IMAGING APPARATUS AND IMAGING SYSTEM

摘要

A first ramp signal having a potential which is changed with time in a first amplitude range in a first period and a second ramp signal in which a potential is changed with time in a second amplitude range which includes the first amplitude range and which has maximum amplitude larger than maximum amplitude of the first amplitude range and an amount of the change of the potential per unit time is the same as an amount of the change of the potential per unit time of the first ramp signal are generated, and comparison between an optical signal and the first ramp signal and comparison between the optical signal and the second ramp signal are performed in parallel.

主权项

1. An imaging apparatus comprising:
pixels which generate optical signals by performing photoelectric conversion on light and output the optical signals; a reference signal supply unit; a comparison unit; and a counter configured to generate a count signal by counting a clock signal, wherein the reference signal supply unit generates a first ramp signal having a potential which is changed with time in a first amplitude range in a first period and a second ramp signal in which a potential is changed with time in a second amplitude range which includes the first amplitude range and which has maximum amplitude larger than maximum amplitude of the first amplitude range and an amount of the change of the potential per unit time is the same as an amount of the change of the potential per unit time of the first ramp signal, the comparison unit generates a first comparison result signal obtained as a result of first comparison in which the optical signal and the first ramp signal are compared with each other and a second comparison result signal obtained as a result of second comparison in which the optical signal and the second ramp signal are compared with each other, as digital signals based on the optical signal, the count signal at a timing when a level of the first comparison result signal is changed and the count signal at a timing when a level of the second comparison result signal is changed are generated, the comparison unit includes a first comparator which performs the first comparison so as to output the first comparison result signal and a second comparator which performs the second comparison so as to output the second comparison result signal, and the first comparison is started in a period of time from when the second comparison is started to when the second comparison is terminated.