Photoelectric conversion device, electronic device, and substrate
A photoelectric conversion device comprising a pixel array that includes pixels each generates a signal via photoelectric conversion arranged in rows and columns, is disclosed. The device also comprises a plurality of determination circuits that perform determination of an amplitude of signals read out from the pixel array via different vertical signal lines. The device further comprises a shared signal line shared by the plurality of determination circuits that transmits results of the determination from the plurality of determination circuits to a circuit inside the photoelectric conversion device.
1 . A photoelectric conversion device, comprising:
a pixel array including pixels each generates a signal via photoelectric conversion arranged in rows and columns;
a plurality of determination circuits, each of which performs determination of an amplitude of one of the signals read out from the pixel array via different vertical signal lines; and
a shared signal line shared by the plurality of determination circuits that transmits results of the determination from the plurality of determination circuits to a circuit inside the photoelectric conversion device,
wherein the results of the determination are binary signals.
2 . The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1 , wherein
after a result of the determination is output from one determination circuit of the plurality of determination circuits to the shared signal line, a result of the determination is output from another determination circuit of the plurality of determination circuits to the shared signal line.
3 . The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of determination circuits are respectively connected to the vertical signal lines provided for different pixel columns.
4 . The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of determination circuits are respectively connected to the different vertical signal lines provided for a same pixel column.
5 . The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
holding circuits respectively connected to the vertical signal lines and hold the signals; and
analog-to-digital conversion circuits that perform analog-to-digital conversion of signals held in the holding circuits, wherein
each of the analog-to-digital conversion circuits is provided for two or more of the holding circuits.
6 . The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 5 , further comprising:
a selection circuit that selectively outputs signals held by two or more of the holding circuits to a corresponding analog-to-digital conversion circuit.
7 . The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 6 , further comprising:
a switching circuit that selectively connects the plurality of determination circuits to the shared signal line, wherein
the switching circuit is provided at a position closer to the pixel array than the selection circuit.
8 . The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 7 , wherein
the switching circuit has a smaller circuit size than the selection circuit.
9 . The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 6 , wherein
the plurality of determination circuits are connected to the shared signal line at a position closer to the pixel array than the selection circuit.
10 . The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of determination circuits are controlled to output a result of the determination in different periods.
11 . The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of analog-to-digital conversion circuits connected to the vertical signal lines that perform analog-to-digital conversion of the signals read out from the vertical signal lines, wherein
the plurality of analog-to-digital conversion circuits are a slope type; and
the plurality of determination circuits are comparators included in the plurality of analog-to-digital conversion circuits.
12 . The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 11 , wherein
each one of the plurality of analog-to-digital conversion circuits controls a gradient of a ramp signal used in the analog-to-digital conversion on the basis of a result of the determination.
13 . The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of amplifier circuits that control gain applied to the signal on the basis of a result of the determination by the plurality of determination circuits; and
a plurality of analog-to-digital conversion circuits respectively connected to the vertical signal lines that perform analog-to-digital conversion of the signals read out from the vertical signal lines, wherein
each one of the analog-to-digital conversion circuits performs analog-to-digital conversion of the signal to which a gain has been applied by one of the plurality of amplifier circuits.
14 . The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1 , wherein
in a case where a plurality of the vertical signal lines are provided for a same pixel column, circuits provided for each one of the plurality of the vertical signal lines are disposed so that circuits of the same type are to be close.
15 . The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1 , wherein
each one of the plurality of determination circuits is an auto-zero differential amplifier with a function that takes the signal and a reference value used in the determination as input and cancels input offset.
16 . The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1 , wherein
each one of the plurality of determination circuits is driven by a current source connected to the vertical signal line of the pixel.
17 . An electronic device, comprising:
a photoelectric conversion device; and
a control apparatus that controls operations of the photoelectric conversion device, wherein
the photoelectric conversion device comprising:
a pixel array including pixels each generates a signal via photoelectric conversion arranged in rows and columns;
a plurality of determination circuits, each of which performs determination of an amplitude of one of the signals read out from the pixel array via different vertical signal lines; and
a shared signal line shared by the plurality of determination circuits that transmits results of the determination from the plurality of determination circuits to a circuit inside the photoelectric conversion device,
wherein the results of the determination are binary signals.
18 . A substrate stacked on a substrate provided with a pixel array including pixels each generates a signal via photoelectric conversion arranged in rows and columns, comprising:
a plurality of determination circuits, each of which performs determination of an amplitude of one of signals read out from the pixel array via different vertical signal lines; and
a shared signal line shared by the plurality of determination circuits that transmits results of the determination from the plurality of determination circuits to a circuit other than the plurality of determination circuits provided on the substrate,
wherein the results of the determination are binary signals.