US 12,149,854 B2
Photoelectric conversion device
Shingo Hikosaka, Kanagawa (JP)
Assigned to CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Dec. 20, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/069,011.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-003751 (JP), filed on Jan. 13, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0224609 A1, Jul. 13, 2023
Int. Cl. H04N 25/773 (2023.01); H04N 25/583 (2023.01); H04N 25/79 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 25/773 (2023.01) [H04N 25/583 (2023.01); H04N 25/79 (2023.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A photoelectric conversion device comprising:
a pixel including a photoelectric conversion unit configured to output a pulse in response to incidence of a photon, and a pulse counting unit configured to count pulses output from the photoelectric conversion unit,
wherein the pulse counting unit includes a first counter, a second counter, a selection circuit configured to select a signal input to each of the first counter and the second counter, and a control unit configured to control the selection circuit,
wherein the control unit is configured to control the selection circuit to perform a first connection mode in which a counter of a first number of bits is configured by the first counter and the second counter, and a second connection mode in which a counter of a second number of bits smaller than the first number of bits is configured by at least one of the first counter and the second counter, and
wherein the second connection mode includes a third connection mode in which the pulses are counted in parallel by the first counter and the second counter.