Image sensor and electronic camera
地域：
Tokyo
摘要
An image sensor, includes: a plurality of pixels arranged along a first direction, each of which includes a photoelectric conversion unit that generates an electric charge through photoelectric conversion of light, and outputs a signal generated based upon the electric charge generated in the photoelectric conversion unit; a first signal line to which signals from one or more pixels among the plurality of pixels are output; a second signal line to which a signal from another pixel among the plurality of pixels is output; and an arithmetic unit that executes an arithmetic operation with a signal generated by combining the signals from the one or more pixels output to the first signal line and the signal output to the second signal line.
說明書
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The present invention relates to an image sensor and an electronic camera.
An image-capturing device is known in the related art that combines pixel signals on a vertical signal line (PTL 1). There is an issue with respect to the image-capturing device in the related art in that a signal closely approximating the average of a plurality of pixel signals may not be obtained.
PTL 1: Japanese Laid Open Patent Publication No. 2010-259027
According to the first aspect of the present invention, an image sensor, comprises: a plurality of pixels arranged along a first direction, each of which includes a photoelectric conversion unit that generates an electric charge through photoelectric conversion of light, and outputs a signal generated based upon the electric charge generated in the photoelectric conversion unit; a first signal line to which signals from one or more pixels among the plurality of pixels are output; a second signal line to which a signal from another pixel among the plurality of pixels is output; and an arithmetic unit that executes an arithmetic operation with a signal generated by combining the signals from the one or more pixels output to the first signal line and the signal output to the second signal line.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, an electronic camera, comprises: the image sensor according to the first aspect; and an image generation unit that generates image data based upon signals from the plurality of pixels.
權(quán)利要求
The invention claimed is:1. An image sensor, comprising:a plurality of pixels arranged along a first direction, each of the plurality of pixels (i) including a photoelectric conversion unit that generates an electric charge through photoelectric conversion of light and (ii) outputting a signal generated based upon the electric charge generated in the photoelectric conversion unit; a first signal line to which signals from one or more pixels among the plurality of pixels are output; a second signal line to which a signal from another pixel among the plurality of pixels is output; and an arithmetic unit that executes an arithmetic operation with the signals from the one or more pixels output to the first signal line and the signal output to the second signal line, wherein: the one or more pixels include a first pixel and a second pixel; and the another pixel includes a third pixel disposed between the first pixel and the second pixel. 2. The image sensor according to claim 1 , wherein:the one or more pixels each include a first output unit that outputs the signal generated based upon the electric charge generated in the photoelectric conversion unit to the first signal line; and the another pixel includes a second output unit that outputs the signal generated based upon the electric charge generated in the photoelectric conversion unit to the second signal line. 3. The image sensor according to claim 2 , wherein:the first output unit switches connection with and disconnection from the first signal line; and the second output unit switches connection with and disconnection from the second signal line. 4. The image sensor according to claim 2 , further comprising:a first electric current source connected to the first signal line, which provides a first electric current; and a second electric current source connected to the second signal line, which provides a second electric current. 5. The image sensor according to claim 4 , wherein:the second electric current is greater than the first electric current. 6. The image sensor according to claim 2 , wherein:the first pixel, the second pixel and the third pixel each include the first output unit; and the third pixel includes the second output unit. 7. The image sensor according to claim 6 , further comprising:a control unit that executes a first control, under which a signal from the first pixel and a signal from the second pixel are both output to the first signal line and a signal from the third pixel is output to the second signal line by setting the first output unit of the first pixel and the first output unit of the second pixel in a connected state and setting the second output unit of the third pixel in a connected state, and a second control under which signals from the first pixel, the second pixel and the third pixel are sequentially output to the first signal line by setting the first output unit of the first pixel, the first output unit of the second pixel and the first output unit of the third pixel in a connected state in sequence. 8. The image sensor according to claim 7 , wherein:the control unit executes a third control, under which a signal from one pixel that is either the first pixel or the second pixel is output to the first signal line and a signal from the third pixel is output to the second signal line by setting the first output unit of the one pixel in a connected state and setting the second output unit of the third pixel in a connected state. 9. The image sensor according to claim 1 , wherein:the one or more pixels include a fourth pixel and a fifth pixel; and the first pixel, the second pixel and the third pixel are disposed between the fourth pixel and the fifth pixel. 10. The image sensor according to claim 1 , wherein:the plurality of pixels include a fourth pixel and a fifth pixel; a third signal line to which a signal from the fourth pixel and a signal from the fifth pixel are both output is disposed; and the arithmetic unit executes an arithmetic operation with the signals output to the first signal line, the signal output to the second signal line and the signals output to the third signal line. 11. The image sensor according to claim 1 , wherein:the plurality of pixels each include a plurality of photoelectric conversion units and an adding unit that (i) adds together electric charges generated in the plurality of photoelectric conversion units and (ii) outputs a sum signal generated based upon the electric charges added together by the adding unit; and the arithmetic unit executes an arithmetic operation with the sum signal output to the first signal line and the sum signal output to the second signal line. 12. The image sensor according to claim 11 , wherein:the plurality of pixels each include a first photoelectric conversion unit and a second photoelectric conversion unit; and the image sensor further comprises a control unit that executes a first control, under which the sum signal is output, and a second control, under which a signal generated based upon an electric charge generated in the first photoelectric conversion unit is output to the first signal line and a signal generated based upon an electric charge generated in the second photoelectric conversion unit is output to the second signal line. 13. The image sensor according to claim 1 , wherein:the plurality of pixels are arranged along a column direction designated as the first direction; the plurality of pixels include the first pixel, the second pixel and the third pixel disposed in a first column and the first pixel, the second pixel and the third pixel disposed in a second column; the first signal line and the second signal line are disposed in correspondence to each of the first column and the second column; and the arithmetic unit executes an arithmetic operation with signals output to the first signal line and the second signal line corresponding to the first column and signals output to the first signal line and the second signal line corresponding to the second column. 14. The image sensor according to claim 1 , wherein:the plurality of pixels are arranged along a column direction designated as the first direction; the plurality of pixels include a plurality of pixels arranged in a first column and the first pixel, the second pixel and the third pixel disposed in a second column; the first signal line and the second signal line are disposed in correspondence to the second column; a fourth signal line, where signals output from the plurality of pixels in the first column are combined, is disposed in correspondence to the first column; and the arithmetic unit executes an arithmetic operation with signals output to the first signal line, the second signal line and the fourth signal line. 15. The image sensor according to claim 14 , wherein:the plurality of pixels include a plurality of pixels arranged in a third column; a fifth signal line, where signals output from the plurality of pixels in the third column are combined, is disposed in correspondence to the third column; and the arithmetic unit executes an arithmetic operation with signals output to the first signal line, the second signal line, the fourth signal line and the fifth signal line. 16. An electronic camera, comprising:the image sensor according to claim 1 , and an image generation unit that generates image data based upon signals from the plurality of pixels. 17. The image sensor according to claim 1 , wherein:a signal generated by combining the signals from the one or more pixels is output to the first signal line.
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