacitance value of a floating diffusion unit included in the pixel.

5. The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising a processing unit configured to correct a non-linearity of an output signal level of the pixel that occurs by rising of potential of the floating diffusion unit.

6. The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising a processing unit configured to correct a non-linearity of an output signal level of the pixel that occurs by rising of potential of the floating diffusion unit.

7. The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the pixel includes a plurality of transistors including the transistor,

wherein each of the plurality of transistors is a transistor configured to switch a capacitance value of the floating diffusion unit included in the pixel, and

wherein the pixel control pulse includes a plurality of control signals configured to control the plurality of transistors.

8. The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the pixel control pulse includes a plurality of control signals configured to control a plurality of transistors configured to switch a capacitance value of a floating diffusion unit included in the pixel.

9. The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the transistor is a transfer transistor configured to transfer a signal charge from a photodiode included in the pixel to the floating diffusion unit.

10. The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the pixel control pulse includes a signal that controls a transfer transistor configured to transfer a signal charge from a photodiode included in the pixel to a floating diffusion unit.

11. The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the pixel includes a first transistor serving as the transistor, a second transistor, a first photodiode, and a second photodiode,

wherein the first transistor is a transistor configured to transfer a signal charge from the first photodiode to the floating diffusion unit,

wherein the second transistor is a transistor configured to transfer a signal charge from the second photodiode to the floating diffusion unit, and

the pixel control pulse includes a plurality of signals configured to control the first transistor and the second transistor.

12. The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the pixel control pulse includes a plurality of signals configured to control a plurality of transfer transistors that are configured to transfer a signal charge from a plurality of photodiodes included in the pixel to a floating diffusion unit.

13. The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the transistor is a reset transistor configured to reset the floating diffusion unit included in the pixel.

14. The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the pixel control pulse includes a signal that controls a reset transistor configured to reset a floating diffusion unit included in the pixel.

15. The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuit includes a current source circuit configured to increase a rise time of the pixel control pulse than a rise time of the row selection pulse in an output unit of the pixel control pulse.

16. The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the control circuit includes a current source circuit configured to increase a rise time of the pixel control pulse than a rise time of the row selection pulse in an output unit of the pixel control pulse.

17. The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuit includes at least one of a current limiting resistor and a transistor configured to increase a rise time of the pixel control pulse than a rise time of the row selection pulse in an output unit of the pixel control pulse.

18. The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the control circuit includes at least one of a current limiting resistor and a transistor configured to increase a rise time of the pixel control pulse than a rise time of the row selection pulse in an output unit of the pixel control pulse.

19. The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the control circuit includes a current source circuit configured to increase a fall time of the pixel control pulse than a fall time of the row selection pulse in an output unit of the pixel control pulse.

20. The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the control circuit includes at least one of a current limiting resistor and a transistor configured to increase a fall time of the pixel control pulse than a fall of the row selection pulse in an output unit of the pixel control pulse.

21. The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a gradient of rise of the pixel control pulse is smaller than 30 V/μsec.

22. The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein a gradient of rise of the pixel control pulse is smaller than 30 V/μsec.

23. The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein a gradient of fall of the pixel control pulse is smaller than 30 V/μsec.

24. A system comprising:

the photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 ; and

a processing apparatus configured to process an image data output from the photoelectric conversion apparatus.

25. A system comprising:

the photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 2 ; and

a processing apparatus configured to process an image data output from the photoelectric conversion apparatus.

26. A photoelectric conversion apparatus comprising:

a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix; and

a control circuit configured to control the plurality of pixels,

wherein each of the plurality of pixels include a photoelectric conversion unit configured to generate a signal charge, a floating diffusion unit, a transfer transistor configured to transfer the signal charge to the floating diffusion unit, and a transistor configured to be electrically connected to the floating diffusion unit,

wherein the control circuit outputs a row selection pulse configured to select the pixel arranged in a row direction, and a pixel control pulse having a transition time from a signal level to set the transistor as OFF state, to a signal level to set the transistor as ON state, longer than a transition time of the row selection pulse from a signal level to set the pixel as unselected state to a signal level to set the pixel as selected state, and

wherein the pixel control pulse is entered to a gate of the transistor.

27. A system comprising:

the photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 26 ; and

a processing apparatus configured to process an image data output from the photoelectric conversion apparatus.

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (63)