Patent ID: 9035229
Filing Date: 2015-05-19
Classification: H01L,H04N

Abstract:
1. An imaging device, comprising: an imaging unit that includes unit pixel with a photoelectric conversion element arranged in a form of a matrix, and outputs a pixel signal from the unit pixel; a reference signal generating unit that generates a reference signal increasing or decreasing with passage of time; a comparing unit that includes a differential amplifying unit and a reset unit, the differential amplifying unit including a first input terminal electrically connected with the unit pixel and a second input terminal electrically connected with the reference signal generating unit through a first capacitive element and comparing a voltage of the first input terminal with a voltage of the second input terminal, the reset unit resetting the voltage of the first input terminal and the voltage of the second input terminal; a measuring unit that measures a comparison time from a comparison start to a comparison end by the comparing unit; and a changing unit that changes the voltage of the second input terminal such that a voltage difference between the first input terminal and the second input terminal becomes a voltage guaranteeing a comparison operation by the comparing unit after a reset operation by the comparing unit, wherein the changing unit includes a second capacitive element and a switching element, one end of the second capacitive element is connected to the second input terminal, and the other end of the second capacitive element is connected to a first voltage source during a reset operation by the reset unit and to a second voltage source different from the first voltage source after the reset operation by the reset unit through the switching element.