Some embodiments include a system, comprising: a plurality of pixels; a plurality of data lines coupled to the pixels; a plurality of switches coupling the pixels to the data lines; a plurality of readout circuits coupled to the data lines; control logic coupled to the readout circuits, the control logic configured to, for one of the pixels: acquire a first value for the pixel while the corresponding switch is in an off state; reset the corresponding readout circuit corresponding for the pixel; acquire a second value for the pixel after resetting the readout circuit; turn on the corresponding switch; acquire a third value for the pixel after turning on the corresponding switch; and combine the first value, the second value, and the third value into a combined value for the pixel.

Some embodiments include a system, comprising: a plurality of pixels; a plurality of data lines coupled to the pixels; a plurality of switches coupling the pixels to the data lines; a plurality of readout circuits coupled to the data lines; control logic coupled to the readout circuits, the control logic configured to, for one of the pixels: acquire a first value for the pixel while the corresponding switch is in an off state; reset the corresponding readout circuit corresponding for the pixel; acquire a second value for the pixel after resetting the readout circuit; turn on the corresponding switch; acquire a third value for the pixel after turning on the corresponding switch; and combine the first value, the second value, and the third value into a combined value for the pixel.

An observation device includes: first objective lenses arranged in a row so as to be parallel to one another; second objective lenses arranged in a row so as to be parallel to one another; and image capturing elements for capturing first images formed by the first objective lenses and second images formed by the second objective lenses, respectively, wherein each of the objective lenses is a magnifying objective lens, a first axis of light incident on the first objective lenses and a second axis of light incident on the second objective lenses are parallel to one another, fields of view of the first objective lenses and fields of view of the second objective lenses are arranged alternately in a row on an observation line, and the first images and the second images are arranged in a row in image-forming regions that are disposed at positions different from each other.

An observation device includes: first objective lenses arranged in a row so as to be parallel to one another; second objective lenses arranged in a row so as to be parallel to one another; and image capturing elements for capturing first images formed by the first objective lenses and second images formed by the second objective lenses, respectively, wherein each of the objective lenses is a magnifying objective lens, a first axis of light incident on the first objective lenses and a second axis of light incident on the second objective lenses are parallel to one another, fields of view of the first objective lenses and fields of view of the second objective lenses are arranged alternately in a row on an observation line, and the first images and the second images are arranged in a row in image-forming regions that are disposed at positions different from each other.

Binnable time-of-flight (ToF) pixels are described, such as for integration with image sensor pixels. Each binnable ToF pixel includes a central dump gate and sub-pixels that are nominally mirror-symmetric and identical around the dump gate. Each sub-pixel includes a photodiode region (or a respective portion of a photodiode region), a storage gate, a storage region, a transfer gate, and a floating diffusion (FD) region. In an array, the binnable ToF pixels are arranged to share FD regions with other binnable ToF pixels of the array. In an un-binned mode, each sub-pixel can integrate photocharge in its storage region until it is time for readout, at which time the photocharges can be transferred to its respective floating diffusion region for individualized readout. In a binned mode, sub-pixels can integrate photocharge directly in their FD regions, which facilitates charge binning of integrated photocharge from all sub-pixels sharing the same FD region.

Binnable time-of-flight (ToF) pixels are described, such as for integration with image sensor pixels. Each binnable ToF pixel includes a central dump gate and sub-pixels that are nominally mirror-symmetric and identical around the dump gate. Each sub-pixel includes a photodiode region (or a respective portion of a photodiode region), a storage gate, a storage region, a transfer gate, and a floating diffusion (FD) region. In an array, the binnable ToF pixels are arranged to share FD regions with other binnable ToF pixels of the array. In an un-binned mode, each sub-pixel can integrate photocharge in its storage region until it is time for readout, at which time the photocharges can be transferred to its respective floating diffusion region for individualized readout. In a binned mode, sub-pixels can integrate photocharge directly in their FD regions, which facilitates charge binning of integrated photocharge from all sub-pixels sharing the same FD region.

The present disclosure provides a signal collecting circuit, a signal collecting method and an electronic device. A signal collecting circuit includes: a bias voltage wire, multiple fingerprint pixel circuits and a photocurrent collecting module. Each fingerprint pixel circuit includes a photoelectric conversion unit connected to the bias voltage wire and configured to output a photocurrent signal to the bias voltage wire when light hits the photoelectric conversion unit. A photocurrent collecting module is connected to the bias voltage wire and configured to collect the photocurrent signals output by at least part of the photoelectric conversion unit through the bias voltage wire.

Imaging device and method for reading an image sensor in the imaging device. The imaging device has optics with which the imaging device can be focused on objects. The image sensor has a plurality of sensor lines, wherein each sensor line comprises a plurality of preferably linearly arranged, preferably individually readable pixel elements. A pixel range is defined with the pixel range comprising at least a section of a sensor line. The reading of the image sensor is restricted to the pixel elements (6) in the pixel range.

According to one embodiment, a solid state image capturing device includes a pixel portion in which a plurality of pixels are arranged, a common signal line that transports an output signal from the pixel portion, and an output circuit that amplifies the output signal transported by using the common signal line. The pixel portion is divided into a plurality of pixel groups, the common signal line is divided into a plurality of division lines corresponding to the plurality of pixel groups, and the output circuit receives the output signals transported by using the plurality of division lines.

According to one embodiment, a solid-state image sensor includes a linear array of pixels, a timing generator that outputs a pulse signal, a plurality of clock drivers that generate each generate a different drive signal based on the pulse signal, an analog shift register that transfers the signal charges in one direction along the linear array by applying the drive signals to the respective transfer blocks. The plurality of drive signals generated by the plurality of clock drivers each have a different phase.