US 12,273,636 B2
Photodetection device and electronic apparatus
Kengo Ando, Kanagawa (JP); and Sachio Akebono, Kanagawa (JP)
Assigned to SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION, Kanagawa (JP)
Appl. No. 18/002,128
Filed by SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION, Kanagawa (JP)
PCT Filed Jun. 7, 2021, PCT No. PCT/JP2021/021510
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 16, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/261229, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 30, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 2020-108108 (JP), filed on Jun. 23, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0232128 A1, Jul. 20, 2023
Int. Cl. H04N 25/616 (2023.01); H04N 25/65 (2023.01); H04N 25/75 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 25/616 (2023.01) [H04N 25/65 (2023.01); H04N 25/75 (2023.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A photodetection device, comprising:
a pixel configured to:
receive light; and
generate a pixel signal in a first period, wherein the pixel signal is associated with a first amount of the received light;
a reference signal generation unit configured to generate a reference signal;
a comparison circuit including that a first-stage amplifier circuit and a second-stage amplifier circuit, wherein
the second-stage amplifier circuit is coupled to the first-stage amplifier circuit through a connection node,
the first-stage amplifier circuit includes a first transistor,
the first transistor configured to receive the pixel signal and the reference signal,
the first transistor includes a first gate, a first drain, and a first source,
the comparison circuit is configured to compare the pixel signal and the reference signal based on a first control signal,
the first-stage amplifier circuit is configured to output a first output signal based on the comparison between the pixel signal and the reference signal,
the second-stage amplifier circuit is configured to output a second output signal,
the second output signal corresponds to the first output signal; and
a first switch that includes a first end and a second end, wherein
the first end is coupled to the connection node, and
the first switch is configured to change a specific impedance and a specific voltage at the connection node based on the first control signal.