Patentable/Patents/US-9270913
US-9270913

Photoelectric conversion apparatus and imaging system

PublishedFebruary 23, 2016
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Inventorsnot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

The present disclosure relate to photoelectric conversion apparatus and imaging system. The photoelectric conversion apparatus has a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns, and each configured to generate a signal by photoelectric conversion, a plurality of holding capacitors arranged correspondingly to the respective columns of the plurality of pixels, and configured to hold signals based on the pixels, a first output line, a second output line, a first switch arranged between the holding capacitor and the first output line, a second switch arranged between the holding capacitor and the second output line, and a column selecting line configured to control the second switch, wherein a wiring structure of a portion at which the column selecting line intersects the first output line is different from a wiring structure of a portion at which the column selecting line intersects the second output line.

Patent Claims
15 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.

1

1. A photoelectric conversion apparatus comprising: a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns, and each configured to generate a signal by photoelectric conversion; a plurality of holding capacitors each arranged correspondingly to one of the columns of the plurality of pixels, and configured to hold a signal based on the signal generated by the pixel; a first output line corresponding to the plurality of pixels arranged in a first column; a second output line corresponding to the plurality of pixels arranged in a second column which is adjacent the first column; a first switch arranged between the holding capacitor and the first output line; a second switch arranged between the holding capacitor and the second output line; and a column selecting line configured to control the second switch, wherein a wiring structure of a portion at which the column selecting line intersects with the first output line is different from a wiring structure of a portion at which the column selecting line intersects with the second output line.

2

2. The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the portion at which the column selecting line intersects the first output line, and the portion at which the column selecting line intersects the second output line are formed in mutually different wiring layers.

3

3. The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein a shielding is arranged between the column selecting line and the first output line at the portion at which the column selecting line intersects the first output line, and no shielding is arranged between the column selecting line and the second output line at the portion at which the column selecting line intersects the second output line.

4

4. The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the portion at which the column selecting line intersects the first output line has a wiring width different from a wiring width of the portion at which the column selecting line intersects the second output line.

5

5. The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of holding capacitors include a first holding capacitor configured to hold a signal of a reset state of the pixel, and a second holding capacitor configured to hold a signal of a non-reset state of the pixel.

6

6. The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising a differential processing circuit configured to perform a differential processing between the signal outputted from first holding capacitor to the first or second output line and the signal outputted from second holding capacitor to the first or second output line.

7

7. The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising a controlling unit configured to control the first and second switches, respectively synchronously with signals of mutually different phases.

8

8. An imaging system comprising: the photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 2 ; and a processing unit configured to process a signal outputted from the photoelectric conversion apparatus.

9

9. The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a shielding is arranged between the column selecting line and the first output line at the portion at which the column selecting line intersects the first output line, and no shielding is arranged between the column selecting line and the second output line at the portion at which the column selecting line intersects the second output line.

10

10. The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the portion at which the column selecting line intersects the first output line has a wiring width different from a wiring width of the portion at which the column selecting line intersects the second output line.

11

11. The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of holding capacitors include a first holding capacitor configured to hold a signal of a reset state of the pixel, and a second holding capacitor configured to hold a signal of a non-reset state of the pixel.

12

12. The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising a differential processing circuit configured to perform a differential processing between the signal outputted from first holding capacitor to the first or second output line and the signal outputted from second holding capacitor to the first or second output line.

13

13. The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a controlling unit configured to control the first and second switches, respectively synchronously with signals of mutually different phases.

14

14. The photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the wiring structure of the portion at which the column selecting line intersects with the first output line is formed poly-silicon, and the wiring structure of the portion at which the column selecting line intersects with the second output line is formed from aluminum.

15

15. An imaging system comprising: the photoelectric conversion apparatus according to claim 1 ; and a processing unit configured to process a signal outputted from the photoelectric conversion apparatus.

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Patent Metadata

Filing Date

April 4, 2014

Publication Date

February 23, 2016

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Cite as: Patentable. “Photoelectric conversion apparatus and imaging system” (US-9270913). https://patentable.app/patents/US-9270913

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