US 11,889,212 B2
Comparator and imaging device
Masayoshi Chiba, Kanagawa (JP); and Shinichi Watanabe, Kanagawa (JP)
Assigned to Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation, Kanagawa (JP)
Filed by Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation, Kanagawa (JP)
Filed on Feb. 22, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/112,773.
Application 18/112,773 is a continuation of application No. 17/879,481, filed on Aug. 2, 2022, granted, now 11,606,522.
Application 17/879,481 is a continuation of application No. 17/257,410, granted, now 11,438,538, issued on Sep. 6, 2022, previously published as PCT/JP2019/025040, filed on Jun. 25, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 2018-129693 (JP), filed on Jul. 9, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0209222 A1, Jun. 29, 2023
Int. Cl. H04N 25/709 (2023.01); H04N 25/772 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 25/709 (2023.01) [H04N 25/772 (2023.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An imaging device comprising:
a differential pair comprising:
a first transistor configured to receive a pixel signal from a pixel circuit, and
a second transistor configured to receive a reference signal from a reference signal output circuit;
a current mirror electrically connected to a first power source;
a first voltage drop transistor electrically connected between the current mirror and the first transistor;
a second voltage drop transistor electrically connected between the current mirror and the second transistor;
a first switch electrically connected in parallel to the first voltage drop transistor;
a second switch electrically connected in parallel to the second voltage drop transistor; and
a current source electrically connected to the differential pair, wherein
the current source comprises a third transistor, a fourth transistor and a capacitor,
the third transistor is electrically connected to the first transistor and the second transistor,
the fourth transistor is electrically connected to the third transistor and a second power source which is lower voltage than the first power source, and
the capacitor is electrically connected to a gate of the fourth transistor and the second power source.