US 12,238,441 B2
Imaging sensor and imaging apparatus
Kunitoshi Aoki, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Oct. 31, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/051,445.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-180309 (JP), filed on Nov. 4, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0137640 A1, May 4, 2023
Int. Cl. H04N 25/77 (2023.01); G01S 17/14 (2020.01); G01S 17/894 (2020.01); H01L 31/107 (2006.01); H04N 25/766 (2023.01); H04N 25/78 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 25/77 (2023.01) [H04N 25/766 (2023.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus which comprises a sensor in which a pixel including a conversion unit configured to detect incidence of a photon and a pulse processing unit configured to process a pulse generated by photon detection in the conversion unit are arranged two-dimensionally, the apparatus comprising:
at least one processor; and
a memory coupled to the at least one processor, the memory having instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the at least one processor to function as:
a time counter configured to count a clock from a start of exposure in one frame;
pixel counters each configured to count the number of pulses from the start of exposure in the one frame; and
an image processing unit configured to calculate respective pixel values based on the count values of the time counters and the pixel counters,
wherein the time counter and the pixel counters share an output line, and exclusively output count values, respectively.