Patent ID: 8441563
Filing Date: 2013-05-14
Classification: H03M,H04N

Abstract:
1. A photoelectric conversion device comprising: a pixel array that includes a plurality of pixels arranged two-dimensionally, each of the plurality of pixels having a photoelectric conversion element, the pixel array outputting a pixel signal in accordance with an incident light amount to the photoelectric conversion element; and a plurality of A/D converters each of which includes a pulse delay circuit and an encoder, the pulse delay circuit including a plurality of delay units, each of the plurality of delay units delaying a pulse signal with a delay time that is based on the difference between a voltage of the pixel signal, which is received from the pixel array, and a reference voltage, the plurality of delay units being connected so that the pulse signal can circulate through the plurality of delay units, the encoder outputting a digital value based on the number of the plurality of delay units that the pulse signal passes through within a predetermined period of time, and wherein the encoder comprising: wherein each of the plurality of delay units and each of the plurality of latch units corresponding to each of the plurality of delay units are arranged adjacently in a first direction of the pixel array to configure each of a plurality of delay detectors, wherein the plurality of delay detectors are arranged adjacently in the first direction, and wherein a reference voltage wire that supplies the reference voltage to each of the plurality of A/D converters is branched to be a plurality of branched reference voltage wires, each of the plurality of branched reference voltage wires corresponds to each constituent component in the plurality of A/D converters, and each of the plurality of branched reference voltage wires is connected to a corresponding constituent component in the plurality of A/D converters.