US 12,068,354 B2
Photoelectric conversion device, photoelectric conversion system, moving body, and signal processing method that can change an output signal according to a signal level determination
Daisuke Kobayashi, Saitama (JP)
Assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Apr. 27, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/241,269.
Claims priority of application No. 2020-093404 (JP), filed on May 28, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0375975 A1, Dec. 2, 2021
Int. Cl. H01L 27/146 (2006.01); H04N 25/57 (2023.01); H04N 25/70 (2023.01); H04N 25/75 (2023.01)
CPC H01L 27/14643 (2013.01) [H01L 27/14621 (2013.01); H01L 27/14627 (2013.01); H04N 25/57 (2023.01); H04N 25/70 (2023.01); H04N 25/75 (2023.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A photoelectric conversion device comprising:
a photoelectric conversion unit including one microlens and a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements;
a signal line configured to transmit a signal from the photoelectric conversion unit;
a readout circuit electrically connected to the signal line, and configured to read out a first signal based on charges accumulated by a first photoelectric conversion element of the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and a second signal based on charges accumulated by a second photoelectric conversion element of the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements; and
a signal processing circuit electrically connected to the readout circuit, and configured to, (1) generate a determination result based on at least one of a level of the first signal and a level of the second signal, (2) output a third signal obtained by adding the first signal and the second signal in a case when the determination result indicates that the at least one of the level of the first signal and the level of the second signal is smaller than a predetermined signal level, and (3) output a fourth signal having a level relating to the determination result in a case when the determination result indicates that the at least one of the level of the first signal and the level of the second signal is larger than the predetermined signal level.