Photoelectric conversion apparatus, control method thereof, imaging apparatus, and imaging system
US7817199B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 20, 2007 |
| Grant date | Oct 19, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 14, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N25/627
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Each pixel has a photoelectric conversion unit configured to convert light into electrical charges and to store the electrical charges, an amplifying unit configured to amplify a signal based on the electrical charges stored in the photoelectric conversion unit and to output the signal to an output line, and a reset unit configured to reset a input part of the amplifying unit. A clip unit, which is configured to limit an electric voltage of the output line, includes an amplifying circuitry for amplifying a signal based on the electric voltage of the output line and an MOS transistor for limiting the electric voltage of the output line based on the difference in electric potential between the gate and source. The clip unit controls the electric potential of the gate of the MOS transistor by the amplifying circuitry.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.