An imaging element of the present disclosure includes an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert multiple analog pixel signals that are acquired under multiple imaging conditions different from each other and that are output from a pixel, to multiple digital pixel signals, a threshold setting unit configured to set, on an input side of the analog-to-digital converter, a threshold that is randomly varied, a comparison unit configured to use, as a comparison threshold, the threshold set by the threshold setting unit and compare the comparison threshold with one of the multiple analog pixel signals, and a selection unit configured to select and output, on the basis of a result of comparison from the comparison unit, one of the multiple digital pixel signals that are output from the analog-to-digital converter.

The present disclosure relates to an imaging circuit and an imaging device capable of performing reading at high speed while reducing a circuit scale.

An imaging circuit according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of circuit blocks each including a photoelectric conversion element configured to photoelectrically convert incident light to generate a photocurrent and a current-voltage conversion circuit configured to convert the photocurrent into a voltage signal, a quantizer configured to generate a detection signal of an address event in accordance with a result of comparing the voltage signal supplied from at least one of the plurality of circuit blocks with a threshold, a demultiplexer connected to a subsequent stage of the quantizer, and a plurality of latch circuits connected to different output terminals of the demultiplexer.

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 imaging device includes a plurality of pixel sensors that respond to incident light. At least one drive-sense circuit is configured to generating a sensed signal corresponding to one of the plurality of pixel sensors. The at least one drive-sense circuit includes: a first conversion circuit configured to convert, a receive signal component of a sensor signal corresponding to the one of the plurality of pixel sensors into the sensed signal, wherein the sensed signal indicates a change in a capacitance associated with the one of the plurality of pixel sensors; a second conversion circuit configured to generate, based on the sensed signal, a drive signal component of the sensor signal corresponding to the one of the plurality of pixel sensors. The at least one drive-sense circuit is further configured to generate a plurality of other sensed signals corresponding to other ones of the plurality of pixel sensors for the other ones of the plurality of pixel sensors. A graphics processing module is configured to generate image data based on the sensed signal and the plurality of other sensed signals.

An imaging device includes a plurality of pixel sensors that respond to incident light. At least one drive-sense circuit is configured to generating a sensed signal corresponding to one of the plurality of pixel sensors. The at least one drive-sense circuit includes: a first conversion circuit configured to convert, a receive signal component of a sensor signal corresponding to the one of the plurality of pixel sensors into the sensed signal, wherein the sensed signal indicates a change in a capacitance associated with the one of the plurality of pixel sensors; a second conversion circuit configured to generate, based on the sensed signal, a drive signal component of the sensor signal corresponding to the one of the plurality of pixel sensors. The at least one drive-sense circuit is further configured to generate a plurality of other sensed signals corresponding to other ones of the plurality of pixel sensors for the other ones of the plurality of pixel sensors. A graphics processing module is configured to generate image data based on the sensed signal and the plurality of other sensed signals.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to an image sensor. The image sensor includes a color filter array, a pixel array, and a plurality of analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). The ADCs convert the analog pixel signal obtained by pixels corresponding to first color filters into a digital pixel signal based on a first bit precision and to convert the analog pixel signal obtained by pixels corresponding to second color filters and third color filters into a digital pixel signal based on a second bit precision. The second bit precision is lower than the first bit precision.

There is provided an electronic device capable of suppressing a decrease in resolution of a captured image while increasing types of information obtained by an imaging unit. An electronic device includes an imaging unit that includes a plurality of pixel groups each including two adjacent pixels, in which at least one first pixel group of the plurality of pixel groups includes a first lens that condenses incident light, a first photoelectric conversion unit that photoelectrically converts a part of the incident light condensed through the first lens, and a second photoelectric conversion unit different from the first photoelectric conversion unit that photoelectrically converts a part of the incident light condensed through the first lens, and at least one second pixel group different from the first pixel group among the plurality of pixel groups includes a second lens that condenses incident light, a third photoelectric conversion unit that photoelectrically converts the incident light condensed through the second lens, and a third lens different from the second lens that condenses the incident light, a fourth photoelectric conversion unit different from the third photoelectric conversion unit that photoelectrically converts the incident light condensed through the third lens.

An imaging device according to the present disclosure includes a pixel array part, in which pixels are disposed, the pixel including a photoelectric conversion element, and an analog-digital converter that converts an analog signal outputted from each of the pixels of the pixel array part into a digital signal, the analog-digital converter including a comparator that compares, with a reference signal, the analog signal outputted from each of the pixels of the pixel array part. A transistor constituting the comparator is a transistor that has a three-dimensional structure including a channel parallel to or perpendicular to a direction of a current flow.

An imaging device according to the present disclosure includes a pixel array part, in which pixels are disposed, the pixel including a photoelectric conversion element, and an analog-digital converter that converts an analog signal outputted from each of the pixels of the pixel array part into a digital signal, the analog-digital converter including a comparator that compares, with a reference signal, the analog signal outputted from each of the pixels of the pixel array part. A transistor constituting the comparator is a transistor that has a three-dimensional structure including a channel parallel to or perpendicular to a direction of a current flow.

An imaging device includes pixel sensors. A drive-sense circuit is configured to generating a sensed signal corresponding to one of pixel sensors. The drive-sense circuit includes: a first conversion circuit configured to convert, a receive signal component of a sensor signal corresponding to the one of the pixel sensors into the sensed signal, wherein the sensed signal indicates a change in a capacitance associated with the one of the pixel sensors; a second conversion circuit configured to generate, based on the sensed signal, a drive signal component of the sensor signal corresponding to the one of the pixel sensors. The drive-sense circuit is further configured to generate other sensed signals corresponding to other ones of the pixel sensors for the other ones of the pixel sensors. A graphics processing module is configured to generate image data based on the sensed signal and the other sensed signals.