Focus detection sensor and optical apparatus using the same

摘要

A focus detection sensor includes a line sensor comprised of a pair of sensor arrays in which a plurality of pixels are arranged. The sensor arrays include a pixel of a first type having an arrangement for transferring charges generated by a photoelectric conversion device to a corresponding memory device and causing the memory device to integrate the charges during a charge accumulation period, and a pixel of a second type having an arrangement for integrating, in the pixel, the charges generated by the photoelectric conversion device during the charge accumulation period without transferring the charges to the memory device until the end of the charge accumulation period, and transferring the charges to the corresponding memory device when the charge accumulation period has ended. An accurate charge accumulation result can be obtained by a simple arrangement.

主权项

1. A focus detection sensor comprising:
a line sensor comprised of a pair of sensor arrays, each sensor array comprising a plurality of pixels arranged in a line and each of the plurality of pixels including a photoelectric conversion device, wherein the plurality of pixels arranged in the pair of sensor arrays include: a pixel of a first type having an arrangement for transferring charges generated by the photoelectric conversion device to a corresponding memory device and causing the memory device to integrate the charges during a charge accumulation period, and a pixel of a second type having an arrangement for integrating, in the pixel, the charges generated by the photoelectric conversion device during the charge accumulation period without transferring the charges to the memory device until an end of the charge accumulation period, and transferring the charges to the corresponding memory device when the charge accumulation period has ended; a detection unit configured to detect whether an integrated value in the memory device of the pixel of the first type has reached a predetermined value or not; and a control unit configured to control an operation of said line sensor, wherein said control unit ends the charge accumulation period and causes the charges integrated by the pixel of the second type to be transferred to the corresponding memory device when said detection unit detects that the integrated value in the memory device of the pixel of the first type has reached the predetermined value after a start of the charge accumulation period in the sensor array.