Patent ID: 9313436
Filing Date: 2016-04-12
CPC Classification: H03M,H04N

Claim Text:
1. An analog-digital converter comprising: a first comparator configured to make a comparison between a pixel voltage and a first reference voltage, the pixel voltage being a signal voltage outputted from a pixel including an photoelectric conversion element, the pixel voltage corresponding to electric charge generated by the photoelectric conversion element; a second comparator configured to make a comparison between the pixel voltage and a second reference voltage; and a voltage follower configured to connect an input terminal for the first reference voltage of the first comparator and an input terminal for the second reference voltage of the second comparator through a switch, wherein the first and second comparators each make a plurality of comparisons, and wherein the first reference voltage is reduced each time a comparison is made, and the second reference voltage is increased each time a comparison is made, and wherein the amount of reduction of the first reference voltage is reduced as the number of comparisons made by the first comparator is increased, and the amount of increase of the second reference voltage is reduced as the number of comparisons made by the second comparator is increased.