US 12,230,722 B2
Photoelectric conversion apparatus, photoelectric conversion system, and moving body
Mahito Shinohara, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Jul. 10, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/926,405.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-133789 (JP), filed on Jul. 19, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0020793 A1, Jan. 21, 2021
Int. Cl. H01L 31/02 (2006.01); G01J 1/44 (2006.01); H01L 27/146 (2006.01); H01L 31/107 (2006.01); H04N 25/773 (2023.01)
CPC H01L 31/02027 (2013.01) [G01J 1/44 (2013.01); H01L 27/14643 (2013.01); H01L 31/107 (2013.01); H04N 25/773 (2023.01); G01J 2001/442 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A photoelectric conversion apparatus comprising:
an avalanche diode;
a detection circuit configured to output a signal based on an avalanche current generated by avalanche multiplication in the avalanche diode;
a counter configured to count the number of generation times of the avalanche current detected by the detection circuit;
a switch disposed between an output node of the avalanche diode and the counter;
a reset circuit configured to reset a node between the switch and the detection circuit; and
a second reset circuit configured to reset the output node of the avalanche diode,
wherein a transistor constituting the switch and a transistor constituting the reset circuit have opposite conductivity types,
wherein a gate of the reset circuit is not connected to an output node of the detection circuit,
wherein the reset circuit resets the node during a period in which the switch is in an off state, and
wherein a response time of the second reset circuit is longer than Td, where Td represents an interval between a falling edge and a rising edge of a potential input to the detection circuit when a threshold voltage of the detection circuit is passed through.