Photoelectric conversion device and imaging system
A photoelectric conversion device includes a pixel that outputs a pixel signal in accordance with an incident light, a plurality of signal holding units each configured to hold the pixel signal, an AD conversion unit that converts the pixel signal from analog signal to digital signal, a first switch circuit provided between the pixel and the plurality of signal holding units, and a second switch circuit provided between the plurality of signal holding units and the AD conversion unit. The first switch circuit is configured to connect the pixels to the plurality of signal holding units individually to hold one pixel signal in the plurality of signal holding units, respectively, in different sampling periods, the second switch circuit is configured to switch connection between the plurality of signal holding units and the AD conversion unit, and pixel signals held in the plurality of signal holding units are averaged and output.
1. A photoelectric conversion device comprising:
a plurality of pixels arranged to form a plurality of columns;
a plurality of analog-to-digital (AD) conversion units each provided to corresponding one of the plurality of columns; and
a readout circuit unit provided between the plurality of pixels and the plurality of AD conversion units,
wherein the readout circuit unit includes a first switch, a second switch and a signal holding unit for each of the plurality of columns,
wherein, on each of the columns, the first switch and the second switch are connected in series between a pixel of the plurality of pixels and an AD conversion unit of the plurality of AD conversion units,
wherein, on each of the columns, the signal holding units is connected to a first node between the second switch and the AD conversion unit,
wherein the first node is a node to which an analog signal to be input to the AD conversion unit is provided,
wherein the readout circuit unit further includes a plurality of third switches and a plurality of fourth switches each provided between neighboring columns,
wherein a third switch of the plurality of third switches is connected between second nodes, each of which connects the first switch and the second switch, on neighboring columns,
wherein a fourth switch of the plurality of fourth switches is connected between the first nodes on neighboring columns,
wherein the readout circuit unit further includes a plurality of column amplifiers each provided to a corresponding one of the plurality of columns, and on each of the columns, a column amplifier of the plurality of column amplifiers is provided between the first switch and the second switch, and
wherein the third switch is connected to an output node of the column amplifier, and the fourth switch is connected to the output node of the column amplifier.
2. The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1 , wherein the readout circuit unit further includes a plurality of fifth switches each provided between neighboring columns, and a fifth switch of the plurality of fifth switches is connected between third nodes, each of which connects the first switch and the column amplifier, on the neighboring columns.
3. The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1 , wherein the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch form a first switch circuit that operates so as to hold pixel signals output from the pixels in the plurality of signal holding units, respectively, in sampling periods that are different from each other.
4. The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1 , wherein the fourth switches form a second switch circuit that operates so as to average pixel signals held in the plurality of signal holding units and supply the average to the AD conversion units.