Changeable gain amplifier, solid-state imaging device and optical signal reading method
US6747264B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 14, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jun 8, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 14, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10F39/803
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A solid-state imaging device is provided, which is capable of increasing an S/N ratio while enhancing a dynamic range, when a photoelectric signal is converted into a digital signal. This solid-state imaging device comprises: a plurality of photoelectric conversion devices arrayed in rows and columns, each of the photoelectric conversion devices converting an optical signal into an electric signal and outputting a first signal voltage; a difference signal generation circuit provided for each column, for sequentially inputting the first signal voltage and a second signal voltage obtained by initializing the photoelectric conversion devices, thereafter converting the first signal voltage and the second signal voltage into charges, generating a difference signal therebetween, and then outputting the difference signal after adjusting a gain according to a level of the difference signal; and an analog/digital conversion circuit connected to the output of the difference signal generation circuit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.