Image capturing apparatus, control method for the same, and storage medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10313617-B2
Application number	US-201615052109-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 24, 2016
Priority date	Mar 3, 2015
Publication date	Jun 4, 2019
Grant date	Jun 4, 2019

Abstract

An image capturing apparatus including a pixel portion in which pixels that convert entered light into electric signals are arranged in a matrix, a column output line provided for each pixel column of the pixel portion, a clip portion configured to clip, at a predetermined signal level, signals respectively output from the pixels to the column output lines, an A/D conversion portion configured to A/D convert the signals clipped by the clip portion, and a control unit configured to change a signal level at which clipping is performed by the clip portion according to a maximum value of a conversion range of the A/D conversion portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image capturing apparatus comprising:
a pixel portion in which pixels that convert entered light into electric signals are arranged in a matrix;
a column output line provided for each pixel column of the pixel portion;
a clip circuit configured to clip, at a predetermined signal level, signals respectively output from the pixels to the column output lines;
an A/D converter configured to A/D convert the signals clipped by the clip circuit;
a controller circuit configured to change a signal level at which clipping is performed by the clip circuit, according to a maximum value of a conversion range of the A/D converter; and a correction circuit configured to correct streak-shaped or band-shaped noise of the A/D converted signals in a line direction caused by high luminance light that enters the pixel portion, wherein the clip circuit is arranged at a preceding stage of a comparison circuit of the A/D converter and clips analog signals respectively output from the pixels to the column output lines, and
wherein the analog signals are clipped to a value that is smaller than a maximum value of a ramp signal input to the comparison circuit and a digital gain is applied to the A/D converted signals to compensate a difference between the clipped value and the maximum value of the ramp signal.

2. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller circuit changes the signal level at which clipping is performed by the clip circuit so as to be a value slightly smaller than the maximum value of the conversion range of the A/D converter.

3. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a column amplifier configured to amplify the signals output to the column output lines,
wherein the clip circuit is provided in a subsequent stage to the column amplifier.

4. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a column amplifier configured to amplify the signals output to the column output lines,
wherein the clip circuit is provided in the column amplifier.

5. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a column amplifier configured to amplify the signals output to the column output lines,
wherein the clip circuit is provided between the pixel portion and the column amplifier.

6. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the A/D converter is configured to adjust the A/D conversion range by changing a reference voltage.

7. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the correction circuit includes:
an integration circuit configured to integrate pixel signals of respective lines;
a multiplier circuit configured to calculate a correction value from a line integration value obtained by the integration circuit; and
an adding circuit configured to add the correction value to the pixel signals of the lines used in integration.

8. A method for controlling an image capturing apparatus that includes a pixel portion in which pixels that convert entered light into electric signals are arranged in a matrix and a column output line provided for each pixel column of the pixel portion, the method comprising:
clipping, at a predetermined signal level, signals respectively output from the pixels to the column output lines;
A/D converting the signals clipped in the clipping;
changing a signal level at which clipping is performed in the clipping according to a maximum value of a conversion range in the A/D conversion; and
correcting streak-shaped or band-shaped noise of the A/D converted signals in a line direction caused by high luminance light that enters the pixel portion,
wherein the clipping is executed at a preceding stage of a comparison circuit of the A/D converter to clip analog signals respectively output from the pixels to the column output lines, and
wherein the analog signals are clipped to a value that is smaller than a maximum value of a ramp signal input to the comparison circuit and a digital gain is applied to the A/D converted signals to compensate a difference between the clipped value and the maximum value of the ramp signal.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute each step of a control method for an image capturing apparatus that includes a pixel portion in which pixels that convert entered light into electric signals are arranged in a matrix and a column output line provided for each pixel column of the pixel portion, the control method comprising:
clipping, at a predetermined signal level, signals respectively output from the pixels to the column output lines;
A/D converting the signals clipped in the clipping;
changing a signal level at which clipping is performed in the clipping according to a maximum value of a conversion range in the A/D conversion; and
correcting streak-shaped or band-shaped noise of the A/D converted signals in a line direction caused by high luminance light that enters the pixel portion,
wherein the clipping is executed at a preceding stage of a comparison circuit of the A/D converter to clip analog signals respectively output from the pixels to the column output lines, and
wherein the analog signals are clipped to value that is smaller than a maximum value of a ramp signal input to the comparison circuit and a digital gain is applied to the A/D converted signals to compensate a difference between the clipped value and the maximum value of the ramp signal.

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Kobuse Takenori

Classifications

• H04N25/778

  comprising amplifiers shared between a plurality of pixels, i.e. at least one part of the amplifier must be on the sensor array itself · CPC title

• H04N25/625 Primary

  for the control of smear · CPC title

• H04N25/77

  Pixel circuitry, e.g. memories, A/D converters, pixel amplifiers, shared circuits or shared components · CPC title

• H04N5/378

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04N5/3745

  Electricity · mapped topic