Solid-state image pickup element and electronic apparatus
The present disclosure relates to a solid-state image pickup element and an electronic apparatus each of which enables a phase difference in an arbitrary direction to be properly detected. A solid-state image pickup element as a first aspect of the present disclosure includes a pixel array, and a plurality of AD conversion portions. The pixel array is partitioned into a plurality of pixel blocks each including a normal pixel and a pixel for phase difference detection. The plurality of AD conversion portions correspond to the respective plurality of pixel blocks, and AD-convert pixel signals based on a plurality of pixels included in the corresponding pixel block. In this case, the pixel for phase difference detection included in one pixel block of the plurality of pixel blocks, and the pixel for phase difference detection included in the other pixel block of the plurality of pixel blocks are arranged in positions corresponding to each other. The present disclosure, for example, can be applied to a CMOS image sensor.
1. A solid-state image pickup element, comprising:
a pixel array that comprises a plurality of pixel blocks, wherein
each of the plurality of pixel blocks comprises a plurality of pixels, and
the plurality of pixels includes a normal pixel and a pixel for phase difference detection;
a plurality of Analog-Digital (AD) converters,
wherein each of the plurality of AD converters corresponds to a respective pixel block of the plurality of pixel blocks; and
circuitry configured to:
read out pixel signals of the plurality of pixels of each pixel block of the plurality of pixel blocks; and
supply the pixel signals of the plurality of pixels of each pixel block of the plurality of pixel blocks to a corresponding AD converter of the plurality of AD converters, wherein
each of the plurality of AD converters is configured to AD-convert the pixel signals of the plurality of pixels of the respective pixel block,
the pixel for phase difference detection of a first pixel block of the plurality of pixel blocks and the pixel for phase difference detection of a second pixel block of the plurality of pixel blocks are arranged in different positions in the first pixel block and the second pixel block, respectively, and
an order of AD conversion of a pixel signal of the pixel for phase difference detection of each of the first pixel block and the second pixel block is common among the first pixel block and the second pixel block.
2. The solid-state image pickup element according to claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to read out the pixel signals in an order corresponding to an arrangement of the plurality of pixels in the respective pixel block, without distinguishing the normal pixel and the pixel for phase difference detection from each other.
3. The solid-state image pickup element according to claim 1 , wherein
the circuitry is further configured to read out, after the normal pixel and the pixel for phase difference detection are distinguished from each other, a first pixel signal of one of the normal pixel or the pixel for phase difference detection in an order corresponding to an arrangement of the plurality of pixels in the respective pixel block, and
the read out of the first pixel signal of the one of the normal pixel or the pixel for phase difference detection is subsequent to read out of a second pixel signal of the other of the normal pixel or the pixel for phase difference detection.
4. The solid-state image pickup element according to claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to read out the pixel signals of the plurality of pixels of the first pixel block in an order corresponding to the plurality of pixels of the second pixel block.
5. The solid-state image pickup element according to claim 1 , wherein the pixel for phase difference detection of a third pixel block of the plurality of pixel blocks and the pixel for phase difference detection of a fourth pixel block of the plurality of pixel blocks are arranged in positions common between the third pixel block and the fourth pixel block.
6. The solid-state image pickup element according to claim 4 , wherein an order of AD conversion of the pixel signals of the plurality of pixels of each of a third pixel block of the plurality of pixel blocks and a fourth pixel block of the plurality of pixel blocks is common among the third pixel block and the fourth pixel block.
7. The solid-state image pickup element according to claim 4 , wherein an order of AD conversion of the pixel signals of the plurality of pixels of a third pixel block of the plurality of pixel blocks is different from an order of AD conversion of the pixel signals of the plurality of pixels of a fourth pixel block of the plurality of pixel blocks.
8. The solid-state image pickup element according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first substrate that includes the pixel array; and
a second substrate that includes the plurality of AD converters,
wherein the first substrate is on the second substrate.
9. The solid-state image pickup element according to claim 1 , wherein the pixel for phase difference detection is configured to produce the pixel signal to control phase difference detection auto focus.
10. The solid-state image pickup element according to claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of pixels further includes a plurality of pixels for phase difference detection, and
the plurality of pixels for phase difference detection in the respective pixel block is arranged in a transverse direction.
11. The solid-state image pickup element according to claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of pixels further includes a plurality of pixels for phase difference detection, and
the plurality of pixels for phase difference detection in the respective pixel block is arranged in a longitudinal direction.
12. The solid-state image pickup element according to claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of pixels further includes a plurality of pixels for phase difference detection, and
the plurality of pixels for phase difference detection in the respective pixel block is arranged in an oblique direction.
13. The solid-state image pickup element according to claim 1 , wherein the pixel for phase difference detection is configured to serve as the normal pixel.
14. An electronic apparatus, comprising:
a solid-state image pickup element that includes:
a pixel array that comprises a plurality of pixel blocks, wherein
each of the plurality of pixel blocks comprises a plurality of pixels, and
the plurality of pixels includes a normal pixel and a pixel for phase difference detection;
a plurality of Analog-Digital (AD) converters,
wherein each of the plurality of AD converters corresponds to a respective pixel block of the plurality of pixel blocks; and
circuitry configured to:
read out pixel signals of the plurality of pixels of each pixel block of the plurality of pixel blocks; and
supply the pixel signals of the plurality of pixels of each pixel block of the plurality of pixel blocks to a corresponding AD converter of the plurality of AD converters, wherein
each of the plurality of AD converters is configured to AD-convert the pixel signals of the plurality of pixels of the respective pixel block,
the pixel for phase difference detection of a first pixel block of the plurality of pixel blocks and the pixel for phase difference detection of a second pixel block of the plurality of pixel blocks are arranged in different positions in the first pixel block and the second pixel block, respectively, and
an order of AD conversion of a pixel signal of the pixel for phase difference detection of each of the first pixel block and the second pixel block is common among the first pixel block and the second pixel block.