US 12,244,949 B2
Image sensor and imaging device with vertical controller performing first control and second control
Daiki Ogura, Tokyo (JP); Masahiro Juen, Yokohama (JP); Tomoki Hirata, Tokyo (JP); and Shigeru Matsumoto, Sagamihara (JP)
Assigned to NIKON CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by NIKON CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Nov. 9, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/388,387.
Application 18/388,387 is a continuation of application No. 17/043,160, granted, now 11,889,214, previously published as PCT/JP2019/014350, filed on Mar. 29, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 2018-067700 (JP), filed on Mar. 30, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2024/0089629 A1, Mar. 14, 2024
Int. Cl. H04N 25/75 (2023.01); H01L 27/146 (2006.01); H04N 25/704 (2023.01); H04N 25/772 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 25/75 (2023.01) [H01L 27/14612 (2013.01); H01L 27/14621 (2013.01); H01L 27/14623 (2013.01); H01L 27/14636 (2013.01); H04N 25/704 (2023.01); H04N 25/772 (2023.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image sensor, comprising:
a pixel unit in which a first pixel and a second pixel are arranged along a column direction, the first pixel including first photoelectric converter that (i) converts light transmitted through an optical system into an electric charge and (ii) outputs a first signal used for focus detection of the optical system, and the second pixel including a second photoelectric converter that (i) converts light transmitted through the optical system into an electric charge and (ii) outputs a second signal used for focus detection of the optical system;
a first signal line that can be electrically connected to the first pixel and the second pixel;
a second signal line that can be electrically connected to the first pixel and the second pixel;
a first readout unit that performs signal processing on a signal output to the first signal line among the first signal and the second signal;
a second readout unit that performs signal processing on a signal output to the second signal line among the first signal and the second signal; and
a vertical controller that performs (i) a first control, in which the first signal and the second signal are output to one of the first signal line and the second signal line, and (ii) a second control, in which the first signal and the second signal are output to a different signal line among the first signal line and the second signal line.