US 12,177,593 B2
Photoelectric conversion apparatus and system having photodiodes to perform avalanche multiplication
Kenzo Tojima, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Apr. 18, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/302,299.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-069480 (JP), filed on Apr. 20, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0388675 A1, Nov. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. H04N 25/773 (2023.01); G01S 7/4863 (2020.01); G01S 17/894 (2020.01); G01S 17/931 (2020.01); G06T 7/55 (2017.01); H04N 23/56 (2023.01); H04N 25/532 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 25/773 (2023.01) [G01S 7/4863 (2013.01); G01S 17/894 (2020.01); G01S 17/931 (2020.01); G06T 7/55 (2017.01); H04N 23/56 (2023.01); H04N 25/532 (2023.01); G06T 2207/30252 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A photoelectric conversion apparatus comprising:
a first pixel, which includes a photodiode configured to perform avalanche multiplication, and a signal processing circuit configured to generate a signal based on a photon detected by the photodiode; and
a second pixel, which includes a photodiode configured to perform avalanche multiplication, and a signal processing circuit configured to generate a signal based on a photon detected by the photodiode, wherein
each signal processing circuit includes a control circuit, and a counter, wherein
the control circuit is connected to the photodiode and a generation circuit configured to generate a pulse signal, and performs control, based on the pulse signal, so as to be in a standby state in which one node of the photodiode is floating or a recharge state in which a potential at the node is returned to a certain potential,
the counter counts the number of periods in which avalanche multiplication has occurred among a plurality of periods in the standby state, and
a third pulse of the pulse signal for the second pixel is input to the control circuit of the second pixel in a period from when a first pulse of the pulse signal for the first pixel is input to the control circuit of the first pixel to when a second pulse of the pulse signal for the first pixel subsequent to the first pulse is input to the control circuit of the first pixel.