US 11,991,462 B2
Imaging device and camera system, and driving method of imaging device
Masashi Murakami, Kyoto (JP); Kazuko Nishimura, Kyoto (JP); Yasuo Miyake, Osaka (JP); and Yasunori Inoue, Osaka (JP)
Assigned to PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD., Osaka (JP)
Filed by PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD., Osaka (JP)
Filed on Mar. 30, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/708,871.
Application 17/708,871 is a continuation of application No. 17/116,121, filed on Dec. 9, 2020, granted, now 11,323,642.
Application 17/116,121 is a continuation of application No. 16/352,367, filed on Mar. 13, 2019, granted, now 10,893,222, issued on Jan. 12, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 2018-064057 (JP), filed on Mar. 29, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0224847 A1, Jul. 14, 2022
Int. Cl. H04N 25/57 (2023.01); H01L 27/146 (2006.01)
CPC H04N 25/57 (2023.01) [H01L 27/14612 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An imaging device comprising:
a pixel that includes:
a photoelectric converter that converts light into a charge;
a charge accumulation region to which the charge is input; and
an amplifier transistor that includes a gate electrically connected to the charge accumulation region, the amplifier transistor being configured to output a signal that corresponds to a potential of the charge accumulation region; and
a detection circuit that is configured to detect a level of the signal from the amplifier transistor, wherein
a sensitivity of the pixel is increased by varying a bias voltage applied to the pixel, when the level detected by the detection circuit is greater than a first threshold value, and
when the level detected by the detection circuit is greater than the first threshold value in a first frame, the sensitivity of the pixel is increased for a second frame after the first frame.