US 12,075,169 B2
Image sensor and imaging device
Takashi Seo, Yokohama (JP)
Assigned to NIKON CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by NIKON CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Sep. 21, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/370,950.
Application 18/370,950 is a continuation of application No. 17/584,491, filed on Jan. 26, 2022, granted, now 11,792,533.
Application 17/584,491 is a continuation of application No. 16/500,927, granted, now 11,272,122, issued on Mar. 8, 2022, previously published as PCT/JP2018/013712, filed on Mar. 30, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. 2017-075177 (JP), filed on Apr. 5, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2024/0015406 A1, Jan. 11, 2024
Int. Cl. H04N 23/75 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 23/75 (2023.01) 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image sensor that receives light transmitted through an optical system having a focus adjustment optical system, the image sensor comprising:
a first pixel and a second pixel arranged in a row direction; and
a third pixel and a fourth pixel arranged in the row direction, wherein:
the first pixel and the third pixel are arranged in a column direction;
the second pixel and the fourth pixel are arranged in the column direction;
the first pixel, the second pixel, the third pixel, and the fourth pixel each include:
a first photoelectric converter that photoelectrically converts light that has passed through a first area and through a microlens of the optical system and generates a first charge;
a second photoelectric converter that photoelectrically converts light that has passed through a second area and through the microlens of the optical system and generates a second charge;
an accumulation unit that accumulates at least one of the first charge and the second charge;
a first transfer unit that transfers the first charge to the accumulation unit; and
a second transfer unit that transfers the second charge to the accumulation unit; and
the image sensor further comprises:
a first control line for controlling the first transfer unit of the first pixel and the second transfer unit of the second pixel:
a second control line for the controlling the second transfer unit of the first pixel and the first transfer unit of the second pixel;
a third control line for controlling the second transfer unit of the third pixel and the first transfer unit of the fourth pixel;
a fourth control line for controlling the first transfer unit of the third pixel and the second transfer unit of the fourth pixel; and
an output unit that outputs, for controlling a position of the focus adjustment optical system, at least one of (i) a signal that is based on the first charge of the first pixel, a signal that is based on the second charge of the second pixel, a signal that is based on the second charge of the third pixel, and a signal that is based on the first charge of the fourth pixel or (ii) a signal that is based on the second charge of the first pixel, a signal that is based on the first charge of the second pixel, a signal that is based on the first charge of the third pixel, and a signal that is based on the second charge of the fourth pixel.